Joe Louis Walker, Free-Ranging Blues Explorer, Is Dead at 75

Joe Louis Walker, Free-Ranging Blues Explorer, Is Dead at 75

Joe Louis Walker, a blues master and musical omnivore whose snarling guitar work, gritty vocals and introspective songwriting earned him the praise of Herbie Hancock, Mick Jagger and many others over a six-decade career, died on April 30 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He was 75. His wife, Robin Poritzky-Walker, said his death, in a hospital, was from a cardiac-related illness. Mr. Walker recorded more than 30 albums for a variety of labels, starting with…