Duke Island Park Takes a Trip Down Motown Memory Lane

Junior Walker's All Stars must have been referring to Mother Nature when the band opened its performance Sunday at Duke Island Park with the Temptations song, "Get Ready, 'Cause Here I Come."

Spotty downpours throughout the day threatened to cancel yet another Somerset County Summer Concert, but, fortunately, the rain only delayed the All Stars concert by about a half hour.

The concert—which usually takes place in the bandshell area of the park, a large open field with a semi-covered stage—had to be relocated to underneath the Visitors' Center.

Before the concert began, a representative from the park apologized that the concert was starting late, but said that the water had risen to the base of the Visitors' Center and it took eight people with brooms and a leaf blower to prepare the stage.

A road assistant and manager to the All Stars, named "Frenchie," who arrived from Michigan the previous day to help set everything up and make sure everything was secure said, "The rain slowed everything down. [We heard] at the last minute [that the show was on]."

Although the crowd was a little smaller than at previous concerts, the "Ladeez" of the All Stars—Esther Todd, Phyllis Parham and Kimberly Smith—did not fail to entertain with energetic covers of songs from the Supremes and Vandellas. Lead vocalist Bernard Gibson also apologized for the rain, than asked the crowd to ease back to 1965. 

Joyce M, of Raritan, attended the concert with her 92-year-old mother and a friend. "I just really enjoy listening to the music," she said. She added that her mother would especially enjoy the show, since much of the music was from her era growing up. 

Junior Walker, who was born Autry DeWalt Mixon, formed a band called the Rhythm Rockers in the 1950s.  The band, originally signed by blues singer/producer Harvey Fuqua, changed its name to Junior Walker and the All Stars, and joined Motown Records in 1961.

Walker has since died, but his music, along with many hit Motown songs, lives on with the All Stars.  Congo drummer, Acklee King is an original member of the Junior Walker's All Stars, and current members are vocalist Bernard Gibson, drummer Ronnie Nelson, vocalist Chuck Jackson, keyboardist Mickey Atkins, saxophonist Marty Montgomery and drummer Kevin Carters, in addition to the "Ladeez."   

The 2010 Somerset County Park Commission Summer Concert series will end Aug. 29 with The Jumpers Orchestra, a band that plays music favorites from multiple genres from the 50s through today. 

Download the movie