Kim Walker-Smith Explained

Kim Walker-Smith
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Kimberlee Dawn Walker
Birth Date:December 19, 1981
Birth Place:Albany, Oregon, U.S.
Origin:Redding, California, U.S.
Instrument:Vocals
Genre:Contemporary worship music
Occupation:Singer, songwriter and worship leader
Label:Jesus Culture
Associated Acts:Lakewood Music, Jesus Culture

Kim Walker-Smith (born December 19, 1981, as Kimberlee Dawn Walker) is an American singer, songwriter, worship leader, and recording artist. She produced her first solo album, Here Is My Song, which was released in February 2008 through the Jesus Culture record label.[1] [2] Walker-Smith is best known as the worship leader for the Jesus Culture Band and Jesus Culture events, and as a worship pastor for Bethel Church in Redding.[3]

Her rendition of the John Mark McMillan song "How He Loves" has been viewed over 26 million times on YouTube.[4] Her rendition of Brian Johnson's and Jon Mohr's song "Where You Go I Go"[5] has over 11 million views on YouTube.[6]

Early life

Kim Walker was born in Albany, Oregon, and "raised in a small farm town called Klamath Falls, Oregon."[7] Her parents divorced when she was four years old. Her family moved frequently, causing her to be shy and withdrawn as a result of always being "the new kid". Walker stated that her family "for generations has been very musical and my mom put me on a stage when I was three. I grew up singing and was very involved in musical theater." Walker gave her life to God when she was eighteen years old. During a challenging season in her life while attending Bethel, she received a vision about the love God had for her, and was a changed person after that encounter.[8]

In her early adulthood, Walker moved to Redding, California, to attend a Christian college, but was struggling with her grades and wasn't happy attending university. One night while driving around she cried out to the Lord, and came across a 24-hour prayer house that had been recently set up by Bethel Church. Venturing inside, Walker was captivated and attended their church service the following Sunday. After a year she left university to attend the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM). She graduated from the BSSM after completing their two-year program, and after two more years was hired by the church as a worship pastor. Walker has stated that the "greatest desire of [her] heart is to see God's kingdom and power manifest for people to be set free, healed, and radically changed as they encounter God in worship."[9]

Musical career

In 2005, Walker's "powerful voice won her $25,000 cash in an American Idol type of competition called So You Want to Be a Star, which aired on Chico television station KRVU. [She] is considered by many to be a forerunner in a new kind of worship referred to as prophetic worship."[10] Walker has cited Misty Edwards of the International House of Prayer and Suzy Yaraei of Morning Star Ministries, both prominent worship leaders in the evangelical community, as her greatest musical influences.[10]

In 2009, Walker married worship leader Skyler William Smith, and has since released music under the name Kim Walker-Smith instead of her maiden name.[10] [11] [12] In addition to her career of solo albums, she is also a member of the band Jesus Culture, which began as a youth worship band at Bethel, but now hosts multiple worship conferences around the country and produces a live record each year, in addition to frequently leading worship at Bethel.[13] In 2010, Walker-Smith stated that she was "at Bethel once to twice a month right now. We travel about three to four times a month. About 40 percent of that is Jesus Culture." She has also expressed a desire for her music to expand into the secular community, expressing a passion for social justice and "to see the arts and creativity restored and a new standard set".[9] "I've always looked at music as a vehicle to get me to people".[10]

On July 16, 2013, Walker-Smith and her husband Skyler released Home, their first album together.[14] In December 2016, Walker-Smith announced she was working on another Jesus Culture album.[15] In early March, Jesus Culture announced that Walker-Smith would be releasing her first solo album since 2013, titled On My Side, on April 21.[16] The album reached No. 1 on Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart as of May 13, 2017.[17]

Personal life

Walker-Smith and Skyler Smith have three children together, two sons and a daughter.[18] [19] [20]

Political views

In 2020, Walker-Smith released "Worth the Fight," which served as the theme song for The Trump I Know, a film released during the 2020 presidential campaign.[21]

In 2022, Walker-Smith expressed support for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision overturning Roe V. Wade on her social media accounts.

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
[22]
US
Christ.

[23]
Here Is My Song
  • Released: February 5, 2008
Home
  • Released: 2013
47 2
On My Side
  • Released: April 21, 2017
68 1

Live albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
US
Christ.

Still Believe
  • Released: February 15, 2013
39 2
On My Side (Live)
  • Released: April 6, 2018
Wild Heart
  • Released: August 14, 2020
12
Let Us Worship – Azusa
  • Released: March 3, 2021
33
Revival Nights
  • Released: July 16, 2021

EPs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
US
Christ.

US Latin Pop
No Temeré
  • Released: January 8, 2021
- - -

Holiday albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
US
Christ.

US
Holiday
[24]
When Christmas Comes
  • Released: October 23, 2014
95 7 8

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Christ.

