Choker Campbell
Encyclopedia
Walter Luzar "Choker" Campbell (March 21, 1916 - July 20, 1993) was an American musician.
Born as an only child in Shelby, Mississippi, his family moved to Saginaw, Michigan, when he was only five years old. Campbell studied saxophone under several influential musicians and left school at the age of nineteen. In the early 60's he got a job at Hitsville USA (which later became Motown Records) playing with the resident band, then later as a supporting artist for several well-known Motown artists, such as the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye
, the Four Tops
, Stevie Wonder
and others. Campbell toured the USA with stops at the Apollo Theater in New York City and many other venues.
After leaving Motown Records, Choker came to Canada with his own band and played several Canadian venues. He settled in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he started his own record label, Campbell Artist Productions, and did several recordings with Attic Records (of Toronto), and studio work with his friend, Paul Zaza
.
After several years, Choker returned to Detroit, where he remained until his death.
Choker has left behind a son and two daughters in Canada, two in London
, one in Halifax.
He also appeared in the film Shake, Rattle & Rock!
with Big Joe Turner
and Mike Connors
. He made a cameo in the TV series, Mannix
, with Mike Connors
in the 1960s.
Born as an only child in Shelby, Mississippi, his family moved to Saginaw, Michigan, when he was only five years old. Campbell studied saxophone under several influential musicians and left school at the age of nineteen. In the early 60's he got a job at Hitsville USA (which later became Motown Records) playing with the resident band, then later as a supporting artist for several well-known Motown artists, such as the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, the Four Tops
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and others. Campbell toured the USA with stops at the Apollo Theater in New York City and many other venues.
After leaving Motown Records, Choker came to Canada with his own band and played several Canadian venues. He settled in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he started his own record label, Campbell Artist Productions, and did several recordings with Attic Records (of Toronto), and studio work with his friend, Paul Zaza
Paul Zaza
Paul Zaza is a Genie Award-winning film score and songwriter. In 1980 he won the Genie Award for Best Music Score alongside Carl Zittrer for their work on Murder by Decree. He was nominated for the same award in 1985 for Isaac Littlefeathers. In 1987 he received a Genie nomination for Best Original...
.
After several years, Choker returned to Detroit, where he remained until his death.
Choker has left behind a son and two daughters in Canada, two in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, one in Halifax.
He also appeared in the film Shake, Rattle & Rock!
Shake, Rattle & Rock! (1956 film)
Shake Rattle and Rock! is a 1956 musical/comedy-drama film directed by Edward L. Cahn for American International Pictures.-Cast:*Touch Connors as Garry Nelson*Lisa Gaye as June Fitzdingle*Sterling Holloway as Albert "Axe" McAllister...
with Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to the songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." Although he came to his greatest fame in the 1950s with his pioneering rock and roll recordings, particularly "Shake, Rattle and...
and Mike Connors
Mike Connors
Mike Connors is an American actor best known for playing detective Joe Mannix in the CBS television series, Mannix. Before that, he had played a crime-fighting investigator, wielding a .38 handgun hidden in his back, in another CBS series, Tightrope.-Early life:Connors was born Krekor Ohanian in...
. He made a cameo in the TV series, Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
, with Mike Connors
Mike Connors
Mike Connors is an American actor best known for playing detective Joe Mannix in the CBS television series, Mannix. Before that, he had played a crime-fighting investigator, wielding a .38 handgun hidden in his back, in another CBS series, Tightrope.-Early life:Connors was born Krekor Ohanian in...
in the 1960s.