Narada Michael Walden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Narada Michael Walden
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Walden performing with Jeff Beck in 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Walden |
| Born | April 23, 1952 Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1971–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Reprise/Warner Bros., Tarpan |
Narada Michael Walden is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was born Michael Walden on April 23, 1952. He received the name Narada from his spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy.
Narada Michael Walden started his music journey as a drummer. He played with famous jazz fusion bands like the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report. He also worked with legendary musicians such as Jeff Beck and Chick Corea. Later, he learned from music icon Quincy Jones. This helped him become a successful songwriter and producer.
In the 1980s and 1990s, he produced hit songs for many stars. These included Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Mariah Carey. In 2020, he joined the rock band Journey as their drummer. He played on their 2022 album Freedom.
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Early Life and Music Career
Narada Michael Walden was born in Plainwell, Michigan. He went to Western Michigan University from 1970 to 1972. After college, he played drums with rock bands in Miami.
From 1974 to 1976, he was a drummer and singer for the Mahavishnu Orchestra. This was a well-known jazz fusion band. His first album, Garden of Love Light, came out in 1977. It had a song that became popular on the R&B music charts. He released more albums like I Cry I Smile and The Awakening. The Awakening reached number 15 on the R&B chart.
Becoming a Top Producer
Narada Michael Walden's songs continued to be popular in the 1980s. He even sang a duet with Patti Austin. In 1985, he built his own music studio. This allowed him to produce music for many famous artists.
He produced songs for The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. His work helped these artists create some of their biggest hits.
Awards and Recognition
Narada Michael Walden has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. He has won three of these prestigious awards:
- Best R&B Song for "Freeway of Love" in 1985.
- Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) in 1987.
- Album of the Year for The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album in 1993.
Personal Life
In 2013, Narada Michael Walden married Katie Mersereau. They have two daughters, Kelly and Kayla, and a son, Michael. Katie Mersereau-Walden also helped with his 2015 album Evolution. She sang backing vocals and wrote one of the songs.
Music Projects
Narada Michael Walden has been involved in many music projects. He has worked as a drummer and a producer for various artists.
As a Drummer
He played drums on albums for many artists. These include:
- Mahavishnu Orchestra – Apocalypse (1974) and Visions of the Emerald Beyond (1975).
- Jeff Beck – Wired (1976).
- Jaco Pastorius – "Come On, Come Over" (1976).
- Weather Report – "Black Market" and "Cannon Ball" (1976).
- Journey – Freedom (2022).
As a Producer
Narada Michael Walden has produced many hit songs and albums. Some of his notable production work includes:
- Stacy Lattisaw – Let Me Be Your Angel (1980).
- Aretha Franklin – Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) and Aretha (1986).
- Whitney Houston – "How Will I Know" (1985) and Whitney (1987).
- Starship – "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (1987).
- Mariah Carey – "Vision of Love" (1990) and "I Don't Wanna Cry" (1991).
- Elton John & Kiki Dee – "True Love" (1993).
- Diana Ross – Take Me Higher (1995).
- Journey – Freedom (2022).
Soundtracks
Narada Michael Walden has contributed to the soundtracks of several movies. Some of these include:
- Perfect (1985)
- Innerspace (1987)
- Mannequin (1987)
- Licence to Kill (1989)
- The Bodyguard (1992)
- Free Willy (1993)
- Crooklyn (1994)
- The Associate (1996)
- Now and Again (1999–2000)
Images for kids
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Walden performing with Jeff Beck in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Narada Michael Walden para niños
