Grissom-Clark Funeral Home | Atlanta, GA

Obituary For Mr. Walter Lee Chiles

In profound sorrow we announce the passing of Mr. Walter Lee Chiles. Memorial Services will be Saturday, January 15, 2022 1:00pm at Shrine of the Black Madonna Atlanta GA. Livestream will be available. https://www.facebook.com/BestSelfMovement/ Walter Chiles, a gifted musician, singer, songwriter and recording artist, passed away on Dec. 4 in Atlanta at the age of 88. Walter's first noteworthy professional endeavor was forming the jazz trio, Chiles & Pettiford. They were a mainstay in the 1960s at the jazz club Jilly's in New York, where they recorded an album for Atlantic Records called "Live at Jilly's" and where they had jazz greats like Sarah Vaughan and Charles Mingus perform with them. In the 1970s, Walter formed an R&B/funk band called LTG Exchange, which released two albums—"LTG Exchange" for Fania Records (1974) and "Susie Heartbreaker" for RCA (1975). In 1974, they had two records that reached the charts, "Corazon" and "Waterbed, Pt. 1," both now considered cult disco classics. Chiles was born in Takoma Park, Maryland, on June 8, 1933 to Rev. Odea Chiles and Mary Chiles. His father was a distinguished pastor with the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God in the Americas denomination. Rev. Chiles traveled the country, constructing new Fire Baptized Holiness churches and serving as pastor for several years before moving on to the next one. Walter spent his early years in Richmond, Virginia, where his father built a church. When Walter was 11, his father and mother moved the family (eventually comprised of three boys and five girls) to Baltimore, where Odea built another church. Baltimore is where Walter's love for music blossomed. When he was just 5, his father discovered that Walter could play any song on the piano after hearing it just once—a rare gift that Odea also revealed when Odea was 5. With his legs not long enough for his feet to touch the floor, Walter soon became the primary piano player in his father's church—a role he held until he left home at age 17. At 13, Walter started playing piano for a popular gospel group called the Vashti Singers. They were four young girls from Baltimore—two sisters and two of their friends—who traveled up and down the East Coast performing their extensive gospel repertoire. Walter got his first brush with musical royalty when the group traveled to Virginia to perform with the singer and guitarist, Sister Rosetta Tharpe—an iconic figure in the Black community in the 1930s and 40s who was the first gospel recording star and whose music is now considered a precursor to rock-and-roll. Walter was asked at age 14 to play piano for the legendary Mahalia Jackson, which he did for three consecutive years when she visited Baltimore. Barely a teenager, Walter crossed over into secular music when he was invited to play piano with bands in the Baltimore nightclubs. They would sneak him onto the piano bench at the back of the band stage, a short skinny kid with glasses. When he was 17, Walter lied about his age and enlisted in 1950 in the newly formed U.S. Air Force, right at the start of the Korean War. After completing boot camp in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Walter was stationed first in Minnesota, then in Morocco in North Africa. In Morocco, he formed a band made up of other servicemen that performed on the weekends for different Officers Clubs, mostly playing jazz. Walter also had a radio show in Casablanca called The Blue Light, where he delved deeply into jazz, particularly bebop, a more expressive form that was growing in popularity among Black musicians. After he left the service in 1955, Walter used the G.I. Bill to immediately enroll in the Berklee School of Music in Boston, where his classmates included the young Quincy Jones. While he was in Boston, Walter fell in love with a nursing student named Helen Kindle, who originally hailed from Thomaston, Georgia. Within three years they were married—the start of an intense, fruitful bond that endured over the next 63 years until Walter's death. They had three children: Adrienne, an engineer and pediatric echocardiographer; Nicholas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author or co-author of 20 books, and a journalism professor at University of Georgia; and Angelou, an attorney and prominent environmental activist and social entrepreneur who created the Greening Youth Foundation, a multi-million-dollar nonprofit with offices in the U.S. and West Africa. In the midst of Walter's music career, he and Helen opened a record shop/bookstore in Jersey City, New Jersey, called The Magic Id, which became a gathering place for musicians, activists, Black Panthers—and anybody looking for the warm, loving atmosphere provided by Helen. After retiring from music in the late 1970s, Walter turned his entrepreneurial instincts to real estate and other business endeavors. In 1990, Walter and Helen decided to move south to Atlanta, which they called their home for the next 31 years. Walter soon found his way back to music, serving for 29 years as the beloved minister of music for the Shrine of the Black Madonna Church. Walter is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Odea Jr., Marjorie and Leonard and his granddaughter, Zenzele. He is survived by his wife Helen and their three children, Adrienne (Wilhoite), Nicholas, and Angelou (Ezeilo); his sisters Betty Golden, Marian Deadwyler, Juanita Sanders, and Gloria Lennon; grandchildren Maia Cogen, Imani Cogen, Mazi Chiles, Miles Ezeilo, Mari Chiles, Cole Ezeilo, and Lila Chiles; great-grandchildren Riley and Tristan; and a host of loving cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Guest Book

