148 - Erick Walls' First-Call Funk and Gospel

In addition to winning Grammy Awards for his work on albums by Beyoncé and John Legend, guitarist/composer ERICK WALLS has recorded and/or performed with many other superstars, including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Hudson, Will Smith, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Black Eyed Peas, Whitney Houston, and Michael McDonald, to name a few. And from the moment Erick plugs in on this episode, you’ll hear that he also has deep church roots. (He’s played guitar at West Angeles Cathedral in Los Angeles for 19 years and counting, and has worked with great gospel singers all his life, starting with his father, George Walls, on up through Kirk Franklin and Miami Mass Choir.) When the interview opens, Walls is playing a solo guitar arrangement of The Caravans’ “Lord Keep Me Day By Day,” which was one of his father’s favorite songs. Erick also likes to rock out, too, as you’ll hear when the interview gets to the segment diving into the music of his rock/funk band Black Waat3r.

This episode takes place at Erick Walls’ home studio. It is presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine and hosted by JUDE GOLD. Thanks for supporting No Guitar Is Safe!