Singer, songwriter and producer Chris Walker has spent the greater part of his life profoundly centered in the music industry, where he has been producing and developing artists. The Houston native gained recognition in the early ’90s as a musical director for Regina Belle and Al Jarreau. Walker later signed on as the first artist to Pendulum Records and experienced a new level of achievement as a solo artist with the release of First Time. That project produced two top five singles, “Giving You All My Love” and “Take Time,” which crossed over to join the top 30 on the pop charts. Today, Walker is ready to put his artist hat back on and is set to release a new project on Pendulum Records in association with Walker Davis Entertainment. The sophomore project, titled Zone, is due out Aug. 23, 2011, and is the first commercial release for Walker in years, but it’s as if he never left. –alex green
You have worked with a lot of artists. Is there anyone with whom you’d like to work?
Actually, I wish I would have had the opportunity to work with Luther when he was alive. If I could have been his music director, I would have enjoyed that. I’ve worked with a lot of my heroes already but, of course, if I was older, I would have loved to have played with Jimi Hendrix.
What can we expect from your latest project?
My latest project, Zone, really encompasses love. It talks about various situations; in and out of love, the pain that comes along with it and the joys that also come along with it. I have something for the adult audience and also something for the younger audience. So, I think it’s a combination of different styles that will appeal to the masses.
What made you title the project Zone?
I wrote most of the songs myself and writing music takes a lot of focus because you have to zero in on a subject and bring it to life. So, in a sense, you have to be in a “zone” to accomplish that task.
What role has your entertainment company played with the release?
Walker Davis Entertainment has a joint venture with Pendulum Records. We come together — both companies — and make decisions. We previously signed Regina Belle jointly in 2008 and released her first gospel project and are currently working on her second project and my project, Zone.
For more information, please visit www.pendulumrecords.com www.chriswalkermusic.com.
