What do Whitney Houston, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck, and Gladys Knight have in common? They all have been touched by Narada Michael Walden.

Drummer Walden played with the fusion-rock group Mahavishnu Orchestra, and with British guitarist Jeff Beck. As a solo artist, Narada Michael had a bunch of R&B hits:

• "I Don’t Want Nobody Else (To Dance With You)"
•  "I Shoulda Loved Ya"
• "Tonight I'm Alright"

He produced and arranged hits for Whitney Houston

• "How Will I Know"
• "So Emotional"

Walden co-wrote "Licence to Kill" for Gladys Knight in the James Bond movie. The songwriter, producer, and drummer is from Kalamazoo, Michigan.

His groove laden music emphasizes bass and drums, marching through galloping dance tracks.

'Jam on Good Friday,' so says Narada Michael Walden, in his 1988 hit song "Divine Emotions." We love the longer eight minute, forty-eight second 12" single remix with additional Shep Pettibone production.

Hear the 'lyric line' in this 15 second segment from the 8:48 track:

Here is a shorter, full-length 5:14 song version on YouTube. The "jam on Good Friday" song lyric is mixed down in the final quarter of the song. It is loud and clear in the 8:48 remix! 

Walden shares writing credits and the arrangement for Gladys Knight's "Licence to Kill." Here's Gladys on YouTube:

I saw Narada Michael Walden perform at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey with Rufus and Chaka Khan and The Brothers Johnson. Walden was the opening act. The entire show, as well as Michael, was fantastic!

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