R.I.P., Joe Walker

I was saddened to learn this morning that Joe Walker, one of the three Fishtown area music critics whose viewpoints fueled the entertaining little web show called Breakfast at Sulimay's, has passed away at the age of 90.  Alongside fellow critics Bill Able and Ann Bailey, Mr. Walker was lively with witticism and anecdote, offering incite when he could and always giving fair consideration to what he was hearing.  He was unapologetic about how little he cared for contemporary pop, hip-hop or metal, but he consistently put across a willingness to listen, even when something he'd heard was not "my cup of tea."  Of the three voices, his was certainly my favorite and also the least dismissive.

While the concept of Breakfast at Sulimay's had the embedded charm of being a senior citizen-led platform for critique pertaining to modern music, which in some ways allowed for a level of perspective not often heard in the vast corridor-riddled online world of pitchforks, dropping needles and self-appointed music experts, the show itself was a fun thing to watch and the various reactions of Bill, Ann and Joe to what they were hearing certainly inspired some laughs.    

Scrapple TV, the Philadelphia-based video company responsible for Breakfast at Sulimay's, posted a tribute to Mr. Walker.



R.I.P. and T.T.F.N.

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead