Mel Walker (musician)

Malvin Lightsy (November 3, 1928 – April 23, 1964),

R&B singer best known for his recordings in the early 1950s as lead male singer with the Johnny Otis Orchestra.^[2]

Born in

Jefferson High School with Floyd Dixon. In 1949, he was discovered by Johnny Otis and joined his band, singing with Otis until around 1953. On many recordings he featured in duets with Little Esther, and also recorded with The Robins

.

Walker was credited as lead singer on many of Otis' earliest and biggest R&B hits, including "Mistrustin' Blues" and "Cupid Boogie", both of which reached #1 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1950, and "Rockin' Blues", an R&B #2 hit in 1951. He recorded Floyd Dixon's song "Call Operator 210", a #4 R&B chart hit in 1952.^[citation needed]

Walker was jailed on narcotics charges in the early 1950s.^[3] His body was found in an alley in Los Angeles on April 23, 1964,^[1] after an apparent drug overdose.^[4]

References

^
ISBN 978-0313344237
.

ISBN 9780306806834
. Retrieved March 25, 2015.

ISBN 9781136707483
. Retrieved March 25, 2015.

^ "Death In Alley Believed From Narcotics Use" (PDF). California Eagle. April 30, 1964. Retrieved March 25, 2015.