WALTER H. KEMP, JR. was born in Buffalo, NY of Deacon Walter H. Kemp, Sr., and Mary F. Kemp. He began studying piano at the tender age of nine, under the tutelage of the late Mrs. Estelle Elett Dixon. He attended high school at Lewis J. Bennett High School in Buffalo. At the age of thirteen, Walter began accompanying the Eugene Lawerence Brotherhood Chorus, until he entered college in August of 1971.
He received his B.S. in music education in 1974 from Rosary Hill College, now Daemen University. He married Ava Ferguson in 1978, and welcomed their first child, Walter H. Kemp, III. While completing his graduate studies in music pedagogy in 1980, he welcomed his second child, daughter, Aria Lauretta Kemp.
His passion for music continued to grow, leading him to become a teacher of vocal music in the Buffalo Public School System for 33 years. He often recalled many fond stories from his years at McKinley High School, City Honors School, and PS 78, PS 71, PS 72 Lorraine Academy and Campus West (PS 96). He retired in July 2007.
Walter married the love of his life, Sharon D. A. Trueheart in 2001, becoming Walter and Sharon Kemp, and thus becoming the faithful father of Brianka Trueheart (Patterson). The couple relocated to Houston, Texas in 2007, where he joined the Houston Gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc. in 2013, where Min. Michael Pickett is the founder and President. Walter became a member of The Church at Bethel’s Family where Walter August, Jr. is senior pastor. Walter held the distinguished position of Minister of Music at the Spring Woods United Methodist Church in Cypress, Texas until his untimely passing.
Walter’s affiliations included being a member of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc., Buffalo, NY, since 1984. A committed musician and esteemed socialite, he attended the James Cleveland and Thomas Dorsey Gospel Conventions for nearly 40 years, making music and fellowshipping with long-time friends and musical peers. Among his accomplishments, he has written and published numerous compositions, including “I Will Always Love the Lord,” “Malachi 3:10,” “The Lord is in His Holy Temple,” and “Saved,” which was performed and recorded in 1992 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. There are many more monumental accomplishments in Walter’s 60 plus years of composing, performing, teaching, and leading as a professional pianist.
A lifetime of musical accolades culminated in the selection and acceptance of three of Walter’s original compositions into the National Convention of Choirs and Choruses, Inc. program. Full of gratitude, Walter H. Kemp, Jr. departed this Earth, wholly committed to sharing his love for the Lord with the world. He will be sorely missed by so many.
He is preceded in heavenly ascent by his father, Walter Henry Kemp, Sr.; mother, Mary Frances Kemp; two sisters, Louise Kemp and Cherilyn Landrum; one brother, Ronald Hall, Sr.; and one brother-in-law, Samuel Trueheart.
He leaves to cherish his legacy his devoted wife of 22 years, Sharon D. A. Kemp; brother, Vincent Kemp; brothers-in-law, Stafford, Stanton (Yolanda), and Stephon (Suzannah) Trueheart; sisters-in-law, Violet (Ronald) Hall and Valteria (Samuel) Trueheart; his three loving children, Walter H. (Dana) Kemp, III, Aria Lauretta Kemp, and Brianka (Cliff) Patterson; ten beautiful grandchildren, Drew and Stella Kemp, Nathaniel and Booker Kemp, Ethan Hamm, Milan Lopez, and Paris, Turin, Rimini and Ravenna Patterson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and cherished friends.
