Albertina Walker | 'Queen of Gospel,' 81

Albertina Walker, 81, a Grammy Award-winning singer who was known as the "Queen of Gospel," died Friday in Chicago.

A close friend, WVON radio host Pam Morris, said Ms. Walker died of respiratory failure at RML Specialty Hospital.

Ms. Walker was "a living legend" who was responsible for launching more than a dozen careers of gospel artists, Morris said.

Ms. Walker, a lifelong resident of Chicago, formed her own gospel group, the Caravans, as a young woman and was a protege of gospel star Mahalia Jackson.

Rep. Bobby Rush (D., Ill.) called Ms. Walker a voice for the civil rights movement. Her music, he said, was "a healing balm to those who struggled for justice." - AP