Distilled from real life events, Jeffrey Halford’s gospel-tinged new song, “Walk to the River,” urgently updates the age-old story of the immigrant’s quest for a better life colliding with modern realities. The song was ideated upon simplicity. Aimed to portray the devastating effects of immigration through a raw feel and narrative, this song is riveting, inspirational and a catalyst for change in America today. On the banks of the Rio Grande, a man and his young son face the consequences of immigration policies implemented without regard for guiding principles. Through extolling the human cost, Halford’s song demands we call upon our better angels.
In Halford’s own words, ‘”Walk to the River” was an effortless story to write given it is a direct reflection of the EU and United State’s current climate. I am immensely passionate about equal rights and inclusion, and this song provided me with the opportunity and platform to raise awareness through music. My daughter, Hannah Halford’s soul-crushing vocals hearken back to Claudia Linear and Mary Clayton.”
Produced by videographer Kevin Allisonthe, the video was shot in Joshua Tree, California in order to capture the essence of “Walk to the River,” which is to abstractly mimic the journey of crossing the desert.
Some people call Halford’s music Americana; he calls it rock ‘n’ roll country soul with a different shade of blue. Halford is one of California’s finest songwriters. Born in Dallas, he migrated to Los Angeles (in the late 60s and 70s) and then stewed in the blues and rock ‘n’ roll of Oakland and San Francisco. Jeffrey Halford and The Healers have played live relentlessly, sharing stages with Etta James, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Cliff, Los Lobos, Guy Clark, John Hammond, and Gregg Allman, just to name a few.
