Walter Beasley

Walter Beasley is an American saxophonist, a professor of music at the Berklee College of Music, and founder of Affable Publishing and Affable Records.

Walter Beasley
Background information
Birth nameWalter Beasley
Born (1961-05-24) May 24, 1961
OriginEl Centro, California, United States
GenresSmooth Jazz, R&B
Occupation(s)Musician, professor, recording artist, performer, composer
Instrument(s)Soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, voice
LabelsShanachie Records
Warner Bros. Records
Mercury Records
Headsup/Affable Records
Websitewalterbeasley.com

Biography

Beasley grew up in El Centro, California.[1] By the age of 13 he was singing in Spanish in a band called Los Elegantes, and he played in various bands and performed at clubs throughout middle and high school.[2]

Beasley graduated from Berklee in 1984,[3] and a year later took a short-term teaching position at the same school, which became a permanent career.[1] He is now a professor at the school.[4]

In 1987, he released his first, self-titled, album,[3] and since 1998 has been one of the top ten best-selling African American saxophonists in the world.[4] Having grown up as a fan of R&B and funk and trained in classical and jazz saxophone,[5] his own style falls between contemporary R&B and contemporary jazz,[6] a blend which has been called "smooth jazz".[3]

He is not only an alto and soprano saxophonist and a singer,[7] but also a composer and producer.[5] He is the founder and CEO of Affable Publishing, and the owner of Affable Records.[3]

Discography
Album Year Label
Walter Beasley 1987[3] Polydor
Just Kickin' It 1989 Mercury
Intimacy 1992 Mercury
Private Time 1995[5] Mercury
Walter Beasley Live and More 1996 Affable
Tonight We Love 1997 Shanachie
For Your Pleasure 1998 Shanachie
Won't You Let Me Love You 2000 Shanachie
Rendezvous 2002 Shanachie
Go with the Flow 2003 N-Coded Music
Midnight Love 2003 Shanachie
The Classic R&B Collection 2004 Shanachie
For Her 2005[2] Heads Up
Greatest Hits! 2005 Shanachie
Live 2006 Shanachie
Ready for Love 2007[3] Heads Up
Sax Meditations 2008 Affable
Free Your Mind 2009[8] Heads Up
Backatcha 2010 Shanachie[9]
Walter Beasley Live – In the Groove 2010 Affable
Live in the Club 2013 Walter Beasley
Sax Meditations II 2014 Affable
I'm Back 2015 Affable
Blackstreams 2017 Walter Beasley
Going Home 2019 Affable
Meet Me At My Place 2022 Affable
Lil' Darlin' (single) 2023 Affable
Déjà Vu (single) 2023 Affable
Do You Wanna Dance (Walter's version) ft. Rebecca Jade (single) 2023 Affable
Nice and Easy (Walter's version) ft Najee (single) 2023 Affable

DVDs

Educational
  • Sound Production for the Saxophone (Affable Publishing, 2003)
  • Hip-Hop Improvisation (Affable Publishing, 2003)
  • Circular Breathing with Walter Beasley
  • 14 Steps to Maximizing Your Performance (for Saxophonists)
  • Walter Beasley's Performance Workshop
  • Walter Beasley presents Vocal Performance
  • Improv Using Pentatonics
  • Performance Insight
  • Playing Blues
  • Resolution Warm-Up
  • Using Vibrato
  • Improvisations and Delivery Clinic

Live
  • Live at Scullers (Affable Records, 2003)[10]
  • Live in the Club (Walter Beasley, 2013)

Books
  • Performance Insight for Musicians
  • Nice and Easy Cookbook

APPs
  • Walter Beasley Smooth Jazz Alarm App
  • Walter Beasley in Concert Transcriptions
  • Music Lessons by Walter Beasley
  • Hip hop Improvisation
  • Walter Beasley Transcriptions
  • Circular Breathing
  • Sound Production for Saxophone
  • Sax Meditations

Awards and accolades
  • 2001 Boston Music Awards, Outstanding Jazz Artist
  • 2001 Berklee College of Music Trustee Award for advancing the mission and values of the college
  • 2001 South Middlesex Men's Club Leadership Award for community service and support of youth development in music.
  • 2001 SESAC National Performing Activity Award for the song "Comin' at Cha"
  • 2002 SESAC National Performing Activity Award for the song "Rendezvous"
  • 2003 Boston Music Awards, Jazz Album of the Year (Go With the Flow)[11]
  • 2013 Forever Ink Achievement Award

References
  1. Beasley, Walter (December 20, 2007). "Walter Beasley's Official Site: Professional Profile". Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  2. Lebovitz, Susan Chaityn (January 22, 2006). "Beasley on the sax". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  3. Cox, Kevin (March 15, 2007). "Boston-based saxophonist helps keep jazz alive". The Boston-Bay State Banner. Vol. 42, no. 31. Archived from the original on June 20, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  4. "Faculty Biography: Walter Beasley". Berklee. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  5. Rowland, Hobart; Bob Burtman (May 23, 1996). "Saxy Stuff". Houston Press. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  6. Buckley, Michael (February 5, 2009). "Music Box: Big Head Todd brings heartfelt rock to D.C." HometownAnnapolis.com. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  7. Lowenthal, Kevin (August 12, 2005). "Onstage, his smoothness turns funky and soulful". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  8. Joyce, Mike (February 6, 2009). "WALTER BEASLEY "Free Your Mind" Heads Up". The Washington Post. pp. WE07. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  9. Backatcha! – Walter Beasley | AllMusic
  10. "Walter Beasley's Official Site | Selected Discography and Equipment". Walterbeasley.com. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  11. "Walter Beasley's Official Site | Fact Sheet". Walterbeasley.com. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
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