Narada Michael Walden has helped write or produce 57 No. 1 hits in his illustrious musical career, working with the likes of Whitney Houston, James Brown, Mariah Carey and more.

But there’s a song that’s yet to make it that the Marin drummer and producer hopes someday will be revered as a classic.

Co-written with his wife, Katie Walden, “Candy Cane Park” holds a special place in Walden’s heart.

The song is inspired by Candy Cane Lane, which emerges each holiday season at Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Bronson Park.

For Walden, it captures some of the magical memories of his youth in the 1950s and ‘60s. For he and his wife, it’s the inspiration that gave the song life — a trip to Kalamazoo, Michigan, after the couple got engaged in 2007.

“People don’t realize how beautiful Kalamazoo is,” said Narada Michael Walden, now 72. “Christmastime is very magical there and the candy cane thing is real. Growing up, going to Candy Cane Park at Christmastime was as big as Santa.”

After the couple got engaged at their Marin home in December 2007, Walden brought his new fiancée home to meet his family and celebrate his mother Peggy’s 75th birthday.

And, of course, that meant a trip to Bronson Park.

The experience was a magical one for Katie Walden, who was not used to seeing snow at the holidays unless the couple took a trip to Lake Tahoe.

“I wanted to capture the moment and share it with the world,” she said. “Not to sound corny, but it kind of felt like a Hallmark movie. That moment was one of those turning points in my life, being freshly engaged, gleeful and in love, walking through a row of candy canes and meeting his family for the first time.

“People were so warm and gracious, and everybody was smiling. Children were playing and singing. It felt like another little home. It was a Hallmark moment.”

The following year, while visiting friends in Farno, Italy, Katie Walden found herself taken back to that moment as she looked out a window and listened to the sound of nearby church bells.

She immediately began writing some of the verses on their friend’s couch, capturing the idea of being in love at Christmastime in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Narada Michael Walden then added a verse and chorus. When they got home to Marin, he wrote the music.

While the song was put together that year, in 2008, it was only recently that the couple decided to remix and remaster it at Walden’s Tarpan Studios in San Rafael. They also released a new music video for it.

Earlier this month, the song was debuted live at a Christmas concert for a children’s foundation Walden runs. The couple’s children, Michael, Kayla and Kelly, all joined Walden and a full backing band in the performance.

One of Walden’s understudies was none other than Walter Afanasieff, who co-wrote and co-produced “All I Want for Christmas is You” with Carey. Walden hopes this song finds the same kind of success.

“I would love this song to be a Christmas classic, something that’s played every year and just makes people happy,” he said. “I love to hear all the Christmas classics from Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley. Nothing would make me happier than to have a classic Christmas song that would make people happy.”

Walden has, at different points, served as the drummer for Journey, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report. He’s toured with Jeff Beck, and done major soundtrack work on “The Bodyguard,” “Free Willy,” “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “9 ½ Weeks” and “Stuart Little.” And he’s produced and written with the likes of The O’Jays, Al Green, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin and George Michael.

What he’s most proud of, at this stage in his career, he said, is being able to talk about “Candy Cane Park.”

“I so love where I came from and it’s such a big part of who I am and such a big part of my success,” he said.

The couple hasn’t been back in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at Christmastime since 2007, but said they would not decline an invitation to perform the song, and other numbers, at the annual holiday tree lighting Thanksgiving weekend.

“That would just be fantastic,” Walden said. “I just really hope the people of Kalamazoo will enjoy the song. I believe in all the good spirits and the good magic of Christmas. I believe in Santa and Frosty and I believe in the candy canes. I believe in everything musical and childlike to keep us innocent and happy.

“That’s what Christmas brings.”

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