THE FAMILY WALKER 2010

Aloha! There ya go! Here's your coffee! It is smoking the same time the fire place crackles in the background. You can hear it because there is no music in the background and there hasn't been for some time. When my we server upgraded itself, it left behind some cool features. Background music for my Blog page was one of them. I have a request emailed in to add it back, so I have heard your complaints and I'm sorry. I enjoy the music in the background while I read as well. It is very comforting, especially when we had jazz pieces in the background. Thanks for your reading loyality In appreciation, I would like to send you a free music download. Just send an email to ed@eddiewalkerjr.com and I will zip out to you a recent recording of a song I wrote, performed and recorded. Which is the reason for this post in the first place.

     On my family's website, please note "Eddie's Music Store" page at the top of the navigation bar. On it are several original songs I've written, performed and recorded over the years and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to share them with you all now. In addition, there is recently opened a "Walker Web Store' toward the bottom of the navigation bar. So, with a new web store, how come no big band marching down the street, or flyers, or newspaper ads announcing it? The reason is this; no need to. In this area, the power of the Internet speaks for itself. The word is spreading, slowly but very surely daily. The word is getting out to people who appreciate and love listenning to new music they haven't discovered yet. Has it been hard work? You bet, but it is so fun and worth it, just to have an opportunity to share. Thank you for coming by as you always do and God Bless you. Aloha and Mahalo

go to:http://www.eddiewalkerjr.com/eddiesmusicstore.htm

, the band- made a completely awesome performance and appearance on the National Broadcasting Company's television channel "NBC". The band appeared in conjunction with a skating spectacular that aired on January 1st, 2010. Robert Lamm, Jimmy Pankow,  Walt Parazaider and Lee Loughnane did some interviewing and all showed very much class. Sounding better than ever and with drummer Tris Imboden back in the line up, the guys blasted away, opening up with Beginnings while skaters skated. Who ever thought up of this idea is a genius. The music of Chicago is perfect for this type of presentation. My whole family enjoyed it very much. I sense millions of americans did as well. Some other tunes the band played were classics like, "25or6to4", "You're the Inspiration", "If You Leave Me  Now", "I'm Alive Again", "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Colour My World", and "Feelin Stronger Every Day". It must be mentioned that trumpeter Lee Loughnane sang "Colour My World" and Terry is smiling in Heaven, for sure. Lee is so impressive in so many ways. Walter was awesome and perfect in his flute part in the song and everybody sounded great. God Bless you, Tris Imobden! You look and sound great!

     In summary, the greatest band of all time, enters this new decade with typical and humble class, with a great performance that, if I were a young guy listening to them for the first time, I know I would say, "Hey, these guys are pretty good" and start paying attention to their music. I know I have! Happy New Year to all Chicago fans and most of all, "here's to you guys, Chicago! God Bless and keep going! We love ya!!!

Thank you very next....

Eddie Walker,

Bev & Ed's only Son!

Aloha. Below is a quoted article that CNN published last weekend. I have some comments below regarding this departure.

"Bill Champlin is leaving Chicago. "This music is callin' me," he says of his new solo venture.

"Bill Champlin is no longer in Chicago. He was a long-time band member and we wish him all the best as he embarks on his new solo project, for which he's worked long and hard.," a statement from Chicago's management said Monday

"After 28 years with Chicago, singer-songwriter-keyboardist Bill Champlin is parting ways with the classic jazz/rock band to focus once again on his solo career," Champlin's publicist Judi Kerr said of the split.

"This music is callin' me," said Champlin, whose new solo album "No Place Left to Fall" was released last week on the DreamMakers label. "I'm really looking forward to playing more intimate venues and hearing what fans think of the new music. I can't wait to spend some one-on-one time with my old and new fans!"

Champlin has scheduled a string of concerts along the West Coast in November to promote the new album.

Champlin joined Chicago in 1981 at a pivotal point in the band's history. After a string of 12 platinum and multiplatinum albums, Chicago was struggling for direction in the years after the death of original guitarist Terry Kath in 1978.

The appearance of the new vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist on "Chicago 16," along with the production skills of David Foster, marked a new era of chart success for the band.

Champlin was most prominently featured on "Chicago 19," where he sang lead on three of the album's four hit singles, including the chart-topping "Look Away," which ranked No. 1 on Billboard's 1989 year-end Hot 100.

Before joining Chicago, Champlin picked up a pair of Grammy Awards for tunes he penned for other artists: "After the Love is Gone" for Earth, Wind & Fire and "Turn Your Love Around" for George Benson.

Champlin also occasionally performs with the Sons of Champlin, a horn-heavy band he helped found during the late-1960s San Francisco, California, psychedelic scene.

Chicago is on a co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire this summer, with the next show scheduled for August 21 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Lou Pardini, a Grammy-nominated keyboardist who has played with Stevie Wonder and Santana, will replace Champlin, according to Chicago's management.

