Hezekiah Walker, the esteemed pastor, gospel singer, composer, and choir leader, is set to return as a judge for the renowned How Sweet The Sound gospel music competition for the third consecutive year. The competition awards cash prizes to artists representing the best in gospel choir, solo, spoken word, and dance performance.
For decades, Walker has been shaping the landscape of contemporary gospel music. While serving as a Pentecostal minister, he formed the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Walker’s musical talent has shaped choral music, as evidenced by the release of numerous albums that have captivated audiences worldwide. From the acclaimed “Focus on Glory” in 1992 to the groundbreaking “Live in Toronto” in 1993.
Walker has won two Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Album By Choir Or Chorus: once in 1994 for Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College with The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, and again in 2001 for Love Is Live! with The LFT Church Choir.
Beyond his musical contributions, Walker’s role as a pastor and visionary leader has left an indelible mark on his community. As the founder and Senior Pastor of Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church in Brooklyn, New York; and Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Walker guides a diverse congregation.
Central to Walker’s mission is his unwavering commitment to the three “P’s”: Prayer, Preaching, and Praise.
Walker joins a distinguished panel of judges including Tamela Mann, JJ Hairston, Jonathan McReynolds, Ricky Dillard, and the longtime host Donald Lawrence. Their musical expertise will play a pivotal role in selecting this year’s winners.
“It takes a lot to be on a stage like this,” says Walker. “ You have to have will power, you have to have guts, you have to believe in yourself, and you have to believe in the gift you have inside you.”
Founded in 2007 and sponsored by Verizon, How Sweet The Sound has evolved into an international phenomenon under the new ownership of Gentle Giant Music Ministries, and its CEO Nathanael Brown. The competition now spans two continents, with events in both the United States and UK.
The Atlanta competition will be sponsored by P&G, Glory Foods, Compassion International, and the “Love, Your Mind” campaign, in collaboration with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council. These partnerships reflect a commitment to destigmatizing mental health issues, particularly within the Black community, and leveraging the power of music to promote mental wellness.
Glory Foods, a new sponsor of How Sweet The Sound, will launch their “What Feeds Your Soul?” campaign, inviting contestants and audience members to share their stories for a chance to win a year’s supply of Glory Foods products. Brian Hodges, Brand Manager of Glory Foods, expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the shared values of community, tradition, and nourishment through music and food.
For the first time in history, How Sweet The Sound will be televised nationally through a distribution deal with FOX Soul. The competition will be accessible to gospel music enthusiasts across the country on various digital platform affiliates including Fire TV, RoKu, Samsung TV Plus, YouTube, Apple TV+, and many others.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming competition, Walker’s return as a judge adds another layer of excitement to How Sweet The Sound, reaffirming its status as a premier platform for the best emerging talent in gospel music.
How Sweet the Sound will be held at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on June 1, 2024, at 8 pm.
Steam Walker’s music on all digital platforms. Connect with Walker on Instagram @bishophez and Facebook @Officialhezekiahwalker.
Published by: Martin De Juan
