Robert "Bilbo" Walker visiting Maxwell Street, Sunday, August 8, 1999

-- Interview by Steve Balkin <mar@interaccess.com>

I saw his vehicle a block away, a big RV type bus parked on Maxwell Street, with his name on the back and side. He was walking around the neighborhood while his band members were waiting and talking inside the bus or eating Polish Sausages from Original Jim's. While waiting for him, I talked to his brother, and also to his drummer, of a long time, House Mouse. Reverend Johnson from Heritage Music came by and told me to listen to his CDs.

Images

by the side of his van(104K)

with a fan walking by Original Jim's(59K)

by the rear of his van(24K)

with his drummer, 'House Mouse'(68K)

with Maxwell St. bandstand manager, Frank 'Little Sonny' Scott Jr.(122K)

holding up a Save Maxwell St. t-shirt. (He got one for himself and one for his wife.) (77K)

Robert "Bilbo" Walker finally came back, wearing a beautiful white suit with tails and lapels outlined in blue sequins, like from a old riverboat show. I wanted to know why he was here.

• "I was practically raised in Chicago on Maxwell Street. I came here from Clarksdale Mississippi in the late 1950s and stayed here for 27 years, on 14^th Street and on Maxwell Street. I'm on a tour and when I come to Chicago I spend my time here. I stay at a hotel but I spend my days here. I park the van here in the daytime and visit. I eat at Jim's Hot Dog Stand. Nothing tastes like the old Maxwell Street food. I show the guys in the band the people I know. They're still down here. I introduce them to the old guys and the young men who were young boys when I knew them. Now they are grown up."
• "From here I'm going to the Delta Fishmarket on Kedzie, then on Tuesday, I play at Buddy Guys. Then I go down to Clarksdale, Mississippi for a festival. My wife will meet me there for a few days. Then I play in Dallas, Texas and then I work my way home. I'll come here and play anytime for a Maxwell Street benefit."
• "Maxwell Street should be saved and fixed up. If you take this away you take away all the history of everything. All the great things in Chicago came from Maxwell Street. All the real great musicians are from Maxwell Street. Most are dead. I played with many of them: Playboy Vincent, Little Buddy, Luther Allison, Magic Sam, Willie James, Left Handed Arthur. They were my playing buddies."

Robert Bilbo Walker can be contacted at 661-398-0372 in Bakersfield, California or through his agent, Adam Phillips, in Chicago, Alive Promotions, 312-409-3109; Email: alivepromotions@altavista.net

Other websites on Robert "Bilbo" Walker

Bio by Delta Boogie <http://www.deltaboogie.com/deltamusicians/walkerr.htm>

Catalog Comments on Promised Land CD <http://www.rounder.com/rounder/catalog/bylabel/rblu/2632/2632.html>

Review of Promised Land <http://www.bluesaccess.com/No_30/reviews/Walker.html>

Pictures during the 1998 Sunflower River Blues Festival at Sarah's Kitchen <http://www.12bar.com/images2.htm>

web page provided by OPENAIR-MARKET NET

return to the top of the page

return to Preserve Maxwell Street