Chicago formed in 1967, committed to the concept of a rock 'n' roll band with horns. First called The Big Thing, the group was known as Chicago Transit Authority on its debut album before taking its present name.

In more than four decades, Chicago has sold more than 122 million recordings. It had five consecutive No. 1 albums and has had more than 50 Top-40 singles."

Well, you probably need a strong cup of coffee like I do. Enjoy the fire next to our checkers table and I'll get ya some... Delicious dark roast with a snap of vanilla and ginger! Enjoy! Well, what do you think about Bill Champlin's departure? Are you as shocked as I am? Bill's recent solo project was just released and I guess he believes he's onto something special that he's been waiting for, apparently. Chicago will miss him but remember, Chicago are mighty and they will overcome. In fact, they may even be better than ever just around the corner! I believe that! I am so proud of these guys. I love their new song, and the one they did with Earth, Wind and Fire as well. My message is keep going forward, just like Robert's latest press release, which I will print in this blog tomorrow as a new release! Yes, Bill Champlin will be missed, I've already said that, I know. But, it is true. He is very talented, but so too are the rest of the guys, they still tout the greatest horn section in the world and Robert and Jimmy should never sell themselves short of being what they are, which is the greatest overall music brains of our time! That's what I said. You don't write and arrange something like "Fancy Colours", "Poem for the People' and "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon", and not last forever. Well, these are my feelings on this touchy matter. Please feel free to comment. Aloha and Mahalo, and of course, thankyou very next.....................

Aloha! Well, I'm finally back. Sorry to have been gone so long! I can't believe it has been more than 9 months since my last entry!  First, let me say thank you so much to Chicago fans all over the world who've visited our pages over a quarter million times in the last few years. I know you enjoy the Chicago tribute, Terry & Robert pages and the SOS gallery! I promise to update will new stuff before too long!

     NOw then, to the review! First, let me say, I bought this re-release as soon as I saw it available. I bought it @ the Navy Exchange in Pearl Harbor. I love this re-release! It comes with an all new CD of music that was recorded but was not included in the original album release in 1971, that I received as a birthday present in 1974. In addition, it comes with miniture posters and booklet copy that was included in the original release. This Cd release marks the 3rd publication of this concert. In 1988 or 1989, I purchased the 3 CD relase by Columbia, and it included an 11 page booklet that basically reprinted the writings in the album of the songlist and "It Better End Soon" lyrics that Terry sang in the concert.

     The new re-release with its new CD opens up with a different presentor than Scott Nini, he doesn't identify himself, and it doesn't sound like Scott Nini. Anyway the guys opened up with "Listen" which is really cool live. This being the first time I heard this song live. Terry did a great lead that is different from the album and of course, the rest of the band was dead on and they sounded awesome! Then next is "Introduction" which I think is a better recording and performance than was printed in the album #3 of the 4 record set from 71. Moreover, the band completes this new CD by performing "Lonliness is Just a Word" and sounds awesome! This is another song I'd always hoped to hear live. Terry's vocals are really cool here, sounding better than the studio version. Other recordings of "South California Purples", "Sing a Mean Tune, Kid" and "25or6to4" are here and each sounds better recording wise and performance wise than appeared on the original release. Why they weren't used in the beginning is a mystery. Lastly, a huge gem on here is a live recording of Terry's "Hour in the Shower" which I cherish and I am so glad Chicago shares this with us. I relived so many cherished memories when I first heard Chicago @ Carnegie Hall. I highly recommend this re-release. It is awesome and will stand the test of time. I hope this review helps you and assists you as you strive to find and listen to exceptional music and exceptional musical ability. This CD satisfies both. Aloha and Mahalo and as always...Thank you very next......

P.S. No coffee served this time, cause I'm brewin some special stuff for,,,,....well you know,, Thank you very next........

ALOHA TO ALL! Sorry gone so long, busy, busy, like everyone else. The above pic is the cover of Chicago's re-release of the 97 release of Heart of Chicago, with one huge twist! It is a 2 disc deal, one of which is a disc in MVI format, providing videos, more songs, wallpaper, icons, and a chance to remix "Free" the way you want it. Then you place your recording on a website. I highly recommend it and I love it. Also, because you access online with this, it keeps updating with more neat stuff! Cool, huh? Among the videos is an excellent interview with Lee Loughnane (trumpet player, guitar player, singer, songwriter, and oh yeah, the Pig man from the 1973 film "Electra Glide in Blue". Also in the interview is the awesome singer/songwriter/ multi-player, Robert Lamm. These guys are cool and share some interesting perspectives on Chicago, where they came from, where they've been, and where they are at right now..check it out..you'll be glad you did! Thank you very next......
Eddie Walker from eddiewalkerjr.com