R‘n'B legend dies after heart attack

1:53pm Monday 20th August 2007

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CLARENCE 'Tex' Walker, former lead singer of The Drifters and The Coasters, has died.

The R'n'B legend died at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on August 8, following a heart attack in the King's Arms Hotel, Woodstock.

As a child, Mr Walker was a leading voice in his hometown congregation's gospel choir in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In the 1960s, he served in the Vietnam War.

Upon his return to America he was joined Bill Pinkney's group, The Drifters, as lead vocalist.

The Drifters, fronted by Mr Walker, made their debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and went on to perform sell-out concerts in Las Vegas and across America.

In this time, The Drifters would also share the stage with other performers, including Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Ottis Reading, The Beach Boys, and Elvis Presley. Mr Walker was asked to front The Coasters, which he did for several worldwide tours.

In 1990 he came to England to sing lead vocals with Big Joe Turner's band, as they supported B B King at the Royal Albert Hall, in London.

Mr Walker went on to perform lead vocals on two albums with the group, Big Joe Turner's Memphis Blues Caravan and French Connection.

Mr Walker, while in England, fell in love with Oxfordshire and relocated to the county.

He settled in Jericho, Oxford.

Mr Walker, struck up a friendship with Oxford-based music promoter Silver Phil, and performed at the Monday Night Blues evening, which have been held in the city for over twenty years.

The regular Monday night event was at the Brewhouse - now The Goose - in Gloucester Green, Oxford.

Mr Walker also played the evening when it moved to the Jongleurs comedy club above Bar Risa, in Hythe Bridge Street.

He went on to play at blues and jazz venues across the UK, including the famous Jazz Cafe, in London.

While living here he also recorded a solo album with his Walker Street Blues Band, Blues in Black, which received critical acclaim.

In 2004, Mr Walker returned to America following the death of his mother, but while there he suffered a severe heart attack.

Mr Walker was unable to return to the UK until June this year and, according to close friend Silver Phil, said 'I'm finally home' when he arrived back in Oxford.

Before his death this month, Mr Walker had been recuperating at his friends in Stonesfield, and had hoped to get back on stage performing.

On the Friday before he died, Mr Walker gave his last performance at a blues night in Woodstock.