William Walker

Full biography William Walker

William Walker was an American Baptist song leader and music editor. He is best known for his contributions to the shape-note tradition of hymn singing. Born in 1805 in Martin County, Kentucky, Walker grew up on a farm and taught himself to read music. He later became a music teacher and began to collect and publish songs.

In 1835, Walker published The Southern Harmony, a collection of hymns for the Southern United States that would become a widely used and beloved hymnal. The Southern Harmony was a major success and went through several editions, selling over 600,000 copies during Walker's lifetime.

Walker was also a composer and wrote some of the songs that were included in The Southern Harmony. His most famous composition is "The Davidian Cry," a hymn that became a staple of the shape-note singing tradition.

Walker continued to publish hymnals and shape-note collections throughout his life, including Christian Harmony and The Hesperian Harp. He passed away in 1875 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but his legacy lives on through his music and contributions to the shape-note tradition.