Earl “Bagga” Walker, a prolific session musician who played bass on numerous hit songs by top artists such as Horace Andy, Freddie McGregor, and Sugar Minott, died December 14 at age 75 in Maryland. His sister, Orleen Campbell, confirmed his death at the MedStar Hospital. In the past 15 years, Walker suffered a series of debilitating strokes which left him unable to care for himself.
McGregor, who knew him for over 50 years, said they first met at Studio One during the early 1970s. Walker played on several of his hit songs including Push Comes to Shove.
They were also members of the Twelve Tribes of Israel organization which formed in Trench Town, Walker’s hometown, in 1968.
“I love Bagga very much, we did a lot of work at Studio One and for the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Bless up my brother,” said McGregor.
During his time at Studio One, Walker played on Skylarking by Horace Andy, and Vanity by Sugar Minott. He toured with McGregor during the 1980s as a member of the Studio One Band, as well as with Jimmy Cliff, The Gladiators, and Black Uhuru.
Earl “Bagga” Walker is survived by five children, four grandchildren, three sisters, and two brothers.
By Howard Campbell—
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