Born in St. Louis, MO, in July of 1938, Donald Walden lived in Clarksville, TN, before moving to Detroit, MI, with his mother in 1946. He started playing the saxophone in his middle teens, taking classes at the Larry Teal School of Music and the Detroit Community Music School. He studied improvisation with Barry Harris and Yusef Lateef, and had as classmates Roy Brooks, Charles McPherson, and Lonnie Hillyer. As the mass exodus of Detroiters headed to New York City, Walden also took up residence in the Big Apple by 1960. There he picked up gigs with Grant Green, Joe Chambers, Booker Ervin, and Sun Ra. Back in Detroit by 1966, he was given opportunities to accompany the greatest names in the local soul scene, including being with Aretha Franklin's band for five years. Walden also toured with Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, and the Four Tops. Finding a place in the local public school system as a teacher, Walden found his calling while also making his way as one of the best jazz tenor saxophonists to hail from the Motor City. When hard times fell on the Detroit scene in the ‘80s, Walden founded the New World Stage in the Harmonie Park district. It was a family-friendly, alcohol-free, all-ages performance space that consistently showcased the cream of the crop of local, national touring, and former Detroit jazz players coming back home for a spell.