Gary Walker (musician)

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Gary Walker
GaryWalker.png
Walker in 1965
Background information
Birth nameGary Leeds
Also known asGary Walker
BornMarch 9, 1942 (1942-03-09) (age 82)
Glendale, California, U.S.
Genres Rock
Occupation
Instruments
Years active1962–1978
Labels
Formerly of

Gary Walker (born Gary Leeds; March 9, 1942) is an American retired [1] musician, who was the drummer with both the Standells and the Walker Brothers. Gary is now the last surviving member of The Walker Brothers.

Contents

Born in Glendale, California to Jack and Violet Leeds, [2] he attended Glendale High School. [1] His first ambition was to be a pilot, eventually obtaining a pilots license. [2] After a short time in The Standells, [3] he formed the Walker Brothers with John and Scott Walker in 1964. They moved to the United Kingdom with P. J. Proby soon after [1] and had two number ones there. All three members changed their surnames to "Walker". Walker put out four singles as a solo artist in 1966, two of which both peaked at no.26 in the UK. [4] Following a UK and Japan tour in 1967 and 1968, the Walker Brothers disbanded, and Gary formed his own band, Gary Walker & The Rain with Joey Molland, Charlie Crane, and John Lawson. [2] [5]

Gary joined the Walker brothers for another tenure from 1975–1978 and other brief reunions, and by the 1980s was living a private life, operating a small castle model business, and eventually creating models of the Titanic. [2] Walker moved back to the United States at some point, but returned to England when his parents passed away as "there is no reason to go back there". [1] He lives in England with his wife Barbara, who he married on 17 Novmeber 1979. [2] Their son, Michael, was born on 17 December 1986. [2] In 2009, Gary and John Walker wrote the book "The Walker Brothers: No Regrets—Our Story". [6] [7] [8]

Discography

The Walker Brothers

Solo

Singles

  • You Don't Love Me / Get It Right (1966 UK + Japan release [9] ) (UK peak: no.26 [4] )
  • Twinkie Lee / She Makes Me Feel Better (1966 UK + Japan release [9] ) (UK peak: no.26 [4] )
  • Cutie Morning Moon / Gary's Theme (1968 Japan release only [9] )
  • Hello, How Are You / Fran (1975 UK release only [9] )

Extended plays (EP)

  • Here's Gary (1966 UK release only [9] )

Gary Walker and the Rain

Singles

  • Spooky / I Can't Stand To Lose You (1968 UK + Japan release [9] [10] [11] )
  • The View / Thoughts Of An Old Man (1968 Japan release only [9] )
  • Magazine Woman / Take A Look (1968 Japan release only [9] )
  • Come In You’ll Get Pneumonia / Francis (1969 UK release only [9] )

Albums

Bibliography

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References

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  3. "The Standells - Ace Records". www.acerecords.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  4. 1 2 3 "GARY WALKER". Official Charts. 1966-03-02. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  5. Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London, UK: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 172. CN 5585.
  6. 1 2 "Brothers Regrets Story by Gary Walker - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  7. 1 2 Walker, John Walker & Gary (2010-10-11). The Walker Brothers: No Regrets - Our Story. Kings Road Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84358-978-5.
  8. 1 2 "Akateeminen Kirjakauppa". Akateeminen Kirjakauppa. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Gary Walker - Discography". 2016-06-13. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  10. 1 2 "Gary Walker & The Rain". rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Gary Walker And The Rain". 45cat. Retrieved 2025-01-18.