Narada Michael Walden

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Michael Walden (born April 23, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan U.S.) is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. Michael Walden has also owned and operated Tarpan Studios, a well-known recording studio in San Rafael, CA, since the mid-1980s.

Narada Michael Walden, 1988 single "Divine Emotions".
Narada Michael Walden, 1988 single "Divine Emotions".

Contents

[edit] Achievements

Number one hits have included several collaborations

He has contributed to a diverse range of musical genres including rock, jazz, pop, R&B and fusion.

He was awarded Producer of the Year in 1987, Album of the Year for the 1993 movie soundtrack The Bodyguard and the Song of the Year in 1985 for Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love." He was also named as one of the "Top Ten Producers With the Most Number One Hits" by Billboard magazine.

[edit] Performing career

His stage career included appearances with John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (where he replaced legendary drummer Billy Cobham), and Jeff Beck (on Beck's album Wired).

His first album, Garden of Love Light, was released in 1976 and included the track "Delightful". The lone single released from the album, it charted at #81 on the R&B charts in the spring of 1977.

His 1979 album Awakening peaked at #15 on the R&B charts, spawning a Top 10 hit with "I Don't Want Nobody Else (To Dance With You )". Later that year, his album The Dance of Life yielded the Top 5 single "I Shoulda Loved Ya". Nine years later in 1988, he scored a UK top 10 hit and a #1 US Dance hit, with "Divine Emotions" under the name Narada. His biggest commercial hit in Europe was the 1985 duet "Gimme Gimme Gimme" with Patti Austin which peaked at #5 in the UK and reached #1 in Sweden.

[edit] Discography

  • Garden of Love Light - 1976
  • I Cry, I Smile - 1977
  • Awakening - 1979
  • The Dance of Life - 1979
  • Victory - 1980
  • Confidence - 1982
  • Looking At You, Looking At Me - 1983
  • The Nature of Things - 1985
  • Divine Emotions - 1988

[edit] Singles

  • "Delightful" (1977)
  • "Give Your Love a Chance" (1979)
  • "I Don't Want Nobody Else (to Dance with You)" (1979)
  • "I Shoulda Loved Ya" (1980)
  • "Tonight I'm Alright" (1980)
  • "The Real Thang" (1980)
  • "Summer Lady" (1982)
  • "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" (1983)
  • "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" (1985)
  • "Divine Emotions" (as Narada) (1988)

[edit] Soundtracks

[edit] Other collaborations

[edit] External links