Andre Walker Obituary

In Loving Memory of ANDRE WALKER Sept. 6, 1956 - May 6, 2007 Local Musician and Artist was a child prodigy. Lead guitarist, back-up singer and visual artist died unexpectedly at Queen of the Valley Hospital Sunday night on May 6th. 50-year-old Andre was home when he showed symptoms of acute food poisoning. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to multiple symptoms. A pending autopsy will give the final results. Andre Jonathan Walker born in Los Angeles, California, was a big Jimi Hendrix fan, which led him at the age of 13 to get his first guitar. But before he took up the guitar he was more then an avid pen and ink artist. He began drawing dinosaurs at the age of 2 and by 4 his drawings rivaled adult artists. As the Dalai Lama once said about Andre, "he was truly gifted and there was something special about his hands". His family moved to La Puente where he started playing both lead and bass guitar in various local bands as a teenager. Once he started with the lead guit ar (in the genre of rock and blues) it consumed his thoughts both night and day. As an African American, who also happened to be Creole (a la New Orleans) he had a very difficult time. He did not fit the mold. The industry expected him to play rhythm and blues or funk, but definitely not hard rock. Andre, on the other hand, was an artist of integrity and would eventually turn down several offers to play what he did not feel was authentic to his calling. Andre played with several bands throughout Southern California. He was having the time of his life--In the 70's, 80's and early 90's he played in rock and blues bands, wrote lyrics and did his pen and inks. His tastes and inspirations reflected his eclectic interests--he liked classical guitarist Andre Segovia, Brazilian guitarist Bola Seta, Nigerian bandleaders Fela Anikulapo-Kute and King Sunny Ade, Jazz-fusion great John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and of course, Carlos Santana and Jimi Hendrix. Perhaps Andre knew his time was coming, as he started cataloguing his works and collections: Pen and inks, lyrics, music and cds. Andre is deeply missed by his friends and survived by his beloved family, parents Aurolie and Clarence Walker, sister Michelle Walker, brother Pierre Walker and niece Ondrea Walker. His memory lives in their hearts and minds--his music and art will live on eternally. Services are scheduled for: Viewing body, Saturday, May 12, 1:00-5:00 pm; Memorial Service Celebration, Tuesday, May 15, 11:30 am, Custer Christiansen Mortua ry, 114 S Glendora Avenue, West Covina, CA 91790, (626) 919-3443.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Gabriel Valley Tribune from May 10 to May 12, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Andre Walker

Sponsored by The Walker Family.

13 Entries

Tom Chronis

May 4, 2023

Andre was my guitar teacher at hacienda music 46 yrs ago when i was 13. He taught me classic rock songs and their guitar solos note for note. songs I still remember today, and still play in a band of my own. He was in a local band called `light´ and we were all in ahh of him because he could play anything including hendrix with his teeth. I saw him at one lesson fingerpicking flamingo scales on a nylon string with amazing speed and fluidity. That´s when i realized my guitar teacher was a prodigy. Despite his talent, he was humble and really seemed to enjoy teaching. I wonder how many young men he also mentored and helped. He is missed greatly but lives on through the music we play today. Much love and respect.

Tom chronis.

August 5, 2021

Just wanted to offer my condolences. Andre was my guitar teacher when I was about 12 at hacienda music along with 2 of my classmates. I still enjoy playing some of the music he taught me and he has inspired me in so many ways. Just found out about his passing when myself and another of his former students were reminiscing about those times we learned guitar from Andre.
Just wanted to share with his family that is still in our hearts and we´re continuing to keep his legacy alive by sharing his ideas and the music we learned from him.
Blessings to you all, Tom
[email protected]

October 2, 2016

I found out about Andre's pass just last weekend. Andre was my teacher back in the mid 70s and someone I when to High School who I didn't know at the time by do now told me that he passed. While we didn't know each other in HS we both took lessons from Andre around the same time. I still play for fun to this day and owe much of what I learned from Andre. I have thought of him from time to time over the decades and wondered what he was going. So sad to hear of his too early demise. God bless Andre you touched the world.

tony peters

May 31, 2014

I am only now finding out that Andre has passed---I knew him in la puente in the 70's as I played guitar in a local band and Andre would come by and watch our practice-we were all musician friends--we referred to each other as friendly "rivals" although it was understood that Andre was the superior guitarist---this was his graciousness and I am shocked and saddened at his passing---he was indeed a special person.

Barry Stevenson

August 26, 2011

I'll never forget jamming with my friend Tom in his backyard in Westminster with a cheap Dr. Rhythm drum machine. A shock of wild black hair with a red beanie appeared over the fence, with this big grin. "Can I go get my guitar and jam with you guys?" "Sure".. He shows up and plugs in, and is the single most incredible musician I have ever seen in my life! We started Train of Thought, and were Post Punk weirdos, that did some great shows. Even opened for 10'000 Maniacs once. I used to bring tapes and records over, and we would swap stuff. I once asked him where he hears all of this great music, and he said "My mom!, She has hipper tastes in music than I do!" I had the pleasure of playing in 2 bands with Andre, and I'll never forget him. He changed the way I look at art and life. I am so happy that I can read about others who were touched by his grace!

