Tommy Walker (worship leader)
Encyclopedia
Tommy Walker is an American
worship leader, composer of contemporary worship music, recording artist and author
. Since 1990, he has been the worship leader at Christian Assembly, a church affiliated with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
in Los Angeles
, California
. Some of Walker's most well-known songs are “No Greater Love,” “Mourning Into Dancing,” “He Knows My Name,” and “That’s Why We Praise Him.”
In addition to his responsibilities as a church leader, he has taken the "CA Worship Band" on numerous overseas trips, including several trips to Southeast Asia
and the Philippines
. He has worked alongside Franklin Graham
, Greg Laurie
, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels
, Rick Warren
and at Promise Keepers
events.
with a 50-member choir. A choral arrangement, arranged and orchestrated by Bradley Knight, of songs previously written by Tommy Walker entitled, That's Why We Praise Him: Celebrating the Songs of Tommy Walker, was also released in 2004. The choral collection was followed by a second choral collection of songs by Walker, Great and Marvelous: Celebrating the Songs of Tommy Walker Volume 2, in 2005, which earned Walker a dove award nomination. On March 18, 2008, following eight live recordings and many years as a worship leader, Tommy Walker released his first studio recording, I Have A Hope. The album was produced by producer Ed Cash
and labeled by Maranatha! Music
. In support of his national studio debut, Walker made appearances at the National Christian Musicians Summit, Liberty University
and the National Worship Leadership Conference, run by Worship Leader Magazine. In an interview, Walker said that he had been offered deals by record labels and publishers when his songs where first being recorded, but he had declined the offers because he had grown up with a negative perception on the music industry.
, Andre Crouch, Lindell Cooley and Darlene Zschech
as influences.
. Hilary (Walker) Overton, a niece of Tommy Walker, and her husband David, administrate Glory Reborn, a midwifery clinic in the Philippines
. Tommy Walker is married to Robin Walker, and together, the couple has four children, Jake, Levi, Emmie and Eileen.
|-
| 2006|| Great and Marvelous-Celebrating the Songs of Tommy Walker Vol. 2 ||Choral Collection of the Year ||
|-
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
worship leader, composer of contemporary worship music, recording artist and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. Since 1990, he has been the worship leader at Christian Assembly, a church affiliated with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination. As of 2000 it had a worldwide membership of over 8,000,000, with almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. In 2006, membership in the United States...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Some of Walker's most well-known songs are “No Greater Love,” “Mourning Into Dancing,” “He Knows My Name,” and “That’s Why We Praise Him.”
In addition to his responsibilities as a church leader, he has taken the "CA Worship Band" on numerous overseas trips, including several trips to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He has worked alongside Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham
William Franklin Graham III , known publicly as Franklin Graham, is an American Christian evangelist and missionary. He is the president and CEO of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse.He currently lives in Boone,...
, Greg Laurie
Greg Laurie
Greg Laurie serves as the Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California.-Ministry:Laurie, who was born in Long Beach, California, became a Christian under the ministry of Pentecostal evangelist Lonnie Frisbee...
, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels
Bill Hybels
William Hybels is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, one of the most attended churches in North America, with an average attendance of nearly 24,000 as of 2011...
, Rick Warren
Rick Warren
Richard Duane "Rick" Warren is an American evangelical Christian minister and author. He is the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch located in Lake Forest, California, currently the eighth-largest church in the United States...
and at Promise Keepers
Promise Keepers
Promise Keepers is an international conservative Christian organization for men. While it originated in the United States, it is now world-wide...
events.
