Alum Joe Louis Walker Lives the Blues Philosophy

ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL (MICHIGAN) -- Walker, a teen prodigy, was the house guitarist at San Francisco’s famed club The Matrix at age 16 and a regular at the Fillmore at its peak. In 1968, he met and became friends and roommate with guitarist Bloomfield, who introduced him to the likes of Sly Stone, Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles, who introduced Walker to Jimi Hendrix. From 1975 to 1985, Walker performed only gospel as a member of the Spiritual Corinthians while attending San Francisco State University, where he earned degrees in English and Music. In 1985, inspired by a Corinthians’ performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Walker returned to the blues and sent a tape to Hightone Records, which released his debut CD the next year. Since then, Walker has been bringing the music of his life to people around the globe. What’s next, Walker doesn't know. But he says he has a goal that he’d like to accomplish — getting another generation into the blues.