Mark Arvizu

October 29, 2007

I'm sorry i'm so late to find out Andre has passed...I had been looking for him and came upon this. Belated condolances to the Walker family. Andre was my first teacher ..he was a great and very open-minded musician...he was so cool

Michelle Walker

June 15, 2007

Dear Ones,

To all the guitarists who have emailed me through this post...We didn't realize Andre had so many talented students (direct and indirect). I see now he was also a very gifted teacher.

A quick story...One time I asked Andre, "Why not take your tremendous energy and use it for your own good?" His reply was, "I hear music constantly and if someone can, or is willing to understand it, I'll offer it to them...it really isn't mine to keep."

Does that make sense to you? It makes more sense to me now. I've heard from so many from SGV, OC and LA. Rest asure, he is where he can hear (and play) it perpetually. Thank you all for your prayers. They are comforting.

His Sister,

Michelle

Yamil Slim Jr

June 13, 2007

It was a sad day recently when I heard of the passing of Andre. I was just talking about him with a former band member of his Pat Kahl (Lights). Pat brought out a photo album of the band Lights to show my two sons who there father's first and only guitar teacher was, im talking just a couple of months ago. Anybody who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and played guitar was touched by Andre. After about 1 year of leasons with Andre he could see that i was getting frustrated with myself, so he did me the greatest favor in my opinion a teacher could do for there student at the time he quit teaching me. He just told me that he had taught me enough and to just go on my own and take what he had taught me and just play. That was the best thing that could have ever happened to me, never took another leason he was my only teacher. 35 yrs later im still playing probablly with more passion than ever, i'll never forget all the Aerosmith & Rick Derringer riffs he showed me. That little Muff Fuzz he used with that Fender combo amp of his just screamed. My deepest sympathies to the Walker family, he truly touched many lives encluding mine. I leave you all with a Psalm 91: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; God bless.

Yamil Slim Jr

Michelle Walker

May 23, 2007

My beloved brother Andre,

May your music go on forever... Andre was my brother and best friend. He was an amazing guitarist. And an amazing soul.

A friend and fellow guitarist told me the Saturday before he passed he was in LA "sitting-in" with some jazz recording artists from Canada. They assumed jazz was his medium...then he played classical, latin, rock and the blues. Yes, that was Andre, worldly, yet down home at the same time. They invited him to come back to jam Saturday, May 19 and though he didn't make it in person, I'm sure he was there in spirit.

I don't expect I will ever get over the pain of losing Andre so soon, but I do take comfort in the kind words posted here. Thank you. And knowing Andre, he's probably getting a "kick" out this... "new material for lyrics" as he used to say:-) Well play on dear brother, play on.

I will always cherish our long talks about art, music and spirituality. You taught me to give with incredible courage and compassion and I will carry your lessons in my heart for the rest of my days. Thank you Andre!

Love, your sister Michelle

Rohn Flores

May 19, 2007

My deepest condolences on your loss. Andre was my first private teacher, and my only guitar teacher, actually. I took lessons from him at 10 years of age starting in 1975-76 and also in 1978-79. I was 14 when I had my last lesson with him. I last saw him in the summer of 1981 at the Hacienda Music store when I dropped by to buy some sheet music. We were really happy to see each other that day, as we hadn't seen each other for about 2 years at that point. He had a profound influence on me at such an early age, as he turned me on to jazz harmonies and jazz music in general. He bent my ear, so to speak, and I never looked back. All those LPs he had in his music room...there I was, 11 years old, and hearing Mahavishnu and Miles Davis for the first time...that was beautiful. I owe him SO MUCH just for that alone! As I later switched to playing piano and keyboards, and studied privately with piano teachers, I always looked back fondly at my early guitar lessons with Andre. And as the years have gone by, I realize more and more just how much of a musical impact he had on me in those important early years. I always tried to find info on him, always looking to see if was playing somewhere or recording with a band. I really wanted to see him again. I wish I could have attended the funeral service. You have my deepest sympathies. Goodbye, Andre, you will always be a musical part of me.

tracy g grijalva

May 13, 2007

i send a prayer out to andres family...i went to school with him and his sister at la puente..
...i took guitar lessons from him when i was 16 and 17...
..he was in a world of hes own..very gifted and will be missed and loved by many..
...2 years ago i got to master some of hes works of music that he wrote and played on in my home studio..
....it was great to hang out with him ..
..he was truly an amazing player and friend..god bless andre and his family........

Al Estrada

May 12, 2007

I am so sorry for your loss. Andre was my guitar teacher from around the ages of 11-13. Musically he was a huge inspiration on myself and I'm sure many of his other students. Currently I am a guitar teacher and I use many of the same handouts and information that Andre had taught to me. I would never be the guitarist that I am today without having his guidance at an early age. His music and spirit will live on forever and he will never be forgotten. God Bless, Rest in Peace Andre.

Kendis Fukui

May 11, 2007

To Andre's Family,
My deepest condolences on your loss. Andre was my morning companion at the coffee machine and we talked each day as he ate his breakfast....breakfast of champions as we would laugh about! He was a wonderful man with the music in his style. He will truly be missed and we all share in your loss.....

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