Nashville soul legend remains active

Music City native Charles “Wigg” Walker is a certified soul music legend, a vocal great who once toured with such giants as James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, and Etta James. His singing career dates back to childhood when he got started doing gospel at church and soul at school. Another mighty music figure, Ted Jarrett, gave him his first opportunity to record in 1959 for Jarrett’s Champion label, though the tune “Slave To Love” was mistakenly credited to a non-existent group (Charles Walker and the Daffodils). The actual vocalists along with Walker were Larry Birdsong and his label comrades, the Kinglets. Walker led a whirlwind life that includes stints in New York, Chicago, England, and other European nations. He’s appeared at such famous venues as the Apollo Theater, Small’s Paradise, and places in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. He’s recorded for such famous labels as Chess and Decca, as well as Botanic, and twice been the lead vocalist for a group known as the Sidewinders. Since returning to Nashville in 1993, he’s stayed busy. His solo releases include I’m Available, Leavin’ This Old Town, In the House (live with Johnny Jones), and Soul Stirring Thing. He also released an...