Chris Walker Band

When Chris Walker sees music on a page, he sees colors.

With an arsenal of guitars at his disposal, Walker paints a picture in your mind with every note he plays.

Walker, 27, of Lakeland performs as a solo act and with a three-piece named the Chris Walker Band (including Ramon Crespo on bass and Sam Farmer on drums).

The Chris Walker Band is preparing to release its first full-length album, and Walker said he's very proud of it.

Walker uses the album as a platform to demonstrate his technical versatility and talents as a blues-influenced rock guitarist.

Since beginning to play in front of crowds at age 13, Walker has developed a true following of supporters who want him to succeed and make it as a musician. Player Built Guitars of Bartow and the C.F. Martin & Company sponsor him with guitars.

Walker performed more than 250 shows in 2011, ranging from cover songs at restaurants to all-original work at the Polk Theatre. He was the opening act during the 2011 "Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the Polk Theatre and said he had the crowd wanting more.

Walker will be performing at The Blue Room in Winter Haven on Friday night and at Louie Mack's Steakhouse in Lakeland on Saturday night. The album-release party will be at Preservation Hall in Downtown Lakeland on April 20.

Below, Walker talks more about his music.

Question:

Do you prefer performing as a solo act or with a band?

Answer:

I always love collaboration with other people. If I could afford it, I would have a 13-piece band. That was the biggest band I've played with ... It was amazing, it was an incredible act, really the more people you put on stage it allows for more space. You all can come into the sound together.

Question:

What are your thoughts on playing covers vs. original work?

Answer:

It depends on the venue for me, if they are paying me to play cover music and be that thing, then I'm that thing most of the time. If they're really loving the band, then I'll interject myself into their life. I will make them want to hear me; I'll make them want to hear more of my original stuff, which is the case 99 percent of the time. I don't think I've ever had anyone come up to me at a show where I've played an original and ask "could you play ‘x' band?" That's a huge compliment to me. - The Ledger

"Refined yet raw, Chris Walker rivets audiences with his guitar prowess."
- Aaron Oberlin - Tampa Tribune - Tampa Tribune

"His music is pure, wonderfully creative, and alive with the energy that true young talents possess. It is really an amazing and entertaining show to watch Walker do his thing. At 24 years of age, he's one of the most talented young musicians in the center of Florida."
- Jeff Clements, FOCUS magazine 2009 - Focus Magazine 2009