Willie Walker & Conversation Piece

Conversation Piece gives people something to talk about! The band is a successful and respected staple in Charlotte with a loyal following.

The group's founder and leader, Willie Walker, is an electronic music and composition student. He's performed with Clarke Terry, George Howard, Barbara Weathers(formerly of Atlantic Starr), Sibyl Lynch, Najee, and Dick Smith(formerly of Earth Wind and Fire). He performs vocals and plays bass on Discography: Alive and Kick In, Anthology of Beach Music, by Grammy Winner General Norman Johnson and the Chairman of the Board, with whom he also toured.

In his early career, Walker was a staff bassist for Sound Lab Studio with Tom Rowan, producer for Norman Conners, was the former elementary general music teacher, and formerly served as staff bassist and orchestral arranger for Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, which has a membership of 8,000.

Currently, Walker is a composer and arranger for Conversation Piece Discography: Inside My Mind, Live at 831, L.A. Bop. He is a sideman for Grammy-nominated Tom Browne, known for his hit Funkin' for Jamaica, Thighs High.

Conversation Piece members include Willie Walker(bass guitar and vocals), Carl Ratliff(saxophone and flute), Darryl Payton(trombone), Charlton Taylor on keys, Derek McCoy(guitar) and Christian Whitley(drums)