Oscar G. Mixon (1931 - 1995)

Born 14 Jun 1931 in Blytheville, Mississippi, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Died 23 Nov 1995 at age 64 in Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States

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Biography

Oscar Mixon is a part of US Black heritage.

Oscar Mixon is Notable.

Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr., known professionally as Junior Walker, is notable for his influential contributions to the world of R&B and soul music. As a talented saxophonist and vocalist, he fronted the band "The All Stars" and achieved significant success with hits like "Shotgun," which topped the R&B charts and earned him a Grammy nomination. Throughout his career, he collaborated with renowned artists, including Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and Diana Ross, further solidifying his impact on the music industry. His innovative blend of saxophone-driven melodies with soulful vocals set him apart and left an indelible mark on the genre. Additionally, his performance on Foreigner's hit "Urgent" introduced him to a new audience and showcased his versatility as a musician. Junior Walker's enduring legacy continues to inspire musicians and entertain audiences around the world.^[1]

Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr., better known by his stage name Junior Walker, was born Oscar G. Mixon on June 14, 1931, in Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas. His parents were Jessie R. Mixon and Marie Fern (Banks) Mixon.^[2][3] The family later relocated to South Bend, Indiana, where Autry grew up and attended school. It was during his high school years that he developed a passion for playing the saxophone.^[4]

After graduating from high school, Autry began his musical career playing saxophone in jazz and R&B nightclubs. In 1954, he formed his first band, the Jumping Jacks. By the mid-1950s, he had established himself further by starting his own band named "The Jumping Jacks" and securing a permanent gig on the Rhythm Rockers Show at a local TV station in South Bend.^[4]

In the late 1950s, Autry moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, and renamed his band "The All Stars". Their first recorded release was "Satan's Blues" in 1964 on Gordy's Soul subsidiary, which unfortunately did not gain national success. However, their next release, "Shotgun", in 1965 on the Motown Hitsville USA label, featuring Autry on vocals, became a massive hit. "Shotgun" reached #1 on the R&B charts and #4 on the pop chart, earning a Grammy nomination for best R&B recording of the year. This success was followed by a series of sax-heavy R&B and pop hits over the next four years, including "(I'm A) Road Runner," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," "Pucker Up Buttercup," and "Hip City," among others.^[3][4]

The group's popular 1965 tune, Shotgun, also became the title track for an album, and was later re-released on the soundtrack of the movie Malcolm X. In 1969, Autry began exploring a new musical direction with more soulful and romantic songs, starting with the hit "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)". He also had success with covers like the Guess Who's "These Eyes" and his own compositions like "Gotta Hold On to This Feeling" and "Do You See My Love For You Growing," which achieved high rankings on both R&B and pop charts.^[3][4]

Throughout his career, Autry collaborated and performed with renowned artists such as Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and The Jackson Five. In 1977, he released records on Soul and later went solo in 1979, releasing music on various labels. In 1981, he gained new recognition for his saxophone performance on Foreigner's Top 10 hit "Urgent".^[3][4]

Autry received numerous awards throughout his career, including a Grammy. He had the honor of performing at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, one of his fans, and also had a leading role in the film Tape Heads (1986).^[5] Tragically, Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr., aka Junior Walker, passed away from cancer on November 23, 1995, in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan.^[6][7][8] That same year, he was posthumously inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, recognizing his significant contributions to the genre.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. Junior Walker. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. February 17, 2024, 19:30 UTC. Available at: "Autry Dewalt Mixon Jr. (Junior Walker." Accessed April 1, 2024.
2. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007: Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. Ancestry Record 60901 #14982436
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} JET, Black America's Leading Newsmagazine, 11 Dec 1995, volume 89, No. 5. "Junior Walker, Leader Of The Motown Group, Junior Walker and The All Stars, Dies of Cancer." Accessed 31 Mar 2024.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5} Simmons, Rick, Carolina Beach Music Encyclopedia, McFarland and Company, Inc., Publishers Jefferson, North Carolina, 2018. "Beach Music Encyclopedia." Accessed 31 Mar 2024.
5. ↑ "Walker's life, music celebrated", Battle Creek Enqirer, Battle Creek, Michigan, 29 Nov 1995, Wed. - Page 1. Newspapers Clip: 144543307, Newspapers Clip: 144543447, Accessed 1 Apr 2024.
6. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014: Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File Ancestry Record 3693 #15384487
7. ↑ Michigan, U.S., Death Index, 1971-1996: Michigan Department of Vital and Health Records. Michigan, U.S., Death Index, 1971-1996 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1998. Original data: Michigan Department of Vital and Health Records. Michigan Death Index. Lansing, MI, USA. Ancestry Record 3171 #416994
8. ↑ "Autry D. Mixon Obituary", Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, Michigan, 26 Nov 1995, Sun. - Page 10. Newspapers Clip: 144543613, Accessed 1 Apr 2024.

See Also

• Wikidata: Item Q1710284