Chris Walker (musician)
{{Other people|Chris Walker}}
{{short description|American musician and producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chris Walker
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| image_size =
| origin = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| instrument = Bass guitar
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 1981–present
| label = CCW Global, Canvas Records, Pendulum Records
| associated_acts = Regina Belle, Dave Koz, Al Jarreau, Larry Williams
| website =
}}
Chris Walker is an American musician and producer, who sings R&B and plays the bass guitar. He is best known for his 1992 Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit "Take Time".{{cite web | title = Chris Walker | website = Discogs | url = https://www.discogs.com/artist/231518-Chris-Walker?srsltid=AfmBOoqiWwoI1pPX-z22FyP_HJDo8lKgiwlLBTlVvdvBtxyyTZwzoHZF | access-date = April 5, 2025}}
Biography
=Early life=
Walker was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where he began singing before speaking; he got his start in the church as a member of his family gospel group, The Walker Brothers. Walker plays the bass upside down, similar to one of his guitar heroes, Jimi Hendrix.
Walker then moved to New York City, New York, where he became Ornette Coleman's bass guitarist for two and a half years before releasing his debut album.{{cite news | last = Johnson | first = Connie | title = In Brief | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 28, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-28-ca-1789-story.html | access-date = August 25, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Walker/e/B000ARA1JI/ref=ntt_mus_dp_pel|title = Chris Walker on Amazon Music| website=Amazon }} He then toured with Regina Belle, where he soon became a musical director.{{cite news | last = Johnson | first = Connie | title = In Brief | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 28, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-28-ca-1789-story.html | access-date = August 25, 2022}} When Belle noticed his voice, she gradually worked his vocals into her act; Walker credits her for teaching him to find his voice.
=Music career=
In 1991, Walker released his debut album First Time, under the Pendulum Records label;{{cite web | title = Chris Walker - First Time | website = Discogs | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/2080680-Chris-Walker-First-Time?srsltid=AfmBOoqH12d4wryvhQJIVdcWH04cWcvOll54fV0ixry3HIrpnaO89w5h | access-date = April 5, 2025}} the album featured two Top Five R&B hits, "Giving You All My Love" and "Take Time", which peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite news | last = Johnson | first = Connie | title = In Brief | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 28, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-28-ca-1789-story.html | access-date = August 25, 2022}} Walker then released his second album Sincerely Yours in 1993,{{cite web | title = Chris Walker - Sincerely Yours | website = Discogs | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/3438075-Chris-Walker-Sincerely-Yours?srsltid=AfmBOoqgQCGmU7hov0SbMsxeR2zY3zFId27vCwHCxD4N3xgZjWN3iq5h | access-date = April 5, 2025}} which featured the single "How Do You Heal a Broken Heart", which has received over 59 million views on Youtube.
As a solo artist, Walker remained absent from the public music scene for a decade before releasing two more albums, I Know It's Love (2005), and Zone (2011).{{cite web | title = Chris Walker - I Know It's Love | website = Discogs | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/5966238-Chris-Walker-I-Know-Its-Love?srsltid=AfmBOorEnLyNHbPHLP0NUVQ8nF56U4pXiTP6JK7yvxo2e-YiR_g-iN7J | access-date = April 5, 2025}}{{cite web | title = Chris Walker - Zone | website = Discogs | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/6049907-Chris-Walker-Zone?srsltid=AfmBOoqHyjy4EE3efqskHWETBbBr-T4vw8Ve8hruEd5znLlClPa45J7S | access-date = April 5, 2025}} Walker's music is popular in countries such as South Africa, where he performed with Belle in the Soul & Jazz Experience in 2019; he also performed a sold-out show at the Sun Arena in Pretoria, honoring the late Eddie Zondi.
In 2019, Walker released his latest album We're In This Love Together - Celebrating Al Jarreau, which was a tribute to the late singer, who died in 2017. The album featured artists such as Belle, Gerald Albright, Randy Brecker, Rick Braun, Will Downing, Nathan East, David Foster, Bob James, Paul Jackson Jr, Dave Koz, Bobby Lyle, Marcus Miller, Greg Phillinganes, Arturo Sandoval, Mark Simmons, Kirk Whalum and many more; this album was produced by Walker and Larry Williams.{{cite web | title = Chris Walker - We're In This Love Together | work = TypePad | date = October 20, 2019 | url = https://smoothjazztherapy.typepad.com/my_weblog/2019/10/chris-walker-were-in-this-love-together.html | access-date = September 6, 2022}}{{cite web | title = Chris Walker - We're In This Love Together - Celebrating Al Jarreau | website = Discogs | url = https://www.discogs.com/master/2344627-Chris-Walker-Were-In-This-Love-Together-Celebrating-Al-Jarreau?srsltid=AfmBOoqNj6m_zB8pE1i0uGgxXXvtwBoqBkPZJYAHqS74rBs0y1sQj_Wt | access-date = April 5, 2025}}
Discography
=Solo albums=
- 1991: First Time (Pendulum Records)
- 1993: Sincerely Yours (Pendulum Records)
- 2005: I Know It's Love (Canvas Records)
- 2011: Zone (Pendulum Records)
- 2019: We're In This Love Together - Celebrating Al Jarreau
=Solo singles=
{{redirect-distinguish|How Do You Heal a Broken Heart|How Can You Mend a Broken Heart}}
- 1991: "Giving You All My Love"
- 1992: "Take Time"
- 1992: "No Place Like Love"
- 1993: "Love Tonight"
- 1994: "How Do You Heal a Broken Heart"
- 2019: "We're in This Love Together"
- 2022: "Because I Love You"
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.discogs.com/artist/231518-Chris-Walker?srsltid=AfmBOoqiWwoI1pPX-z22FyP_HJDo8lKgiwlLBTlVvdvBtxyyTZwzoHZF Chris Walker at Discogs]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Chris}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American jazz bass guitarists
Category:American male bass guitarists
Category:American male singers
Category:American rhythm and blues singers
Category:High School for the Performing and Visual Arts alumni