Billy Walker

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William Marvin Walker (January 14, 1929 – May 21, 2006) was an American country music singer and guitarist best known for his 1962 hit, "Charlie's Shoes."

Walker, nicknamed The Tall Texan, had more than 30 charts during his nearly 60 years as a long-serving member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Early years

Billy Walker was born in Ralls, Texas, United States, and was the youngest of three children. Billy's father was unable to care for him and his two older brothers when he was just six years old, and his grandparents were left homeless. Billy, one of the children, was put in a Methodist orphanage in Waco, Texas. He attended High School in Whiteface, Texas, and had won a talent competition that qualified him to appear on radio in Clovis, New Mexico. At the age of 11, he had returned to live with his father. He had started his professional music career in 1947 at the age of 18. Gene Autry's music as a youth inspired him to pursue his passion. He appeared on Clovis radio as a youth and then joined the Big D Jamboree in Dallas in 1949. After working with Walker in Waco, Hank Thompson helped him sign with Capitol Records the following year. His manager, who was at the time, made him wear a Lone Ranger-style black mask and dubbed The Traveling Texan, the Masked Singer of Country Songs.

Walker joined Columbia Records in 1951 and spent the next year with the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he and Slim Whitman were instrumental in part of Elvis Presley's first appearance on the radio in 1951. Walker's first hit, "Thank You for Calling," in 1954. His early Columbia recordings were made at a Dallas studio operated by producer Jim Beck, who was responsible for hits by Ray Price, Lefty Frizzell, and others. Walker, Presley, and Tillman Franks joined up in 1955 for a tour of West Texas. Walker joined ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, Missouri, where he began a long association with host Red Foley.

Walker played the Texas bar circuit for a brief period of rock and roll before heading to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1959 and joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1960. Willie Nelson was one of the first musicians to record a Willie Nelson song, but his 1961 version of "How Time Slips Away" only reached No. 1: It helped with Walker's national fame, as shown by number 23 on Billboard's country singles chart. He debuted "Charlie's Shoes" in 1962, the first No. 1 on the charts. He was the first of his career. His smooth tenor was suited to many Western-inspired hits, including "Matamoros" and "Cross the Brazos at Waco" (1964).

Walker received a call from Kansas City, Kansas, on March 3, 1963, after appearing at a charity concert. Hawkshaw Hawkins, a fellow performer, gave Walker his commercial airline ticket but then flew back to Tennessee on March 5 on a private plane that crashed, killing Hawkins, Patsy Cline, Cowboy Cops, and pilot Randy Hughes.

Walker left Columbia in 1965 and went to MGM and RCA Records in 1974. He later performed on numerous independent labels, including his own Tall Texan label.

Billy Walker's Country Carnival, a syndicated television show, appeared on other country music television shows in the late 1960s. Walker appeared around the world, and he appeared at the International Festival of Country Music at Wembley Arena in London several times during the 1980s. Walker, a Danish singer Susanne Lana's duet "All I Ever Need You" for Hillside House Records, was released in April 2006. Charlie McCoy produced the recording at Signal Path Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.

Walker continued to tour and remained a mainstay on the Grand Ole Opry, and was scheduled to appear two days after his death with Terri Clark, Porter Wagoner, and others.

Walker died on May 21, 2006, while driving back to Nashville after a performance in Foley, Alabama, after a crash. Bettie and his mother Bettye; bassist Charles Lilly Jr.; and guitarist Daniel Patton were among the victims killed. The Walkers, Lilly, and Patton died in a flash. Joshua Brooks, Walker's grandson, recovered after suffering from serious injuries. Walker was laid to rest in Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville.

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Country music career

Walker appeared on Texas bars for a brief time before heading to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1959 and joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1960. Willie Nelson was one of the first musicians to record a Willie Nelson song, but his 1961 version of "Funny How Time Slips Away" reached No. 0 in a Top 100. It was number 23 on Billboard's country singles chart, establishing Walker's international fame. He topped the charts with "Charlie's Shoes" in 1962, the only No. 1 on the charts. One of his career's most popular songs. His smooth tenor was well-suited to other Western-inspired hits, such as "Matamoros" and "Cross the Brazos at Waco" (1964).

Walker was invited to return to Nashville after appearing at a charity concert in Kansas City, Kansas, on March 3, 1963. Hawkshaw Hawkins, a fellow performer, gave Walker his commercial airline ticket but then flew back to Tennessee on March 5 on a private plane that crashed, killing Hawkins, Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and pilot Randy Hughes.

Walker left Columbia in 1965 and signed with producer Fred Foster's Monument Records, then MGM, and then to RCA Records in 1974. He later appeared on many independent labels, including his own Tall Texan label.

Billy Walker's Country Carnival, a syndicated television show, appeared on several national music television shows in the 1960s and 1970s. Walker appeared around the world, and at Wembley Arena in London several times during the 1980s performed at the International Festival of Country Music. Walker recorded the duet "All I Ever Want Is You" with Danish singer Susanne Lana for Hillside House Records in April 2006. Charlie McCoy produced the recording at Signal Path Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.

Walker continued to tour and remained a mainstay on the Grand Ole Opry, and he was scheduled to appear two days after his death with Terri Clark, Porter Wagoner, and others.

Walker died in a road crash on May 21, 2006, while driving back to Nashville after a spectacular show in Foley, Alabama, after being overturned off Interstate 65 in Fort Deposit. Bettie's husband, Bettie; bassist Charles Lilly Jr.; son of Everett Lilly of The Lilly Brothers; and guitarist Daniel Patton were also killed. The Walkers, Lilly, and Patton died in a flash. Joshua Brooks, Walker's grandson, recovered after suffering from serious injuries. Walker was laid to rest in Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville.

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