Jerry Walker

Jerry Walker first came to know fame when he was Andrew Lee Manning, the first black child to enroll at MacFarlane Park Elementary in West Tampa. He was a fighter for civil rights from an early age.

Jerry went on to land DJ jobs as a very young man, still in junior high. Eventually he landed a weekend gig at WTMP, Tampa Bay’s soul station.

Walker went on to WDAE where he introduced disco music to Tampa Bay night club fans. They loved him, he was an instant hit. His request lines at FM 101 in Tampa were always lit up as he would beckon his fans to call and “Talk To The Walk”. Was Program Director and Morning Man at WTMP... Production Director and Mid-day Man at WLCY... Host of W101's Pillow Talk... VJ and Music Director of V-32... Host of gospel music program "Victory Radio" at WTMP.

Jerry ran into troubles in the 1980s, a bout with cocaine and alcohol. He life appeared doomed, he could not find work, he struggled to regain the greatness that followed him in the 1970s.

His battle ended with his running afoul of the law. The arrest turned him around, and today he is working as an evangelist in West Tampa’s Main Street area, an area known for drug abuse and crime. Jerry is using his life’s experience to reach those that are not in tune with society.

Jerry Walker should be an easy first ballot inductee into the Tampa Bay Radio Hall of Fame.

UPDATE: March 8th 2011

<Michael Bagley>