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ALBERTINA WALKER |
CHICAGO — Grammy-winning singer Albertina Walker, who was known as the “Queen of Gospel,’’ has died at age 81.
Ms. Walker died yesterday of respiratory failure in Chicago.
Ms. Walker formed her own gospel group, the Caravans, as a young woman and was a protegé of gospel star Mahalia Jackson.
US Representative Bobby Rush called Ms. Walker a voice for the civil rights movement. He said her music was “a healing balm to those who struggled for justice.’’
Ms. Walker was lifelong Chicago resident and a member of the West Point Baptist Church.
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