My Friend and my Brother Major Zikomo

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My Friend and my Brother Major Zikomo

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Keeping the Chiles family uplifted in prayer during this time. Mw. Chikuyu was truly a special man, spiritual man, family man, and a man's man. He will truly be missed, especially not seeing him playing the piano during Sunday's church service (when we return in person), but we know his spirit will always grace our sanctuary. Blessings, Barbara Yaminah Miller

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Mw. Chikuyu will be missed. He had a gentle soul. I loved being in his space. I love listing to him play in the Choir. My deepest condolences to his wife, who I love dearly also. condolences to his family Afiya Choke and Family

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I sometimes wondered just how Mw. Chikuyu did it. The countless hours he spent reheasring and performing for church service and its events as well as the West End learning center. That dedication cannot be measured. He will be truly missed. Love Hanifah 💘

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To my friend's family. Because He lived The World is a much much better place. May Love and Peace abide.💕🙏 Melvin, Kris and The Entire Barton Clan.

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Surely his music is in this place and we no it not. Much forever love Ainka and Jawanze

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To the family I pray that GOD and the Ancestors give you comfort. Keep the love and great memories in your hearts. To Mother Migozo I say I see God's Love in you. Mw. Chikuyu was a light unto the world! - Rehema & Charles

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My deepest condolences to Mother Migozo and the family. Mwalimu Chikuyu was a beloved friend, I will miss him very much. He had so many quality attributes, but the ones that stand out to me the most were his wit and charm. Much love and appreciation to you for sharing him with us, Lutalo

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Condolences from the Southwest Region in Houston on the passing of this brilliant man. You truly understood how God used your musical talents to speak to his people. Play on among in the Ancestral Realm.

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Condolences and Blessings to the family of Mwalimu Chikuyu. May his memory bring joy to your heart(s) in the days to come. Peace, Karimah O. | Detroit, MI

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While the Ancestors rejoice, we weep. I loved him so much and can't express in words how much he will be missed. - Fatima Cook

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Prayers of comfort to the family of one of the greatest of all times. His presence is and will forever be greatly miss. Will never forget all the wonder memories, his beautiful talent and his lovely spirit shared with us for so many, many years. Thank you family for sharing Mwalimu Chikuyu with us. Much love to you all, Ayofemi

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I send my heartfelt condolences to the family. Mw. Chikuyu was a wonderful light...a man with a kind and gentle spirit. Thank you for sharing him with us for all these years. I wish you God's comfort and peace. - Fd. Jinaki Tumpe

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Prayers of comfort and strength go out to the family. I'm glad Mwalimu Chikuyu (Mr. Walter Chiles) new his purpose in life and shared with the world. May God bless and keep you strong.

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Ase, he is now a part of the universe and with our ancestors. He will be truly missed but know that he will always be with us in spirit. My condolences to the family.

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I offer my condolences to the Chiles family at this difficult time. I will always love Walter aka Chikuyu. He would often play piano while I sang at the Church. He was my spiritual and musical mentor! So glad to be graced with your presence in my lifetime Minister Chikuyu!

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Praying for the family. He was a quiet, kind , loving and love his piano. He had the sweetest energy ever. I will truly miss him Cynthia Afiya Johnson

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Sincere Condolences to the family of a truly special man. We are so much better because of his presence in our lives. Thank you for sharing him with us. Sincerely, Karamoko

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Condolences to the wonderful family of a wonderful man, who will be missed, but his legacy and spirit will always be with us.

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Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

- Grissom-Clark Funeral Home | Atlanta, GA