John Walker  - Golden Dreams

AVAILABLE ON CDBABY.COM and other outlets 

“John Walker’s career of over 50 years – as singer/guitarist, songwriter, and recording artiste (“The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore”, 1966) – was always inspired by love and creativity. ‘Golden Dreams’ is a special collection of some of Mr. Walker’s favorite and more recently recorded self-penned songs. Included are two previously unreleased tracks that were destined for the CD he was working on in his studio until his passing on May 7, 2011. 

Renowned mixing and mastering engineers Michael James (IndiePROMix) and David Donnelly (DNA Mastering Studios) have taken John’s own magical productions of each track to a new level of modern sound technology. 

This album was produced by John Walker’s wife, Cynthia, in memory of his love and inspiration.

John Walker Passes Away

It is with our deepest sadness to report that Mr. John Walker passed away in his Los Angeles area home on May 7th, 2011. He was a beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, friend, and artiste.

Dear friends and fans,
I am deeply touched by your beautiful, heartfelt responses to John’s illness and passing.  During his last weeks, I read aloud to him your touching stories and get well messages, sent from all over the world to cheer him on.  Over and over again, each and every day, your words brought a glorious smile to his face, and tears to my eyes to see it! Then the amazing tributes poured in like great waves of love. Words simply don’t express my gratitude to you for reaching out to John, myself, the family, Ann, Joy, and Polly. Please know that the time you took to do that brought us great comfort and support. Love works!

John was an absolutely unique and stunning treasure of a man, in private and in public. A lovely, lovely true gentleman…

I embrace and thank each of you,

Cynthia Maus

If you would like to leave a tribute, thought or comment please do so here.

Three John Walker Tribute Shows, along with private support and donations for the cause, raise over 4200.00GBP for charity.

Cynthia Maus has received letters from Save The Children, St. Giles Hospice, and South Bucks Hospice, confirming donations from these shows. In addition, organizer Martin Schofield has also confirmed a donation of 500.00 to Newbridge School for Special Needs Children, also from the shows’ proceeds.  Cynthia would like to thank Toni Baker (The Dakotas, principal organizer), Martin Schofield (promoter, Wall of Sound, Jog The Memory), and promoter Chris Beebee for their tireless efforts in organizing these shows.  She would also like to thank the wonderful bands and artistes for sharing their talents, as well as the technicians, crews, and staff at each theatre.  A special thankyou to Ann Gwilliam and Joy Ryan for taking care of merchandising and so many other things, and to Fred Pritchard (Pritchard Group), and everyone at The Cannock Ramada.  And of course, a huge thankyou to the fantastic fans and friends who generously supported each event.

John Walker Tributes Gordon Waller

On May 29th, 2010, John appeared in Las Vegas as part of a Tribute To Gordon Waller (Peter and Gordon)/ Sixties Celebration  which featured friends and colleagues of Gordon. The seven hour show was a brilliant celebration of music from the era, and featured several songs which were among Gordon’s favorites. John performed “Unchain My Heart”, “No Other Baby But You”, inviting Spencer Davis onstage to sing along with him, followed by Gordon’s favorite: “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore”.  Later, John joined D.J.Fontana (Elvis’s drummer) in “One Night With You”.  Finally, during Peter Asher’s elegant, touching media and song tribute to his partner, John joined Peter to sing “Let It Be Me” – singing Gordon’s part.  Among the other featured artistes were Spencer Davis (“Gimme Some Lovin’”), Denny Laine (formerly with Wings), Terry Sylvester from The Hollies (“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”), and Chad and Jeremy.  Jeff Ross, MD, and his powerful backing band – from the Los Angeles area – toured with Peter and Gordon as “The Peter and Gordon Band”. … Peter Asher and Keith Putney, along with Jeff, organized a spectacular salute to Gordon and the fans of 60s music….”

JWI Goes Digital

JWI is pleased to announce that a deal has been finalized with One Media Publishing to market and offer for sale through digital stores worldwide the John Walker recordings.  One Media Publishing, based at Pinewood Studios, England, is an independent consolidator of nostalgic back catalogue who specializes in making available recordings through digital stores including iTunes, emusic, Amazon, Spotify, and Verizon.  One Media will also deal with record labels who release on CD.

