I visited Walter one day in his magical basement and Nino Tempo called. Kids today would say "who?" but that Walter was essential remastering important art...Nino Tempo and April Stevens and their hit "Deep Purple" probably one of those songs preserved by Walter, is a debt the world owes Walter and his ears..
Was watching the film Trading Place a few days ago with Little Eva's "The Locomotion" such a key song (on the Amtrak with wonderful, colorful party scenes...so memorable!) I remember when Oldies 103 was playing the wrong master of "Locomotion" without the handclaps, which I love, of course, hearing different versions, but Walter made sure that the ORIGINAL hit record with the handclaps (probably Carole King, co-writer of the song) was in the 103.3 rotation.
Walter told me he wanted people to hear the songs exactly as they heard them. Who are we to disagree with such great ears, knowledge and musical wisdom?
I was in touch with Walter just a few weeks ago as the Hendrix Estate wanted to speak with him. Walter had taped the ONLY known audio of Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix at a club in Revere.
When I rolled about 90 minutes of tape in Walter's basement he brought out a rare Jimi Hendrix photo and the tape. When the Hendrix estate visited we heard the tape, it's amazing, starting off if I recall with a cover of the Beatles "I Saw Her Standing There." Walter aired the tape on his show on WTBS (now WMBR, MIT) the day after the concert. Millions of Jimi fans...millions ... would want to hear that show...and maybe they will get the chance as Walter talked with the powers that be.
Walter BUILT the Oldies 103 catalogue at the station and should have been appreciated more. He had a LINE around the WBZ building about 30 years ago (I can't remember the exact date) with some giveaway and said to me "I didn't ask permission but I can beg forgiveness" (paraphrased) too funny as he did the station a BIG favor with the promotion.
Great guy, a terrible loss for all of us in life and in the music world. A little Deep Purple for our friend Walter https://youtu.be/MCv3Uw2dvNg
Nino Tempo & April Stevens (Antonino and Carol Vincinette LoTempio) are a brother and sister singing act from Niagara Falls, New York.
1965 or so, around the time Walter was taping Jimi Hendrix with Little Richard in Revere
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