Tributes pour in for popular Dunstable soul singer who has died aged 73
Family and friends of a beloved singer and entertainer known for his soulful voice have paid tribute to him after he died at the age of 73.
Mike ‘The Voice’ Walker was born in Ireland and moved to England as a baby before being raised in Houghton Regis in the early 1960s.
From the age of 17, he was a well-known singer and spent more than 30 years performing soul tunes in pubs, clubs and venues across Luton, Dunstable, London, Ireland and Germany.
And despite having no formal training, he built a loyal following thanks to his distinctive voice and charisma.
His sister, Tina Walker, described him as a natural performer who could fill venues wherever he sang.
She said: “He had a beautiful voice. If he sang a ballad, it would make you cry. He had the sweetest voice, and yet he was six foot tall.”
In 1999, he supported The Supremes at the Queensway Hall and sang internationally for years before forming the band Soul Distinction.
Friend Sid Hudson said: “One of Mike’s most treasured memories came when he wasn’t booked to sing. He had gone to see soul legends The Temptations in London as a member of the audience, but was invited on stage to perform. From the moment Mike opened his mouth, the audience were on their feet applauding.”
BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnnie Walker met Mike after the show and invited him for an interview.
Away from music, Walker was a hardworking family man, and a devoted dad to Tina, Jaime, Dean and Anthony. He ran a cherry-picker business and worked on the railways. He also had souvenir stalls in London, selling to tourists in the 1970s.
Tina explained: “He’d work a whole day and then get ready and go and sing at night. He loved life. He had such a zest for life.”
A proud Jehovah’s Witness, he was said to love to wine and dine and was partial to a good steak.
He moved to live near his family in Brighton five years ago.
Mike died after a lengthy stay in hospital, and was surrounded by his children and loved ones who played music at his bedside during his final days.
His sister thanked people for their messages of love and support.
She said: “I’ve heard loads of stories of people that he helped out that I didn’t know about. I knew my brother was popular, but I didn’t know he was so loved.”