The Sun ain’t gonna shine anymore for the Walker Brothers founder John Walker, who died over the weekend of liver cancer aged 67. Although lead singer Scott Walker’s good looks and powerful and imperious vocal style stole most of the plaudits in the 1960s, John Walker was the group’s main songwriter and leader. Put quite simply, without John Walker’s songwriting, Scott Walker’s magnificent vocals would not have had a vehicle and therefore would have been redundant!!
John Walker, who was born John Maus, had begun using the name “Walker” professionally when he was 17, adopting it so folklore has it, in order that he could obtain a fake I.D. that allowed him to play at nightclubs he was too young to legally enter. He formed the Walker Brothers in Los Angeles with fellow Americans, bassist Scott Engel and drummer Gary Leeds and each adopted “Walker” as his surname. Having moved to the UK in the early 1960s, the Walker Brothers became one of Britain’s biggest bands and sold 23 million records worldwide. They had instant success with their first British recording “Love Her” in 1964 and a string of hits quickly followed. These included a brace of majestic Number Ones – “Make it easy on yourself” and “The Sun ain’t gonna shine anymore”, and a No3, “My Ship is coming in”. The Walker Brothers cemented this early success, by touring globally. However they didn’t neglect or forget their adopted home and were constant visitors in UK living rooms, with regular TV appearances on Top Of The Pops, Ready Steady Go and The Billy Cotton Band Show.
The Walker Brothers split in 1968 after creative tensions between John and Scott made the group’s continued existence untenable. 
Scott Walker then went on to have a successful solo career with three hits – “Jackie”, Joanna” and “Lights of Cincinatti” and a multitude of widely acclaimed albums. Somewhat fortuitously the Walker Brothers reformed in 1974 and released another single in 1976, “No Regrets”, before breaking up for the final time. However “No Regrets” didn’t disappoint, matching their the epic sound of their classic 1960s hits, and was therefore a fitting encore for one of the most stylish bands from “The Swinging Sixties”!!
Although as a photogenic frontman, with one of the best vocals of all time, Scott Walker took centre stage, the Walker Brothers would not have been the group they were without John Walker’s songwriting. Perhaps the best tribute should be left to Drummer Gary Walker, who remembered him as “a compassionate songwriter, a fantastic guitarist and a gentleman with lots of style. His music will live on, And therefore so will John.”
So why not celebrate Scott Walker’s powerful vocals and the Walker Brothers’ epic, classic songs and keep them for posterity as a souvenir?…………Get your favourite Walker Brothers vinyl records or compact discs ( singles or albums ), framed and mounted, by clicking on….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/
Alternatively you can buy a Walker Brothers “Song Souvenir” for a family member, or friend……this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration ie a 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Mother’s or Father’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!
MyFirstRecord.co.uk have most of the Walker Brothers’ albums and singles available in their original vinyl record format. Select from this full list of albums –
Take It Easy with The Walker Brothers
Released: December 1965
Label: Philips Records
Portrait
Released: November 1966
Label: Philips Records
Images
Released: April 1967
Label: Philips Records
No Regrets
Released: October 1975
Label: GTO Records
Lines
Released: October 1976
Label: GTO Records
Nite Flights
Released: February 1978
Label: GTO Records
If you would like any of these Walker Brothers albums or any of their hit singles, framed and mounted, ORDER now by clicking on….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/
You might also like to visit John Walker’s official website…… www.johnwalkerinternational.com/
I do wish people would do research before writing articles like this. It is such a tragedy for John and his family, all his fans are thinking of them, and they are in our prayers. I do have to say that I am struggling to see where the idea came from that John Walker was the songwriter for the Walker Brothers, I met John frequently in the last few years and I think he would have been as surprised as I was to read this.
John contributed hugely to the Walker Brothers success, to me, those beautiful harmonies that he produced with Scott have never been equalled.
John did not write any of the Walker Brothers hit songs, he did have songwriting credits on some of the album tracks and b sides for the Walker Brothers, around 10 songs I believe over the career of the Walker Brothers. On the other hand, Scott wrote around 20 songs during the same time, including 3 of their singles. John was influential at the time in choosing possible songs to record, and was successful at that, but he did not write them!
I also find it laughable that the writer of this thinks that Scott Walker would have been redundant if it wasn’t for John Walker’s songwriting.
Hi Geraldine
Thank you for drawing my attention to the erroneous nature of the article. It was not my intention to cause any offence, as I love the Walker Brothers. If you would like to write a tribute, I would be more than happy to replace my article, with that of a “fan who knew the man”. And of course credit you at the end of it.
Regards
Simon