John Paul Walters

Beloved musician, father, and friend John Paul Walters passed away peacefully on July 23, 2026, of complications from Parkinson’s Disease. John Paul was born on December 20, 1950, to Frances & Harvey Walters in Atlanta, GA. He became a talented singer songwriter, guitarist, and pianist and had a wonderful musical career spanning over 3 decades. Over the years he appeared in concert with Vince Gill, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Stephen Stills, Judy Collins, Restless Heart, and Joan Baez. In the 70’s he toured with England Dan and John Ford Coley, Harry Chapin, and Pure Prairie League.

John Paul was drawn to music at an early age. At just five years old, he began piano lessons which remained his primary instrument until he fell in love with the guitar at 15. He later made friends with the banjo, ukelele, and harmonica. In his high school and college years, he played with several bands, experimenting with folk, pop, and rock music. Eventually, he began a series of concerts in coffeehouses with his acoustic guitar, playing to appreciative audiences.

In 1972, John Paul moved to Tallahassee to pursue a degree in Music Therapy at Florida State. During a weekend performance, he met Steve Meisburg and they formed the successful musical partnership of Meisburg & Walters. Together they recorded four albums on the Casablanca label, touring the nation for five years.

John Paul married Jan Jordan in 1979 and after a move or two, settled in Nashville, TN as he pursued a solo career. John Paul was offered a publishing deal and signed as a songwriter for United Artists Music. In 1983, he released his first album, Pure and Simple, which received numerous favorable reviews with Nashville music critic Robert Oermann describing Walters as a “talented song-poet whose music is tender and lyrical in a James Taylor kind of way.” After welcoming their two children, Grayson & Jordan, John Paul and Jan returned to Tallahassee. In 1987, his second album, The Cat Came Back, was released, again to positive reviews. Mark Hinson, the Tallahassee Democrat’s music critic, called it “a well-handled and supremely recorded effort.” Another reviewer called it “warm and laid back.”

In 1994-95, John Paul released three CDs aimed at the “young at heart.” One of these albums, Rediscovering the Child in You, was recorded live at the Tallahassee Little Theatre. It won a coveted Parents’ Choice Award. During this time, John Paul also developed an environmental program for elementary school students; it was sponsored in communities around the country by local Keep America Beautiful affiliates. In addition, he collaborated with illustrator Ray Andersen to produce a book inspired by his song, Birds of a Feather, for Literacy Volunteers of America.

John Paul was also successful in the marketing field, winning five Gold Addy awards for creative excellence in advertising.

Until 2003, John Paul hosted and performed every December for 16 years the Olde Fashioned Carole Sing, a joyous and festive sing-along held at the Monticello Opera House. This event was a community highlight that John Paul took on the road to other towns in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. All proceeds of these concerts benefited local nonprofits.

To know John Paul was to love him. An eternal optimist, he infused joy, humor, and kindness into many lives and touched countless others with his song. He simply made the world a happier place.

John Paul leaves a legacy of poignant songs and fans who loved his entertaining performances and albums. He is survived by his children, Grayson and Jordan Walters, his former wife, Jan Jordan Walters, his sister Lee White Walters, his soul sister Missie Pierce, and a host of family and friends who loved him.

The Celebration of Life for John Paul will be held Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Faith Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the FSU College of Music Memorial Fund (F04145) at the FSU Foundation, which will provide scholarships to deserving students in John Paul’s memory.

Posted online on July 26, 2026

Published in Tallahasse Democrat