Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden (/ˈnɑːrədə/ NAH-rə-də; Michael Walden; born April 23, 1952)[1][6] is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He acquired the nickname Narada from Sri Chinmoy.[6]
Narada Michael Walden
Michael Walden
April 23, 1952
Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.[1]
- Musician
- songwriter
- record producer
- Drums
- keyboards
- vocals
1971–present
Atlantic, Warner Bros., Tarpan
He began his career as a drummer, working primarily in the jazz fusion realm, appearing with John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Beck, Wayne Shorter and Weather Report, and Allan Holdsworth. After being mentored by Quincy Jones, he transitioned into a role as a songwriter and producer, working in the 1980s and 1990s with numerous R & B acts such as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, as well as other singers across a number of genres. In 2020, he became the drummer for Journey replacing Steve Smith. In 2021, he became one of two drummers in the band alongside the returning Deen Castronovo prior to leaving in 2022.[7] He appears on the band's album Freedom (2022), having co-produced and played on the album before his departure.
Personal life[edit]
In 2013, Walden married former Catholic school teacher, Katie Mersereau, at Marin Civic Center in San Rafael, California. The couple have two daughters, Kelly and Kayla as well as a son, Michael.[13] The pair worked together on Walden's album Evolution, released in 2015, with Mersereau credited as providing backing vocals on four tracks and writing one song, under her married name, Katie Mersereau-Walden.[14]