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Fred
Walk
2005 INDUCTEE
Fred Walk's life was never the same after first hearing
"Mystery Train" by Elvis Presley when Fred was about 11 years old. But
hearing Blues artists like John Lee Hooker and T-Bone Walker on the radio
really set forth his musical direction. He was also inspired by B.B. King,
Freddie King, Albert King, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Ray
Charles, Son House, and Elmore James.
He was 13 years old when he obtained his first guitar and he later played
trumpet in school bands.
Walk was playing bass by the time he performed his first paid gig in eastern
Iowa. He played guitar in all types of bar/lounge bands but always
gravitated to the Blues, especially because it was a great vehicle for
self-expression.
Walk became a member of The Prophets, a band based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
that also included singer/keyboardist Stephen Miller, also a member of the
IBHOF. The band, which included saxophone, developed a potent blend of
Blues, Soul and Rock, earning respect in clubs in Waterloo like the Cougar
and Jimmy's.
They expanded their fan base, performing in large mid-western cities, which
led to an offer to become the house band at Mother's Blues in the Chicago.
They decided to pay tribute to their home roots and renamed themselves the
Linn County Blues Band. During their stint in Chicago, they found themselves
sharing the stage with Blues legends Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Junior Wells,
and Howlin' Wolf.
They were recording an album in the famous Chess studios for Dunwich
Records, when they came to the attention of Mercury Records, who bought out
their contract and decided they should move to San Francisco to take
advantage of the music scene that was exploding there in the late '60s.
Shortening their name to simply Linn County, they went to L.A in '68 to
record Proud Flesh Soothseer, an album of almost all original tunes by the
band. Experimentation was a sign of the times and the band incorporated some
innovative sounds and creative instrumentation into their raw, muscular
Blues-Rock.
Linn County went on a cross-country tour where they performed with Albert
King in Chicago, Led Zeppelin in Detroit, and in New York at the Fillmore
East with Sly & the Family Stone and Eric Burdon & the Animals. Ten Years
After was the opening act when Linn County played at Steve Paul's famous
club, The Scene. Back in the Bay Area, they performed at places like the
Fillmore West and the Avalon opening for bands like the Grateful Dead and
Quicksilver Messenger Service.
Their 2nd album, Fever Shot, showcased their songwriting once again, with
Walk pairing with Miller for three of their best tunes.
Their 3rd album, Till The Break of Dawn, was recorded for Mercury's sister
label, Philips. With an even more traditional Blues sound than the previous
two albums, it was another case of critical acclaim but their sound wasn't
radio-friendly enough to translate into major sales.
Miller would go on to record a solo album with half of the tracks recorded
with Linn County and the other half with the Elvin Bishop Band, which led to
Miller leaving Linn County and joining Bishop for several years and four
albums. Janis Joplin would recruit Linn County drummer, Clark Pierson, for
her Full Tilt Boogie Band. Meanwhile, Walk kept Linn County going briefly
before finally disbanding.
Miller would eventually reform the band back in Iowa in '74 with current
IBHOF member, Ron DeWitte on guitar. Another IBHOF member, Tom "T-Bone"
Giblin, took over on keyboards after Miller joined the band, Grinderswitch.
In 2004, Fred Walk, as a founding member of Linn County, had the proud honor
of being part of the ceremony that inducted the band into the Iowa Rock 'n'
Roll Hall of Fame.
Don "T-Bone" Erickson
PHOTO © JEN TAYLOR - VIVIDPIX.COM
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