27 Comments
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Skenny's avatar

Nice piece, Alan, and a touching tribute to your friend, and a great musician, JLW. It seems that in addition to his musical ability, he was a smart guy, too. Sorry you lost that autographed pic.😕

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks. I have not given up on that photo showing up some day.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thank you.

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HarryT's avatar

I paid tribute by listening to the entire set, 59 minutes of a#@ kicking tunes. What an amazing set of musicians here led by a most amazing bluesman, and so much more, Joe Louis Walker.

The sky is also crying, Alan.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Yes. Amen.

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Kirka's avatar

I’m always amazed at things that I thought. I knew that your articles and publications have helped me better understand the musicians in my soul. Thanks for walking your path as it has helped shed light on the path, I’m walking.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks man. That’s a very nice way to put it.

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Al gassman's avatar

Matt Murphy was also in the band. There is a short clip on YouTube from that afternoon. It was a great day.

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Al gassman's avatar

July 26, 1997 and it was a free show too

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Alan Paul's avatar

Cool. I lived in Michigan then, which is why I totally missed that one. They were all free in CP then.

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Al gassman's avatar

My favorite show of his was his Central Park show with Scotty Moore and Ike Turner. That show Joe played a lot of rhythm behind his two guests. Thanks Joe for bringing Scotty and Ike out for guys like me that never had the chance to see them.

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Alan Paul's avatar

I didn’t even know about this. Remarkable.

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Dan Genovese's avatar

I’ll head down the Joe rabbit hole now with this incredible read. Great as always Alan. My condolences on the loss of a great friend of 40 years.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks Dan. The Spotify playlist I posted is a good start.

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Stan Taylor's avatar

Beautiful tribute. May he Secondline with the 😇 Angels.

I'll Fly Away

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Alan Paul's avatar

Amen

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Kevin L Bazur's avatar

Thank you Alan, Wonderful tribute.

Safe travels Joe. KB

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HarryT's avatar

It's hard to 'like' a post like this, so I'll just send my condolences, and now I'm also taking in this amazing man's blue's playing, right at the top of my list. I'll be sending him my best vibes to the other side, Alan. Sorry for your loss here, what an amazing blues man for sure.

RIP Joe Lewis Walker Your legacy lives on....

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HarryT's avatar

Strangely, he passed in my hometown, Poughkeepsie, NY. Not sure what the connection was, but it just brings it a little closer to home here.

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Alan Paul's avatar

He lived there for the last 15 or 20 years.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks Harry.

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Big Tex's avatar

I have a place on Bequia & am planning on going to the Mustique Blues Festival next year. Glad to hear Joe Louis was involved in that.

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Alan Paul's avatar

All him I think.

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Sal Dickinson's avatar

Great tribute about a great guy - JLW was a friend and an awesome guitarist!

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks Sal. A prince of a guy.

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Jeff Surfus's avatar

I was in the Bay Area at the same time and discovered Joe then as well. We may have crossed paths in those days. I was at that SF Blues Fest and it was phenomenal! I absolutely loved those JLW Hightone albums. Thanks for sharing your experience with Joe, a great underrated bluesman.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Right on. I had the poster from that fest and I have some tiny hope it’s in a roll somewhere in my house.

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