539 - Narada Michael Walden: Performing Without Judgment, Joining Mahavishnu Orchestra, Working with Sir George Martin
Oct 09, 2025•1 hr 1 min
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Episode description
Narada Michael Walden is an EMMY and multi-GRAMMY winner who has produced hits for artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Wynonna Judd, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Lionel Ritchie, Lisa Fischer, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, The Temptations, and many others.
His music flows freely from pop, rock and soul, to the rarified realms of jazz, fusion and world music. With Jeff Beck, Narada wrote and played drums on the seminal album “Wired” that earned them both their first Gold Album. His drumming credits also include his work with Mahavishnu Orchestra (1974-76), Journey, Allan Holdsworth and many others.
In this episode, Narada talks about:
- Joining Mahavishnu Orchestra
- Performing without judgment
- Drumming on Allan Holdsworth’s album Velvet Darkness
- Embracing new technology
- Working with Sir George Martin
- His producing style and being prepared
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