John Walker (Born John Maus)
November 12, 1943 – May 7, 2011
John Walker was a the co-lead singer of the Walker Brothers, a popular California-born “British” rock band during the ’60s. Ironically, the band moved to England while British bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were taking over America. As a sort of rock version of the Righteous Brothers, the band became immensely popular in England, with a fan club that once counted more members than even the Beatles’. During the early ’60s, Walker began building a name for himself throughout the hip Hollywood night spots while working with the likes of Phil Spector, the Monkees, and Ritchie Valens in the studio. Meanwhile, he was forming the Walker Brothers with co-lead singer Scott Walker (born Noel Scott Engel) and drummer Gary Walker (born Gary Leeds) while playing in the house band at Gazzari’s on the Sunset Strip. The band soon moved to England where they helped fill a void that was created when the popular British bands were trying to conquer America. Over the course of their run, the Walker Brothers reportedly sold some 20 million records with hits like “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore,” “My Ship Is Comin’ In,” and “Love Her.” In recent years, Walker regularly toured the UK as part of nostalgia tours. In December of 2010, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. John Walker was 67 when he died of cancer on May 7, 2011.
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