Stephen Walker was born and raised in New Orleans, beginning his musical journey at the young age of five. His father, a preacher, encouraged children in the church to play music during services, planting the seeds for Stephen's lifelong passion for music. He started on piano, clarinet, and trumpet before finding his true voice on the trombone at age twelve.
Mentored by Grammy-winning trombonist and producer Delfeayo Marsalis, Walker has grown into one of New Orleans' most versatile musicians, performing, recording, and composing across a wide range of styles. He has shared the stage with an extraordinary list of the city's musicians, including Harry Connick Jr., Branford Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, Kermit Ruffins, Trombone Shorty, Davell Crawford, Deacon John, Doreen Ketchens, Shannon Powell, James Andrews, Herlin Riley, Bob French, Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown, Calvin Johnson, Leroy Jones, and Shamarr Allen, among many others.
Walker's debut album, Midnight Cocktails, celebrates that versatility, blending gospel roots, traditional jazz, funk, Latin, and contemporary sounds. Whether performing at iconic venues like Preservation Hall, Snug Harbor, and The Blue Nile, leading his own group Stephen Walker N'Em, or touring internationally, Walker continues to bring the soul of New Orleans to audiences everywhere.
