(Vocal/instrumental group, 1964–68, 1975–78)

The unrelated Walkers, Scott Engel (vocals, bass), John Maus (vocals, guitar) and Gary Leeds (drums), sought their fortunes in Britain where ‘Love Her’ made the Top 20 in 1965. Then came bigger smashes with ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’, ‘My Ship Is Coming In’, ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore’ and like orchestral ballads with Engel (‘Scott Walker’) on lead vocals as the trio emerged as the darlings of young ladies in the UK and, to a smaller degree, in the States. However, provoked by both bickering between Engel and Maus, and falling sales, The Brothers went their separate ways. Engel’s Scott and 1968’s chart-topping Scott 2 albums established him as both the Belgian chansonnier Jacques Brel’s principal interpreter, and as an intriguing composer in his own right – but neither these nor Scott 3 and Scott 4 were the stuff of mainstream pop, and a cynical Engel churned out easy-listening potboilers before a reformed Walker Brothers scored a UK hit in 1976 with ‘No Regrets’. There followed three contrasting albums before Engel resumed a snail’s-paced solo career.

Styles & Forms | Sixties | Rock
Personalities | Junior Walker | Sixties | Rock