Big Walker
was born Derrick Roy Michael Walker in Lawton Oklahoma, December 3rd 1953. He grew up in an artistic family; his mother Jean Serman and aunt Evelyn Wooden were both working in the theater. His aunt was a musical songstress. His father Roy C Walker a Golden Glove Boxer and his mother an actress. Derrick learned to play harmonica when he was seven with his uncle John Wooden, who owned a small blues club in Cleveland Ohio.
In 1962 Derrick moved to San Francisco with his mother, who worked in a Community Theater, where Big also acted in several children's productions. In San Francisco during this time the new music of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane etc, influenced him and his music. He was also a big fan of Clover
who had great influence on Derrick's decision to become a musician.
Derrick Walker, took harmonica lessons from Paul Butterfield, who taught Derrick to sound like himself and play melodies, "not just licks". Bobby Forte - Villa Nova Dupré who played with BB King during the 60's and 70' s and Nole Juks who play with Jimmy Witherspoon
gave him saxophone lessons.
Derrick played with The Eddie Ray Rhythm And Blues Band,and the Luther Tucker Band backing artists such as Lowell Fulson, Percy Mayfield, Big Mama Thornton, Sonny Roads, Jimmy McCracklin and Sugar Pie De Santos. Derrick played with Michael Bloomfield and he was on his LP recording "Cruising for a Bruising".
Derrick began playing with a band called the Soul Rebels (1981), who were working for Bill Graham as a warm up band in Bill's nightclubs. They fronted acts such as the Dead Kennedy's, The Ramones, Greg Kihn, The Beat and many others. The bandleader was Dean Devnear, bass and drums were manned by the Stench Brothers who where a big part of Pearl Harbor and the Explosions. The Soul Rebels were considered San Francisco's most popular band at the time.
Derrick went to Europe in 1983, playing Saxophone on the streets, small clubs and festivals with Red Archibald. 1985 forming his own band playing the streets and culbs in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany and Spain. touring with Big Walker and his.
``The Black & White Blues Band. ``
1987-92 playing the blues harp with the ``Grinders``in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Germany.
He is the composer of "Stars in the Sky" and performed in two songs in the international film that made use of his music "Freud leaves Home".
2000. Derrick has undertaken several tours of Norway and Denmark, and regular club appearances in Sweden, with his new band the ``Blue Souls.``
He appeared often with folk blues artist Eric Bibb and played on several of Eric's CDs, and recorded gospel with Cyndee Peters on "Songs From The Heart".
He played harmonica and acted in The Broadway musical ``Big River.``
He appeared with Blues legend Jimmy Dawkins and Singer Zora Young at The Great British R'n'B Festival in Colne as well as touring playing festivals in Denmark and Sweden.
Derrick (Big) Walker plays tenor and alto saxophone plus the ten hole diatonic and chromatic harmonica, sings and wrights his own songs.
Derrick has conducted lectures in blues/Afro American history, plus harmonica workshops at the Stockholm music Conservatory (rytmus) and Kulturama High school for Music and Dramatic arts. He has been teaching classes in blues, rock and country harmonica for over fifteen years.
Big Walker and Blue Souls. The Blue Souls are four veteran musicians that together have over 200 years of music life experience. They all met in Sweden. Now they tour together thru out Europe. They mostly write there own songs but can cover most blues music styles But thats another story...