[25]
US
Christ.
Airplay

[26]
US
Christ.
Digital
[27]
US
AC

[28]
"Carols of the Bells"201425 31 13When Christmas Comes
"Throne Room"201717 22 3 On My Side
"Love Came Down"201834 28 non-album single
"Just Be"201942 non-album single
"Insatiable"non-album single
"Worth the Fight"2020non-album single
"Teu Espírito"
non-album single
"Seu Nome É Amor"
non-album single
"Boxes"2024non-album single
"Let Revival In"non-album single
"Trample"non-album single

As a featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Christ.

US
Christ.
Airplay

"In The River"
(Jesus Culture featuring Kim Walker-Smith)
201627Let It Echo
"Alive in You"
(Jesus Culture featuring Kim Walker-Smith)
20173933
"Love Has a Name"
(Jesus Culture featuring Kim Walker-Smith)
3840Love Has a Name
"Freedom"
(Jesus Culture featuring Kim Walker-Smith)
20183125Living With a Fire

Other charted songs

List of charting songs, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Christ

"On My Side"201733On My Side
"Fresh Outpouring"45
"Glimpse"47

Awards and nominations

Kim Walker-Smith, with her worship band, Jesus Culture, was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards for their album, Living With a Fire.[29]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1546372|pure_url=yes}} Here Is My Song > Overview ]. . June 11, 2009.
  2. Web site: Kim Walker Releases Solo Album . Kyra Goldman, Special to the Record Searchlight . Redding.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120216011046/http://www.redding.com/news/2008/mar/13/reddings-kim-walker-releases-solo-album/ . February 16, 2012 . September 6, 2012.
  3. Web site: Elevation to partner with Jesus Culture Music in UK and Europe . February 13, 2010 . Christian Today . September 6, 2012.
  4. Web site: How He Loves Us – Kim Walker-Smith / Jesus Culture . YouTube . January 21, 2020.
  5. Web site: Where You Go I Go.
  6. Web site: Where You Go I Go . . March 14, 2013.
  7. Web site: Cummings . Tony . March 12, 2010 . Cross Rhythms Jesus Culture: Kim Walker Smith speaks about the powerful worship ministry from California . October 25, 2012 . Crossrhythms.co.uk.
  8. Web site: Jesus Culture: 'Raising Up Revivalists' – Today's Christian Woman.
  9. Web site: Kim Walker-Smith . Jesus Culture . October 25, 2012.
  10. Web site: Kim Walker-Smith Biography – Facts, Life Story, Music Career . LyricsHall.com . October 25, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140319065530/http://www.lyricshall.com/biography/Kim+Walker-Smith/ . March 19, 2014 . dead .
  11. Web site: Your Voice Work ID No. 888542188 ISWC No. T9165070440 IPI No. 719618811 (SMITH SKYLER WILLIAM) . . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130306032310/https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx . March 6, 2013 . January 6, 2015. Work ID No. 888542188 ISWC No. T9165070440 IPI No. 719618811 (SMITH SKYLER WILLIAM)
  12. Web site: Skyler Smith . Jesus Culture . October 25, 2012.
  13. Web site: Jesus Culture Band Main Artist Page :: JESUS CULTURE MUSIC . Jesusculture.com . October 25, 2012 . January 13, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130113072911/http://www.jesusculture.com/music/jesus-culture-band . dead .
  14. Web site: Home with Kim Walker-Smith and Skyler Smith . The Christian Broadcasting Network, CBN.com.
  15. Web site: Jesus Culture's Kim Walker-Smith Is Expecting . Longs . Herb . December 8, 2016 . February 15, 2017.
  16. Web site: Jesus Culture's Kim Walker-Smith Set to Release New Solo Album on My Side . Niagara Frontier Publications . July 20, 2017.
  17. Kim Walker-Smith Earns First Top Christian Albums Leader . May 4, 2017 . Billboard . July 20, 2017.
  18. Web site: Kim Walker-Smith . Jesus Culture . December 1, 2016 . July 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180713174041/https://jesusculture.com/artists/kim-walker-smith/ . dead .
  19. Web site: Jesus Culture's Kim Walker-Smith Talks Tragic Loss Leading Up to New Album . January 17, 2016 . CP Entertainment.
  20. Web site: Kim Walker-Smith Debuts Pictures of Newborn Daughter . Thomasos Christine . The Christian Post . June 12, 2017 . July 20, 2017.
  21. Book: Payne, Leah . God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music . 2024-01-04 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-755526-2 . 194 . en.
  22. Kim Walker-Smith Chart History (Billboard 200). Billboard. August 15, 2020.
  23. Kim Walker-Smith Chart History (Top Christian Albums). Billboard. August 15, 2020.
  24. Kim Walker-Smith Chart History (Holiday Albums). Billboard. August 25, 2020.
  25. Kim Walker-Smith Chart History (Hot Christian Songs). Billboard. August 25, 2020.
  26. Kim Walker-Smith Chart History (Christian Airplay). Billboard. August 25, 2020.
  27. Kim Walker-Smith Chart History (Christian Digital Song Sales). Billboard. August 25, 2020.
  28. Kim Walker-Smith Chart History (Adult Contemporary). Billboard. August 25, 2020.
  29. Web site: Kim Walker-Smith . December 5, 2018 . National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences . February 11, 2019.