Talent Scout. He was the youngest of seven children born to Mary Ann (Buckley) and Solomon Walker. His father died of consumption when Frank was just six years old, which meant that he had to work even harder for money on the family farm. As a kid, he would earn money from playing the Jew's Harpmouth harp for other people's entertainment. This earned him a few extra pennies each day. Eventually, though, he became tired of farming life. In 1908, he moved to Albany, where he got a high-paying job at a bank and eventually became the assistant treasurer there. In 1913, he took a job in New York City from famous politician Bert S. Kohler, who also dealt with banking. He spent three years there and then entered the Navy during World War One from 1916 to 1919. After that, though, he needed help finding a good job. Then, one day, he met a man named Francis S. Whiten. An old Navy veteran himself, Whiten offered him a job at the Columbia Phonograph and Dictaphone Corporation. Whiten was a nephew of the Duponts, the owners of the company. Frank accepted, and after learning all about the phonograph at the plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he earned an exciting job in the music business that took him around the country. Things were starting to turn around for him. He met and married a woman named Laura Boyne in 1919, and their son John was born in 1922. John Walker is my grandfather. After his son was born, Frank became an artist and repertoire man for Columbia. He loved this job and went down South looking for gifted musicians. These included Gid Tanner and Dan Hornsby, whom he discovered in Atlanta and was very close friends with. In 1928 and 1929, he became known for his work in the Johnson City Sessions, which brought about famous fiddlers like Clarence Greene and Charlie Bowman. Around this time, he brought Black artists to attention, such as Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters. In his later career, he discovered many more successful musicians, most notably Hank Williams, to whom he was extremely close. Frank continued with his job until he died suddenly of a heart attack on October 15, 1963, at his home at 4301 Westmoreland Avenue in Little Neck, New York. He was honored in 2020 with a posthumous Grammy Trustees Award for his work as a record executive.
Talent Scout. He was the youngest of seven children born to Mary Ann (Buckley) and Solomon Walker. His father died of consumption when Frank was just six years old, which meant that he had to work even harder for money on the family farm. As a kid, he would earn money from playing the Jew's Harpmouth harp for other people's entertainment. This earned him a few extra pennies each day. Eventually, though, he became tired of farming life. In 1908, he moved to Albany, where he got a high-paying job at a bank and eventually became the assistant treasurer there. In 1913, he took a job in New York City from famous politician Bert S. Kohler, who also dealt with banking. He spent three years there and then entered the Navy during World War One from 1916 to 1919. After that, though, he needed help finding a good job. Then, one day, he met a man named Francis S. Whiten. An old Navy veteran himself, Whiten offered him a job at the Columbia Phonograph and Dictaphone Corporation. Whiten was a nephew of the Duponts, the owners of the company. Frank accepted, and after learning all about the phonograph at the plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he earned an exciting job in the music business that took him around the country. Things were starting to turn around for him. He met and married a woman named Laura Boyne in 1919, and their son John was born in 1922. John Walker is my grandfather. After his son was born, Frank became an artist and repertoire man for Columbia. He loved this job and went down South looking for gifted musicians. These included Gid Tanner and Dan Hornsby, whom he discovered in Atlanta and was very close friends with. In 1928 and 1929, he became known for his work in the Johnson City Sessions, which brought about famous fiddlers like Clarence Greene and Charlie Bowman. Around this time, he brought Black artists to attention, such as Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters. In his later career, he discovered many more successful musicians, most notably Hank Williams, to whom he was extremely close. Frank continued with his job until he died suddenly of a heart attack on October 15, 1963, at his home at 4301 Westmoreland Avenue in Little Neck, New York. He was honored in 2020 with a posthumous Grammy Trustees Award for his work as a record executive.
Bio by: WalkerMyersMaryland12
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