Hezekiah Walker is an American gospel singer, choir director and pastor from Brooklyn, New York. Founder of the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir in 1985, he is known for Every Praise, Better and Souled Out, and has received two Grammy Awards with his choirs.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Hezekiah Walker founded the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir in 1985, starting with about a dozen members. The group released I'll Make It (1987), then joined Benson Records, where Live in Toronto (1993) and Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College (1994) appeared. The latter earned him a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus. Walker also leads the choir of his church, Love Fellowship Tabernacle, which recorded Love Is Live! in 2001, also honored at the Grammy Awards.
At Verity Records he released Family Affair (1999), Family Affair, Vol. 2: Live at Radio City Music Hall (2002), then Souled Out (2008). In 2013, Azusa: The Next Generation (RCA Inspiration) contained Every Praise, which stayed for several months at the top of Billboard's gospel chart. Azusa: The Next Generation 2 (Better) followed in 2016 on Entertainment One Music, with the single Better.
- Origin
- Brooklyn (New York), United States
- Style
- Choir gospel
- Active since
- 1985 (Love Fellowship Crusade Choir)
- Good to know
- Two Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album, known for the single Every Praise
How did Hezekiah Walker begin?
Hezekiah Walker grew up in Brooklyn and sang in a choir from childhood. In 1985 he brought together the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, with about a dozen members. The choir's first album, I'll Make It, was recorded live and takes its title from a song Walker wrote, which became a signature piece for the group.
After several records at Benson Records, Live in Toronto (1993) marked a step forward for the choir. Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College (1994) received the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus. The choir of Love Fellowship Tabernacle church, formed in 1995, then recorded its own albums, including Love Is Live! (2001).
What makes Hezekiah Walker distinctive?
Hezekiah Walker leads several choirs at once, the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir and his church choir. The latter, younger and more hip-hop in spirit than its elder, saw Love Is Live! reach the top 5 of Billboard's gospel chart.
Many of his albums are recorded live, from Live in Toronto to Family Affair, Vol. 2 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Every Praise, released in 2013, stayed for several months at the top of Billboard's gospel chart.
Where should you start to discover Hezekiah Walker?
Start with Every Praise, Better and Souled Out, his most recent songs, then listen to I Need You to Survive in its live version. Continue with the albums Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College (1994), Love Is Live! (2001) and Azusa: The Next Generation (2013).
songs
Every Praise
A single from the album Azusa: The Next Generation (2013), it stayed for several months at the top of Billboard's gospel chart.
Better
A single from the album Azusa: The Next Generation 2 (Better), released in 2016, here in its official video.
Souled Out
Title of his 2008 album on Verity Records, also released as a digital single.
I Need You to Survive (Live)
A live version (WOW edit) of a song that also appears on the compilation The Essential Hezekiah Walker (2007).
Discography
- 2016Azusa: The Next Generation 2 (Better)
- 2013Azusa: The Next Generation
- 2008Souled Out
- 2002Family Affair, Vol. 2: Live at Radio City Music Hall· Live
- 2001Love Is Live!· With the LFT church choir
- 1999Family Affair
- 1994Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College· Live
- 1993Live in Toronto· Live
Read also
Frequently asked questions
Who is Hezekiah Walker?
Hezekiah Walker is an American gospel singer, choir director and pastor from Brooklyn, New York. He founded the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir in 1985 and leads the choir of his church, Love Fellowship Tabernacle.
Is Hezekiah Walker a Christian artist?
Yes. He has sung gospel with his choirs since 1985, has won two Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album, and is pastor of Love Fellowship Tabernacle in Brooklyn.
What are Hezekiah Walker's best known songs?
Every Praise, Better, Souled Out and I Need You to Survive are among his best known songs.
What is Hezekiah Walker's latest album?
His latest album is Azusa: The Next Generation 2 (Better), released in 2016 on Entertainment One Music. It follows Azusa: The Next Generation (2013).
Which Grammy Awards has Hezekiah Walker won?
Two, in the category of Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album: one for Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College (1994), with the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, the other for Love Is Live! (2001), with the LFT church choir.
Where can you listen to Hezekiah Walker?
His music is available on the main streaming platforms and on his official YouTube channel, which features videos and live recordings.