David T. Walker is a Native American guitarist born in Los Angeles, California.
He attended David Starr Jordan High School in the Watts area of Los Angeles. Walker was born to a Native American mother and African American father. He has recorded a dozen solo albums since his debut release, The Sidewalk, in 1967. He has also been a top session rhythm and lead guitarist from 1969 onward, appearing on numerous soul, funk, and jazz releases. His backup work was featured on several legendary albums of the early 1970s, including Stevie Wonder's Innervisions, Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On and Carole King's Fantasy. He also played with the combo Afrique on its classic 1973 Afro funk release Soul Makossa.
Other artists Walker has worked with over the years include Johnny Bristol, Solomon Burke, Donald Byrd, The Crusaders, Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Herbie Hancock, Bobbi Humphrey, The Jackson 5, Etta James, Quincy Jones, Gerald Levert, Martha & the Vandellas, Sergio Mendes, Stephanie Mills, Billy Preston, Lou Rawls, Diana Ross, Pharoah Sanders, Boz Scaggs, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, Barry White, Leon Ware, Nikkole and Bobby Womack. His song "On Love" was sampled on the breakbeat compilation Tribe Vibes Vol. 2 by the group A Tribe Called Quest.
Recently he has gained popularity in Japan for playing guitar for the pop music group Dreams Come True and band member Miwa Yoshida's solo albums, and has also performed live with them. He also leads his group on tours of Japan each year. He recently toured Japan with Marlena Shaw. His earlier albums have found new life by being reissued in Japanese editions, along with "best of" collections. An album titled Thoughts was released in Japan in 2008.
Discography
- The Sidewalk (1967) REVUE RS7207
- Going Up! (1969) REVUE RS7211
- Plum Happy (1970) ZEA ZLP1000
- David T. Walker (1971) Ode SP-77011
- Press On (1973) Ode SP-77020
- On Love (1976) Ode SP-77035
- Y-Ence (1987) ALFA MOON 32XM-35
- With a Smile (1988) ALFA MOON 32XM-69
- Ahimsa (1989) HALF MOON 28XE-2
- ... From My Heart (1993) EDOYA EDCP-602
- Dream Catcher (1994) EDOYA EDCP-701
- Beloved (1995) EDOYA EDCP-25005
- Thoughts (2008) DCT UPCH-20113 (Japan)
- 1971-1976 Best of Best (2008) VIDEOARTS VACZ-1365 (Japan)
- Creolepatra Where I Was Meant To Be (2008) Nikkole
External links
