Albertina Walker – Queen of Gospel

Albertina Walker was born in 1929 in Chicago, IL. At the age of four, Albertina began singing in the Children’s Choir of the West Point Baptist Church under the direction of Professor Pete Williams. It was during this time that America had undergone a major economic collapse and the country was experiencing a great social and political upheaval. The black church was at the heart of this cultural awakening and gospel music was slowly gaining acceptance in the black churches, thanks to the efforts of Gospel greats such as Professor Thomas A. Dorsey, Sallie Martin, Kenneth Morris, Rosetta Thorpe, and Albertina’s personal friend, Mahalia Jackson. Albertina was singing with the Williams Singers touring with Willie Webb and The Robert Anderson Singers.

In 1951 at just twenty two years of age Ms. Walker organized her own group, the world famous CARAVANS.  The original group the Caravans consisted of Elyse Yancy, Nellie Grace Daniels, and OraLee Hopkins Samson. After a stellar career with the Caravans, Albertina went on to phenomenal success as a solo artist, recording her first project Put A Little Love In Your Heart in 1975.

• Dorothy Norwood
• CeCe Winans – Mercy Said No (Audio)