John Walker, the founder and namesake of 1960s pop stars The Walker Brothers, has died of liver cancer, according to the Associated Press. He was 67.
Born John Maus, he began using the surname “Walker” in his teens (some accounts attribute this to his wanting to obtain a fake ID in order to play in nightclubs), and performed both as part of the John And Judy duo with his sister, with musicians like the Beach Boys’ Dennis and Carl Wilson (whom he reportedly taught how to play guitar), and with his friend Ritchie Valens, with whom he was so close he served as a pallbearer at his funeral. In addition to doing session work with people like Glen Campbell and Phil Spector, Walker also dabbled in acting, landing bit parts in the movies The Eddy Duchin Story and The Missouri Traveler, as well as a recurring role on the sitcom Hello Mom.
After Walker met bassist Scott Engel and drummer Al “Tiny” Schneider—who was soon succeeded by Gary Leeds—they formed The Walker Brothers Trio in 1964, with each member adopting the “Walker” name. Although having some early Hollywood success that included the “Pretty Girls Everywhere” single for Mercury and an appearance on Shindig!, they were soon persuaded that they would have more luck in swinging London, relocating later that year in a counterstrike to the British Invasion sweeping America. Their next single, “Love Her,” became their first genuine hit, followed by “Make It Easy On Yourself” and “My Ship Is Coming In,” songs that combined Scott’s soulful baritone with sweeping, Phil Spector-ish orchestra arrangements—a dapper sound that quickly made them stars in the U.K. Their most-recognized song, 1965’s “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore,” embodied the Walker Brothers’ approach—wistful and romantic, strong and suave, it seems to endlessly crescendo without ever losing its power.