Career
In 2000, Walker released his album Never Gonna Stop, which earned a larger reception than his previous albums, peaking at number one hundred and fifty three on the billboard 200 chart. The album included several of Walker's well knowns songs, including "Only A God Like You" and "He Knows My Name". In 2004, Walker released his album, Make it Glorious, which was recorded live at Regent UniversityRegent University
Regent University is a private coeducational interdenominational Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. The school was founded by the American televangelist Pat Robertson in 1978 as Christian Broadcasting Network University. A satellite campus located in...
with a 50-member choir. A choral arrangement, arranged and orchestrated by Bradley Knight, of songs previously written by Tommy Walker entitled, That's Why We Praise Him: Celebrating the Songs of Tommy Walker, was also released in 2004. The choral collection was followed by a second choral collection of songs by Walker, Great and Marvelous: Celebrating the Songs of Tommy Walker Volume 2, in 2005, which earned Walker a dove award nomination. On March 18, 2008, following eight live recordings and many years as a worship leader, Tommy Walker released his first studio recording, I Have A Hope. The album was produced by producer Ed Cash
Ed Cash
Ed Cash is a producer, songwriter, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was named the “Producer of the Year” at the Gospel Music Awards for four consecutive years and gains recognition for his work with Christian singer, Chris Tomlin...
and labeled by Maranatha! Music
Maranatha! Music
Maranatha! Music began as a non-profit outreach of Calvary Chapel in 1971. The Jesus People of the late 1960s and early 1970s began to write new hymns and worship songs with a folk-rock style. Maranatha! Music was founded at this time in order to publish and promote this new type of Christian...
. In support of his national studio debut, Walker made appearances at the National Christian Musicians Summit, Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
and the National Worship Leadership Conference, run by Worship Leader Magazine. In an interview, Walker said that he had been offered deals by record labels and publishers when his songs where first being recorded, but he had declined the offers because he had grown up with a negative perception on the music industry.
Influences
Tommy Walker has cited Justo Almario, Abraham LaborielAbraham Laboriel
Abraham Laboriel, Sr. is a Mexican bassist of Garifuna descent who has played on over 4,000 recordings and soundtracks. Guitar Player Magazine described him as "the most widely used session bassist of our time". Laboriel is the father of drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and of producer, songwriter, and...
, Andre Crouch, Lindell Cooley and Darlene Zschech
Darlene Zschech
Darlene Joyce Zschech is an Australian Pentecostal worship leader and singer-songwriter who primarily writes praise and worship songs. She is the former worship pastor of Hillsong Church and is currently a member of Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith.-Biography:As a young adult...
as influences.
Personal life
Tommy Walker is the son of Fred and Eileen Walker, who were once the pastors of an independent charismatic church. Walker's sister, Janey Stewart, and her husband, Sam Stewart, are the founders and overseers of Charlie's Lunch, a worldwide faith based relief organization. One of Walker’s brothers, Dale Walker is the founder and director of Heart of the World, an interdenominational, worldwide ministry, that operates Borderland Kids program, which is a program that provides food to needy children in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Hilary (Walker) Overton, a niece of Tommy Walker, and her husband David, administrate Glory Reborn, a midwifery clinic in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Tommy Walker is married to Robin Walker, and together, the couple has four children, Jake, Levi, Emmie and Eileen.
Discography
- Live Worship with Tommy WalkerLive Worship with Tommy WalkerLive Worship with Tommy Walker is the first album of Christian worship music by Tommy Walker. The Contemporary Christian album was recorded live Christian Assembly in Los Angeles, California and was released in 1994 by Maranatha Music, and Word...
(1994) - Live At Home (1999)
- Live Worship: The Collection (2000)
- Never Gonna StopNever Gonna StopNever Gonna Stop is an album of Christian worship music by Tommy Walker. The Contemporary Christian album was recorded live Christian Assembly in Los Angeles, California and was released in 2001 by Integrity, Hosanna! Music, and Word...
(2000) - Calling Out To You (2001)
- There Is a Rock (2002)
- Make It Glorious (2004)
- Break Through (2006)
- This is What Christmas Means to Me (2007)
- I Have A Hope (2008)
- Overflow (2009)
Charts
Albums - Billboard (North America)| Year | Album | Peak Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Independent Albums | Billboard 200 Albums Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
||
| 2001 | Never Gonna Stop | #6 | #153 |
Award Nominations
GMA Dove Awards|-
| 2006|| Great and Marvelous-Celebrating the Songs of Tommy Walker Vol. 2 ||Choral Collection of the Year ||
|-
External links
- Tommy Walker's Official Website
- Christian Assembly Official Website
- [ Tommy Walker] at Allmusic