By: Tadi Abedje

Walker has been a successful gospel singer and a pastor at Love Fellowship Tabernacle church since 1985. Additionally, he received his education from Long Island University, Hugee Theological Seminary and the New York School of the Bible. 

In 2019, Walker decided to go back to school at Virginia Union University because of their theological seminary program. It was during that time he had a conversation with the school’s president, Hakim J. Lucas, about him having a concert. However, this meeting sparked the idea of opening up a new gospel music center. 

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It will be called the Hezekiah Walker Center for Gospel Music and it will open in the spring semester of 2022. Walker believes that this will be a wonderful opportunity for people to be educated about gospel music. 

“I’m excited about Virginia Union being the hub, ‘cause we’re going to make sure that this university becomes the hub of gospel music. We want people from all over the world to come here to learn about gospel music, to enjoy gospel music and to collaborate,” he said on VUU TV. 

He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where Love Fellowship Tabernacle is located. His parents were deeply religious, and Walker developed a passion for music at a young age.  

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In 1985, Walker took that passion for music and created his first gospel group, called the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.  

From there, he went on to produce albums like I’ll Make It (1987), Oh Lord We Praise You (1991), Focus on Glory (1992), Live in Toronto (1993), Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College (1994), Live in New York: By Any Means… (1997), Family Affair (1999) and 20/85 the Experience (2005).