William Walker

1809-1875

Born: May 6, 1809, Martin’s Mills (near Cross Keys), South Carolina. Died: September 24, 1875, Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Musically gifted, by age 18 Walker was leading congregational singing at the First Baptist Church in Spartanburg. He collected and arranged folk tunes, and with his brother-in-law, Benjamin Franklin White, participated in singing schools and compiling melodies from southern Appalachia and camp meetings. After moving to Hartford, Connecticut, Walker published The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion in 1835, but gave no credit to White, who published The Sacred Harp, a competing volume, in 1844. Both used the shaped note music notation system.

Music:

1. Middlebury
2. Restoration
3. Samanthra
4. Wondrous Love