Hello, We are Eliza Neals and Amalia Rubin, singers, musicians, and close friends of Robin Poritzky-Walker, the recent widow of award-winning blues artist Joe Louis Walker.

Eliza and Robin

Robin and Amalia

Joe was our mentor, musical "uncle," and dear friend, and "Aunt Robin" (sometimes "mom"), as she was known to many of us in Joe's musical circle, has always been a source of joy and love. On April 30th, 2025, Joe passed away with Robin by his side after a three-year struggle with failing health. Robin is now facing the new reality of life alone and the financial struggles that come with it.

Joe and Robin have spent decades supporting musicians and communities in need. We, as singers who wouldn't be where we are without Joe's mentorship and Robin's love, want to support Robin in her time of need. With your support, we can help Robin rebuild, achieve her goal of getting back to work after being a full-time caretaker, and ease her worries during this difficult transition.

About Joe and Robin

Joe Louis Walker and Robin Poritzky became friends in 1988. Robin was happily married to one of Joe's good friends, Brad Lee Sexton, for 18 years before his passing in 1995. Over the years after Brad's passing, Joe and Robin's friendship blossomed, and they married in 2009.

Joe and Brad, two center, together in 1970

Joe, a singer for more than 60 years of his life, has been honored with awards such as the Blues Music Awards, USA Fellow, Choc de L'année, several Grammy Awards, including alongside artists like B.B. King, James Cotton, and Branford Marsalis. He is also an inductee of the Blues Hall of Fame. Throughout their relationship, Robin has steadfastly supported not only Joe but the many musicians that Joe has mentored and recorded with. Robin even took on the role of tour manager to further support his musical endeavors.

Robin and Joe at a Grammy Event

Joe and Robin have always been passionate about helping others. Joe performed at events including benefits for the Bahamas and St. Vincent after natural disasters, numerous years at the Mustique Blues Festival to support the Basil Charles Education Foundation providing scholarships for low-income Caribbean children, and the Seva Foundation, to name just a few.

Benefit Concert for the Bahamas after a natural disaster

Joe and Robin also took pleasure in supporting new and lesser-known musicians. Joe would mentor them and even invite them to sing on his albums and at his concerts. Robin quickly became known as "Aunt" or even "mom" to the up-and-coming musicians.

(from left, Basil Charles, Eliza, Amalia, Robin, and Joe along with other amazing musicians at the Mustique Blues Festival in support of the Basil Charles Educational Foundation)

Robin has always loved working with animals, especially horses and cats. She eventually became a veterinary assistant. She is also an artist, with a BFA and minor in Theater, having pursued acting and modeling. One of her great passions is Pilates, which she discovered while working in photo editing and used to heal her own back. From this healing experience, Robin became a certified Pilates instructor with dozens of devoted students.

Robin with a Doggy Friend named Peanut

As Joe's career progressed, Robin made the difficult decision to step back from her passion and quit being a Pilates instructor in order to support Joe as his manager full-time. In late 2022, Joe needed open-heart surgery to replace a mitral valve. After a very long rehab, closely assisted by Robin, he recovered well and continued performing. Joe also developed a severe autoimmune disease in his lungs, which forced him to cancel multiple tours and take a severe financial hit. Amidst the financial and health struggles, their home began to fall into disrepair. Robin stayed by his side as a full-time caretaker and managed his performances as he was able.

Joe continued performing until the very end, singing and playing his heart out until less than a month before his passing.

Financial Need

Robin is now facing life without her beloved husband and partner. She wishes to stay in her house of nearly thirty years along with her three TNR rescue cats, Notch Ear, Baby Face, and Houdina.

Houdina

NotchEar

BabyFace

Unfortunately, after nearly three years of financial strain and now having lost her partner and fellow breadwinner, Robin needs financial assistance.

This includes paying the mortgage, fixing up broken parts of the house, and supplemental health care.

It is also Robin's hope to resume her work as a Pilates instructor. She wishes to focus on clients in need, such as those with disabilities, rehabilitating after surgery, with chronic pain, or injuries. In order to reach this goal and begin financially supporting herself again, Robin will need to renew her Pilates Instructor Certification and insurance as well as renovate areas of the house, including the in-house studio. Robin hopes to continue her career not only because it's her passion, but because as she likes to joke, "My family is afflicted with a severe case of longevity!"

Home Pilates Studio

With your support, Robin can stay in her home, with her cherished garden and full of memories of Joe, along with her cats, rebuild her Pilates career, and hopefully live a financially stable life.

Houdina the cat's house is, fortunately, fully paid off!

Specific Expenses

Our current goal meets just the most basic needs of the upcoming year: one year of mortgage payments, Pilates certification and insurance, and the absolute minimum renovations on the house studio to make it workable.

Further goals include paying off the mortgage ($95,000), buying a car after the current lease runs out (est. $10,000), and completing necessary fixes on the house, such as the roof (est. $100,000).

With your help, we can make this a reality.

In Loving Memory of Uncle Joe Louis Walker, let's help out Robin.