Tommy Navarro

Luther Navarro Walker was born January 12, 1940 in Manhattan, New York to Luther Martin Walker and Irelene Walker. Luther married Clarencia Mae Flynn on April 5, 1959. They had four daughters and one son. Luther and Clarencia also adopted another daughter Denise and brought her into their large family. Luther‘s thirst for music came from his mother who played the piano for the African Methodist Church in Columbia, South Carolina and then in New York. Luther’s voice was one that could bring you to tears. He was singing in the chorus church and was so small, the robe dragged on the floor as he sang “Ave Maria” as a young man for 12 years. He moved to Williams Avenue in Springfield Gardens from Morning Side Avenue in Manhattan. It was there that he met Clarencia Flynn, who was 14 years old at the time and he was 12 years old. Luther had a singing group called the Dealers. Everyone at that time was into “Dowop.” You could hear it on every street corner, but Luther’s voice always stood out. Luther was always headed for Broadway, always trying to get a contract. Luther went into the Air Force January 16, 1957. He was classified as a Metal Worker. When he was discharged he got married. He then went on to pursue his music again. In 1960 Luther put out an album. He appeared at the Rat Fink Room, the Galaxy Supper Club in Queens, New York, the Lamp Lighter and the El Carrib Country Club. In 1963, under the singing name “Tommy Navarro,” Luther recorded “I Cried My Life Away,” with De Jac Records. This record became #18 on the “Top 100” song list nationally. He then worked with the Ruddy Williams Trio. In 1968, he joined the world famous Joe Boatner’s Ink Spots, with whom he received encore after encore whenever he sang lead. As a solo artist, he sang at the Moulin Rouge, the Show place of the Stars, August 23-24, 1968 and again November 1-2, 1968. He sang at the Flagship in Union, New Jersey as a Star with Mary Rooney and Linda Terri. Luther sang at the Palisades Amusement Park under the Disc Jockey, Bruce Morrow of WABC. He sang at the Baby Grand in New York City on January 25, 1969 with his own trio “The Navarro Trio” and at the Velvet Room in Bellmore, New York for six weeks. In 1969, he sang at the Baby Grand in Brooklyn, New York as well as the Steer Inn. He sang at the Pocamount Lodge in Bushkill, Pennsylvania as well as the McAllister Rose Room in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.