JR. WALKER & THE ALLSTARS - Shotgun

Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr is better known by his stage name Jr. Walker. In 1951 the twenty-year old saxophonist and his band The All Stars got a record deal with Harvey Records. After a couple years the label was bought by Berry Gordy - who re-formed the group as Jr. Walker And The All Stars. Now part of the Motown family, Gordy produced the band's first hit record in 1965 - which became their signature song - Shotgun. The song is about the dance craze - The Shotgun. When the song was recorded the session vocalist didn't show up, so Jr. Walker did vocals for the song. It was the first time he did vocals on a track, and he did not expect the recording to be used. The song hit number one on the Billboard R&B chart.