George Walker (composer)

For other people named George Walker, see George Walker (disambiguation).

George Walker
Walker seated at the piano (c. early 1940s)
Born(1922-06-27)June 27, 1922
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedAugust 23, 2018(2018-08-23) (aged 96)
Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupations
Spouse
​
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(m. 1960; div. 1975)​
Children2 (Gregory and Ian)

George Theophilus Walker (June 27, 1922 – August 23, 2018) was an American composer, pianist, and organist,[1] and the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music,[2] which he received for his work Lilacs in 1996.[3] Walker was married to pianist and scholar Helen Walker-Hill between 1960 and 1975. Walker was the father of two sons, violinist and composer Gregory T.S. Walker and playwright Ian Walker.[4]

  1. ^ Terry, Mickey (Autumn 2000). "An Interview with George Walker". The Musical Quarterly. 84 (3): 377. doi:10.1093/mq/84.3.372. JSTOR 742584.
  2. ^ "George Walker: the great American composer you've never heard of". The Guardian. August 27, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  3. ^ De Lerma, Dominique-Rene. "African Heritage Symphonic Series". Liner note essay. Cedille Records CDR061.
  4. ^ Walker, George (2009), Reminiscences of an American Composer and Pianist, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 978-0810869400, p. 153.