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David T. Walker
David T. Walker
Birth name	David T. Walker
Also known as	"David T."
Born	June 25, 1941 (age 83); Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genres	Soul, R&B, crossover jazz, jazz
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, composer, musician
Instrument	Guitar
Years active	1957–present
Website	davidtwalker.com

David T. Walker (born June 25, 1941) is an American soul/R&B, and jazz guitarist. In addition to numerous session musician duties since the early 1970s, Walker has issued fifteen albums in his own name.^[1]

Career

David T. Walker was born to a Native American mother and African American father. He and his family relocated to Central California when he was 7 years old.^[2] He attended David Starr Jordan High School in the Watts area of Los Angeles. He has recorded fifteen solo albums since his debut release, The Sidewalk, in 1967. He has also been a session rhythm and lead guitarist, appearing on numerous soul, R&B, and jazz releases.

His backup work was featured on several singles and albums, including Love Unlimited Orchestra's big hit single Love's Theme.^[3](1974), Stevie Wonder's Innervisions(1973); Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On(1973)^[4] and I Want You(1976); Carole King's Fantasy(1973); the Jackson 5's Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, ABC, and Maybe Tomorrow, single "Never Can Say Goodbye"(1971); Michael Jackson's Ben, single "Got To Be There"(1971);^[5] Nick De Caro album "Italian Graffiti", song "Under the Jamican Moon"(1974), Afrique on its 1973 Afro funk release Soul Makossa,^[6] Smokey Robinson's pop hit Cruisin'(1979)^[7]Bobby Womack's album The Poet(1981), and LeVert's R&B hit (Pop Pop Pop) Goes My Mind(1986).^[8]

Other musicians Walker has worked with over the years include James Brown (1973), Ray Charles,^[9] LeVert, Aretha Franklin,^[1] Martha and the Vandellas,^[9] Bobby Womack(1981),^[10] Smokey Robinson, Leon Ware,^[11] Barry White & Love Unlimited Orchestra,^[1] Four Tops, Wah Wah Watson, Chuck Rainey, Etta James, Donald Byrd, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Billy Preston, the Sylvers, Quincy Jones, Hampton Hawes,^[12] Monk Higgins, Willie Hutch, Jeffrey Osborne, Johnny Bristol, Solomon Burke, Cannonball Adderley,^[13] B.B. King, the Friends of Distinction, the Crusaders,^[14] Joe Sample, Paul Humphrey, Bobbi Humphrey, Sérgio Mendes, Stanley Turrentine,^[15] Marlena Shaw, Blue Mitchell, Gloria Scott, and Boz Scaggs.^[1]

His song "On Love" was sampled on the breakbeat compilation album Tribe Vibes Vol. 2 by the group A Tribe Called Quest. His guitar riff on Joe Sample's "In All My Wildest Dreams" (from Rainbow Seeker) was sampled on Tupac Shakur's song "Dear Mama".

Walker played in Bill Cosby's all-star band at the 2008 Playboy Jazz Festival.^[16] He has gained popularity in Japan for playing guitar and he also leads his group on tours of Japan each year. He recently toured Japan with Marlena Shaw, Larry Carlton and a Brazilian artist Ed Motta.

Discography

As Leader

The Sidewalk (1967) Revue RS-7207
Going Up! (1969) Revue RS-7211
Plum Happy (1970) Zea ZLP-1000
David T. Walker (1971) Ode Ode SP-77011
Press On (1973) Ode SP-77020
On Love (1976) Ode SP-77035
Swing Street Cafe (with Joe Sample, 1981) Crusaders/MCA CRP-16004; Crusaders/MCA CRPD-5785
Y-Ence (1987) The Baked Potato BPL-28005; Half Moon 28XE-3; Alfa Moon 32XM-35
With A Smile (1988) The Baked Potato BPL-28006; Half Moon 28XE-4; Alfa Moon 32XM-69
Ahimsa (1989) Half Moon 28XE-2
Soul Food Cafe (with Soul Food Cafe, 1989) Invitation VDR-1636
...From My Heart (1993) Edoya EDCP-602; BMG BVCM-35165
Dream Catcher (1994) Edoya EDCP-701; BMG BVCM-35166
Beloved (1995) Edoya EDCP-25005; BMG BVCM-35167
David T. Walker 1971-1976: Best of Best (2008) Video Arts Music VACZ-1365 (Japan)
Thoughts (2008) DCT Records UPCH-20113 (Japan)
Wear My Love (Christmas album, 2009) DCT Records UPCH-20176 (Japan)
For All Time (2010) DCT Records XQJS-1002 (Japan)
@ Billboard Live, Tokyo (with Larry Carlton, 2015) 335 Records 335-1507
Music For Your Heart: Best of David T. Walker (2017) Universal Music UCCR-1064 (Japan)