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Bryan Walker can lay claim to a ‘title’ that very few people in SGM can, not only is he a second generation singer but he is the second generation to sing with the same group that is not a family group, the Dixie Melody Boys. It seems when Ed knows talent runs in the family, he keeps those numbers handy!

Being born in Wilmington, Delaware doesn’t seem a likely start for an up and coming SGM artist but Bryan’s family only lived there a short time. Then they moved to the mountains of North Carolina, not that far from where the Dixie Melody Boys are based so Bryan feels right at home in that area. Although he has lived for a while in the Pigeon Forge area, NC is still home.

When he is at home in Tennessee in his spare time he enjoys weight lifting “Which I should do more of”. He also enjoys playing softball in one of the county leagues, often he is joined by his pal Scott Inman of Triumphant.

But it comes as no surprise that one of Bryan’s major interests is music. “I’m a music fan in general. I just love to be around good music anytime and seeing as how I'm around so many theaters in Pigeon Forge I do check out those shows pretty often, especially Triumphant Quartet at the Miracle Theater and The Kingdom Heirs at Dollywood. All in all I surround myself with music. In my car, at home, when I'm eating I'm listening to what is playing over the restaurants system. I just love it! Some of my favorites right now are THE BOOTH BROTHERS!!!! I'm on a huge kick with them right now. Also Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, ALL the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin), my brother Christian Walker, Triumphant, Kingdom Heirs, Greenes, Mark Trammell Trio, Greater Vision, Chicago, Michael English, and many more I just can't think of right now.”

“I also enjoy making people laugh….I spend a lot of my time coming up with new things to do, or expressions to make to get a laugh out of people. I just love to have fun!” Anyone who has spent any period of time with Bryan can attest to that!

When he’s at home relaxing Bryan may watch TV or catch a movie, “My favorites are either CSI: Las Vegas, American Idol, or How It's Made (on the Discovery Channel... yes I do still try to learn stuff). As for movies it would be either, Pay it Forward or Anchorman However, I watch more comedy movies than anything, I just put Pay it Forward in their to let people know I can be serious too!” Or you may find him at the closest Japanese steakhouse, “Give me a plate of Rice with Chicken and Shrimp and I'm a happy man!”

When asked how long he had been singing, Bryan replied “I've been singing as long as I can remember. I first sang with my Dad (David Walker) and my brother in a group we called By Grace. But my first professional experience was filling in for Scott Inman of Triumphant for two weeks while he battled the Flu and Pneumonia. What an awesome experience! Those guys live what they sing. That kind of got the ball rolling for me to fill-in for some others, like Mercy's Well and the Greenes. This eventually led me to Safe Harbor where I sang baritone/lead for a year. Then after a four month lull at home, I contacted Ed O'Neal and was hired on with The Dixie Melody Boys to sing lead. In my first three weeks with Ed, I was thrown to the fire and tested severely with a major concert in Virginia my first night, Silver Dollar City my second week, and NQC my third. Needless to say, I was as jumpy as a bird dog those first couple of weeks.” He continues, “There have been many influences in my live and many of them are connected with music. My Dad, my brother, Scott Inman, Michael Booth, ALL the guys from Triumphant Quartet, My Mom-mom (that's grandma for you normal folks), Scott Carter, Gary Allsup, all of these folks have played a role in my life and in my being where I am today.”

“Some of my favorite singers are Arthur Rice, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble', Dan Keeton, TaRanda Greene, Mitch Kenitzer, Sonya Isaacs, Ed O'Neal (NO LIE, I really do love his singing), Ronnie Booth, Jim Brady, my musical tastes run the gamut.”

Even though traveling can be rough, it can be exciting too, when pressed for why he does what he does each week Bryan replied, “I want to be a in Southern Gospel Music because I want to be able to tell the story of Jesus Christ the best way The Lord has gifted me to do. I want to be able to leave a lasting legacy of telling the story of Jesus Christ, NOT HOW I told the story. If people recognize me along the way for telling the story, GREAT!

“I'm just human enough to like that. But my first priority each night is to present the gospel the best I know how. I also realize that much of what our industry is about is encouragement to believers. If a song, a kind word, or a smile (which I love to do) can encourage a fellow believer, then I'll be doing that. As a side note, some people feel the need to do a version of what John Piper calls Frontier Missions, where we take the gospel to places and reach the "unreachable." My opinion is that we should absolutely be trying to reach the "unreachable." However, I feel that this music, while perfectly capable to be reaching out to the lost, is best used for God's kingdom as an avenue of encouragement. We need to remember a few things: 1) God's Word will not return void! Isaiah 55:11 2) Some were meant to be teachers, preachers, singers, plumbers, firemen, etc. Each person has their place in God's Kingdom. 1 Corinthians 12, I feel it to be the same with music. ALL gospel music is meant to reach the lost, and some of it is meant to encourage the believers. Please realize your place in HIS kingdom, not your own. (And now I step down off of my soap box)”

Bryan is a nominee for this year’s Singing News Horizon Award to be presented at the NQC. When asked his thoughts on this, he said “It is humbling. When I look at all the up and coming artists in our industry and realize the fans have nominated me, it makes me stop to think about what I am doing. They've watched me, heard me, talked with me... it makes you stop and think about the fact that in some way you have affected these peoples lives to the point that they voted for you. That within itself is humbling. I don’t feel worthy of the honor, but I certainly do appreciate it. Like I said before, I'm just human enough to like it!”

Bryan Walker is a great example of the many young men and woman we see coming into Gospel Music today. They are proof that this legacy will continue to be passed on to another generation.

DeeAnn Bailey
http://www.deeannbailey.com

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