1960s
Walker started his career in the early 1960s with a Brumbeat R & B band called The Redcaps. He initially played rhythm guitar, and later took over as lead vocalist after Ronnie Brown "King" left. The band included Roy Brown and Mick Blythe on guitars, Alan Morley on drums, Mike Walker on bass and Mac Broadhurst on saxophone. They recorded three singles for Decca Records, who were trying to cash in on the success of The Beatles, as The Redcaps had opened for The Beatles in concert on four occasions.
Their first single, in 1963, was a cover of the pulsating Isley Brothers's "Shout" backed by "Little Things You Do" an original tune written by Walker and Roy Brown. However, Lulu had beaten The Redcaps to the British charts with her version of "Shout".
Their next single, in 1964, was a cover of Chuck Berry's "Talking About You" backed by "Come On Girl". It has been rumoured that guitarist Jimmy Page, later of Led Zeppelin, played on "Talking About You", in his early pre-Yardbirds London session days, but Walker has since said Page does not play on this track. The story behind the rumour being that Page was available, if needed, but Redcaps guitarist Roy Brown handled the lead parts himself. The track was recorded in a different studio from where Page was working, on the day of the recording.
Their final single, "Funny Things" an original tune penned by Blythe backed by "Mighty Fine Girl", was also released in 1964 but after all three singles flopped, The Redcaps disbanded.
Between 1965 and 1969 Walker played in Beckett, a band which included Pete Oliver, Don McGinty and Colin Timmons. Beckett played three days a week at the Rum Runner nightclub in Birmingham, but they never recorded.
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