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Jimmy Walker (7)

Saxophonist. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in1926. First professional work was at the Edinburgh Palais in 1944. He joined Harry Parry in 1945, Roy Fox in 1946/7 and Vic Lewis in 1947/8 before forming his first quintet in 1948. He moved his quintet to London in 1952. Besides playing tenor and soprano saxes he was a capable pianist and vocalist. He was highly regarded in jazz circles and was chosen to record with the Melody Maker New Stars in 1952. The quintet he had brought to London was disbanded in 1953 and Walker returned to dance band work with Ambrose in 1953 eventually joining Jack Parnell in 1955 as a vocalist and a musician. In the mid 1950s he worked in the jazz scene with the Bert Courtley / Jack Seymour Orchestra and the Jazz Today Unit. He also made jazz club appearances with his own quintet bthen returned to singing, forming the Polka Dots vocal group in 1957 which continued until 1964. He was then a successful session vocalist before leaving full time music in 1970. Returning in 1973 he worked aboard a cruise ship and later worked in Portugal before returning to London in 1986 where he continued to freelance through the 1990s.