Chris Walker is an American musician and producer best known for his 1992 ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top 40 hit "Take Time".

Biography

Walker was born and raised in

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

, 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 James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

. Walker then moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, where he became

Ornette Coleman Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman (March 9, 1930 – June 11, 2015) was an American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer known as a principal founder of the free jazz genre, a term derived from his 1960 album '' Free Jazz: A Colle ...

's bass guitarist for two and a half years before releasing his debut album. He then toured with

Regina Belle Regina Elaine Belle (born July 17, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter who started her career in the mid-1980s. Known for her singles " Baby Come to Me" (1989) and "Make It Like It Was" (1990), Belle's most notable for two hit duets, both with ...

, where he soon became musical director. When Belle noticed his voice, she gradually worked his vocals into her act; Walker credits her for teaching him to find his voice. Walker's 1991 debut album, ''First Time'' yielded two Top Five R&B hits, "Giving You All My Love" and "Take Time", which peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100. Walker then released his second album ''Sincerely Yours'' in 1993, which featured the single "How Do You Heal a Broken Heart" and has received over 59 million views on Youtube. As a solo artist, Walker remained absent from the public music scene for a decade, but he was hard at work and taking a new direction. Walker's music is popular in countries such as South Africa and he performed there with Regina Belle in the Soul & Jazz Experience in 2019. He recently performed a sold-out show at the Sun Arena in Pretoria, honoring the late Eddie Zondi. His latest album ''We're In This Love Together - A Tribute to Al Jarreau'' will be released in May 2019 featuring artists like

Gerald Albright Gerald Albright is an American jazz saxophonist. He earned Grammys for 24/7 in 2012 and Slam Dunk in 2014 and has been nominated for New Beginnings in 2008 and for Sax for Stax in 2009. Biography Born in Los Angeles, Albright grew up in its ...

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, Bob James,

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Bobby Lyle Robert Lyle (born March 11, 1944) is a jazz pianist/organist and educator. Early life Lyle was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 11, 1944 to parents Robert and Elise Lyle. He grew up in a musical household after the family moved from Memphis ...

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandros ...

Greg Phillinganes Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and musical director based in Los Angeles, California. A prolific session musician, Phillinganes has contributed the role of keyboards to numerous alb ...

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, Mark Simmons,

Kirk Whalum Kirk is a Scottish and former Northern English word meaning "church". It is often used specifically of the Church of Scotland. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it. Basic meaning and etymology As a common noun, ''kirk'' ...

and many more. This album was produced by Walker and

Larry Williams Larry Williams (born Lawrence Eugene Williams, a.k.a. Lawrence Edward Williams; May 10, 1935 – January 7, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Williams ...

Discography

Solo albums

*1991: ''First Time'' *1993: ''Sincerely Yours'' *2005: ''I Know It's Love'' *2011: ''Zone'' *2019: ''We're In This Love Together - A Tribute to Al Jarreau''

Solo singles

*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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Chris Year of birth missing (living people) American jazz bass guitarists American male bass guitarists Living people American male singers American rhythm and blues singers Free funk musicians High School for the Performing and Visual Arts alumni American male jazz musicians