Soon links will be available from this site to purchase John Walker albums from iTunes and Amazon.

The Real Story

For the first time, John and Gary Walker have broken their silence to reveal the truth about the group, what led to the famous split and they lay bare the details of their private lives, including encounters with the other stars they met along the way, such as Walt Disney, Humphrey Bogart, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. They tell what it was like to live in the glare of publicity and under siege by fans, and what enigmatic Scott Walker was really like.

The book in now available online at all major retailers and is current’y being sold in WH Smiths, Waterstones, Barnes and Noble, Borders, and other fine book stores; we recommend calling first for availability due to sell outs in many branches.

The book has recently been reviwed by MOJO and Q magazines

Jeff Beck Bought My Fender

But we’re here to talk about a guitar that’s only come to be recognized rather recently for its importance in the evolution of rock music as we know it.

The first time I saw this particular guitar on the cover of The Yardbirds album, Having a Rave-Up with The Yardbirds, I really didn’t give it much thought. … But when I heard the sound it produced in Jeff Beck’s hands, I was blown away by the raw energy on songs like “Heart Full of Soul,” “Shapes of Things,” and “Mister You’re a Better Man Than I” (which still gives me chills when I hear it today).

…Although Rave-Up was the first record I bought by The Yardbirds, it turned out that the group had released an earlier album, but it hadn’t gotten wide distribution here in the States.

…While their first U.S release album contained a number of amazingly evocative songs, their second album, Over Under Sideways Down, proved the band could stretch out into relatively unexplored sonic territories with mature compositions such as “Still I’m Sad,” “Turn Into Earth,” and “Ever Since the World Began.”

This was certainly the high point for the group, but as fate would have it, the group’s bass player, Paul Samwell-Smith, decided he wasn’t cut out for the music business and quit.

…You’d think that with such a prestigious line-up and with so many ground-breaking recordings, the group could stay together and continue their musical explorations, but in 1966, Jeff Beck was either fired or quit the band (depending upon whom you ask) after a tour stop in Texas.

…Oddly enough, it wasn’t until Guitar World magazine published “Guitars That Shook the World” in 1995 that I learned that Jeff Beck played all his guitar parts on those early Yardbirds recordings using a 1954 Fender Esquire he’d bought for the lofty sum of $60 in 1964.

My Friend Gordon Waller

Sadly, I have just been told of the passing of my good friend Gordon Waller. Gordon and I met in the late sixties and even though we lived in different parts of the world most of the time, we stayed friends throughout the years. Every time we got together, we always ended up playing and singing songs and having a laugh over the good times and all the trouble we got into over the years.

When I decided to begin touring again in 2004, he offered me encouragement and support.

…It is a comfort to me to know that in the past few years he had found happiness in his personal life and that he and Peter had begun performing again. I always felt that these were the things that were such a big part of him.

When Cynthia and I were able to see Gordon and Peter in concert in Santa Monica, California last year, little did I know that it would be the last time I would see my old friend.

I know I’m not alone in saying that Gordon will be missed, but we each have our own memories of him, I have mine.

“ In an effort to raise public awareness to the needs of so many worthy causes, Cynthia and I will be pledging a donation from my proceeds from every show I perform, every CD and book I sell, to various charitable organizations. I invite all of you to join me in seeking ways to help those in need.

Below is a list of some of the organizations I support. Please contact Ann Gwilliam regarding adding your charitable cause. Thankyou for your support, Very sincerely yours, John Walker”

• The Red Cross

• Veterans of Foreign Wars

• Various orphanages and hospices in the UK and America

John Walker Photos at Victoria & Albert Museum

Harry Goodwin; official Top of The Pops photographer (1964 – 1973) has an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London  featuring his classic portraits of icons taken during this time. This exclusive exhibition will run from April – September 2010 later to tour nationwide.

We are thrilled and delighted to announce that Harry has selected a number of photographs of John and The Walker Brothers to be included in this interesting and exciting exhibition.