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Walter Beasley

Fact Sheet

  • Name: Walter Beasley
  • Web site: www.walterbeasley.com
  • Born and raised in El Centro, California
  • Currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Education: Berklee College of Music in Boston
  • Occupation: Recording artist, performer, full professor at Berklee College of Music, performance consultant, and music entrepreneur (founder and CEO of Affable Publishing and Affable Records)
  • Principal Instruments: Soprano/Alto Saxophone, Voice
  • Performance genres: R&B instrumental, vocal jazz, contemporary jazz
  • Musical Influences: Grover Washington, Jr., Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Cannonball Adderley, Johnny Hodges, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, Peabo Bryson, David Sanborn, Michael Ruff

Points of note:

  • As a saxophonist and singer, he is unique in recording industry, and as such his sales and airplay are unmatched.
  • Also the best-selling full-time college professor and recording artist
  • Since 1998, Beasley has been one of the top five best-selling African-American saxophonists in the world.
  • Over the last three decades, Beasley has been a regular presence in the top 20 of Billboard's contemporary jazz charts
  • His latest album, For Her, recently peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts


Organizations/Memberships:

  • SESAC (performing rights organization)
  • Berklee's Association of Faculty of African Descent: goal is to increase enrollment of African-American students and educators at Berklee
  • Berklee Presidential Scholarship Spokesperson: awards talented students from underrepresented groups with a full scholarship and room and board.


Awards and Accolades:

  • 2003 Boston Music Awards, Jazz Album of the Year (Go with the Flow)
  • 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"