Joe Louis Walker will appear at Bluesdays in The Village of Squaw Valley.
The Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis displays the likeness of a litany of legends who are no longer living. One of those busts, however, is of Joe Louis Walker, who is still very much alive and fighting for the blues.
Walker appreciates his fellow inductees and wants to emulate Muddy Waters’ philosophy about supporting other players.
“Every night we play, we try to do an homage to what I like to call the originators,” Walker said.
“It all continues. You go from Son House to Muddy Waters — who is the real truth in my estimation — when it comes to taking the mantle that Big Bill Broonzy and Sonny Boy (Williamson) No. 1 gave him. It was a brilliant thing, accepting everybody … from Johnny Winter to Mick (Jagger) to Joe Louis Walker to Robert Cray to you name it. He was always encouraging and always down to earth.
In 2016, Walker became the first Hall of Fame member to perform at Squaw Valley’s Bluesdays, a weekly summertime tradition. He was joined by keyboardist Travis Reed, drummer Byron Cage and bassist Lenny Bradford.
Walker has been prolific in the studio since his recording career began in 1986. Since 2002, he’s released 12 albums, which vary in styles that range from electric Chicago blues, acoustic, rock, gospel and Christian blues.