Luther
Navarro Walker was born January 12, 1940 in Manhattan, New York to Luther
Martin Walker and Irelene Walker. Luther married Clarencia Mae Flynn
on April 5, 1959. They had four daughters and one son. Luther and Clarencia
also adopted another daughter Denise and brought her into their large
family. Luther‘s thirst for music came from his mother who played
the piano for the African Methodist Church in Columbia, South Carolina
and then in New York. Luther’s voice was one that could bring
you to tears. He was singing in the chorus church and was so small,
the robe dragged on the floor as he sang “Ave Maria” as
a young man for 12 years. He moved to Williams Avenue in Springfield
Gardens from Morning Side Avenue in Manhattan. It was there that he
met Clarencia Flynn, who was 14 years old at the time and he was 12
years old. Luther had a singing group called the Dealers. Everyone at
that time was into “Dowop.” You could hear it on every street
corner, but Luther’s voice always stood out. Luther was always
headed for Broadway, always trying to get a contract.
Luther
went into the Air Force January 16, 1957. He was classified as a Metal
Worker. When he was discharged he got married. He then went on to pursue
his music again. In 1960 Luther put out an album. He appeared at the
Rat Fink Room, the Galaxy Supper Club in Queens, New York, the Lamp
Lighter and the El Carrib Country Club.
In
1963, under the singing name “Tommy Navarro,” Luther recorded
“I Cried My Life Away,” with De Jac Records. This record
became #18 on the “Top 100” song list nationally. He then
worked with the Ruddy Williams Trio. In 1968, he joined the world famous
Joe Boatner’s Ink Spots, with whom he received encore after encore
whenever he sang lead. As a solo artist, he sang at the Moulin Rouge,
the Show place of the Stars, August 23-24, 1968 and again November 1-2,
1968. He sang at the Flagship in Union, New Jersey as a Star with Mary
Rooney and Linda Terri.
Luther
sang at the Palisades Amusement Park under the Disc Jockey, Bruce Morrow
of WABC. He sang at the Baby Grand in New York City on January 25, 1969
with his own trio “The Navarro Trio” and at the Velvet Room
in Bellmore, New York for six weeks. In 1969, he sang at the Baby Grand
in Brooklyn, New York as well as the Steer Inn. He sang at the Pocamount
Lodge in Bushkill, Pennsylvania as well as the McAllister Rose Room
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To
this day, Luther’s records are being sold on Ebay and throughout
the UK.
Luther
gave up singing when he went into the trucking business. His first truck
was blue and had a V903 engine. He then went on to be an Owner/Operator
with several flat bed trucks and freightliners. He was great in the
business! He could tear down an engine and put it back together. He
never liked working for anyone. He always wanted to be his own man.
After his health failed, he sold all his equipment, but his heart was
still out there on the road.