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.

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. 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. (1974), Stevie Wonder's Innervisions(1973); Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On(1973) 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); Nick De Caro album "Italian Graffiti", song "Under the Jamican Moon"(1974), Afrique on its 1973 Afro funk release Soul Makossa, Smokey Robinson's pop hit Cruisin'(1979) Bobby Womack's album The Poet(1981), and LeVert's R&B hit (Pop Pop Pop) Goes My Mind(1986). Other musicians Walker has worked with over the years include James Brown (1973), Ray Charles, LeVert, Aretha Franklin, Martha and the Vandellas, Bobby Womack(1981), Smokey Robinson, Leon Ware, Barry White & Love Unlimited Orchestra, Four Tops, Wah Wah Watson, Chuck Rainey, Etta James, Donald Byrd, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Billy Preston, the Sylvers, Quincy Jones, Hampton Hawes, Monk Higgins, Willie Hutch, Jeffrey Osborne, Johnny Bristol, Solomon Burke, Cannonball Adderley, B.B. King, the Friends of Distinction, the Crusaders, Joe Sample, Paul Humphrey, Bobbi Humphrey, Sérgio Mendes, Stanley Turrentine, Marlena Shaw, Blue Mitchell, Gloria Scott, and Boz Scaggs. 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. 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

As sideman

With Etta James With Martha & the Vandellas With Stevie Wonder With the Jackson 5 With Afrique With Marvin Gaye With Cannonball Adderley With Donald Byrd With Nick De Caro With Friends of Distinction With Herbie Hancock With Monk Higgins With Richard "Groove" Holmes With Freddie Hubbard With Bobbi Humphrey With Paul Humphrey With Quincy Jones With Lonette McKee With Blue Mitchell With Alphonse Mouzon With Jeffrey Osborne With Gloria Scott With Marlena Shaw With the Sylvers With Stanley Turrentine With Vulfpeck With Leon Ware With Bobby Womack With Dee Dee Bridgewater With Ed Motta