Billy Walker (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Walker
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Marvin Walker |
| Born | January 14, 1929 Ralls, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | May 21, 2006 (aged 77) Fort Deposit, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | Country, rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1947–2006 |
| Labels | Capitol, Columbia, Monument, MGM, RCA, Tall Texan |
Billy Walker, born William Marvin Walker (January 14, 1929 – May 21, 2006), was a famous American country music singer and guitarist. He was known as 'The Tall Texan' because he was from Texas and was quite tall! Billy had a huge hit song in 1962 called "Charlie's Shoes". He sang for almost 60 years and had over 30 songs that became popular on music charts. He was also a long-time member of the Grand Ole Opry, a very famous country music show.
Contents
Billy Walker's Life Story
Early Years and First Steps in Music
Billy Walker was born in Ralls, Texas, USA, on January 14, 1929. He was the youngest of three children. When Billy was only six years old, his mother passed away. His father found it hard to care for all three boys, so Billy and some of his brothers went to live in a Methodist orphanage in Waco, Texas.
Billy went to high school in Whiteface, Texas. He loved music and won a talent contest that gave him a chance to sing on the radio in Clovis, New Mexico. He was inspired by the famous cowboy singer Gene Autry. In 1947, at just 18 years old, Billy started his professional music career.
In 1949, he joined a popular radio show called the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, Texas. That same year, another country star, Hank Thompson, helped Billy get a record deal with Capitol Records. For a while, Billy's manager had him wear a black mask, like the Lone Ranger, and called him "The Traveling Texan, the Masked Singer of Country Songs."
In 1951, Billy signed with Columbia Records. The next year, he joined the Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport, Louisiana. On this show, Billy and Slim Whitman helped a young Elvis Presley make his first appearance on radio! In 1954, Billy had his first hit song, "Thank You for Calling". He also became a regular on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee show, where he became good friends with the host, Red Foley.
Becoming a Country Music Star
After trying out rock and roll for a short time, Billy Walker moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1959. Nashville is known as the home of country music. In 1960, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, which is a huge honor for country music artists.
Billy was one of the first singers to record a song written by Willie Nelson. His 1961 version of "Funny How Time Slips Away" became a popular song, helping him become more well-known across the country. Then, in 1962, he had the biggest hit of his career: "Charlie's Shoes." This song went all the way to No. 1 on the country music charts! His clear, smooth voice was perfect for other Western-themed songs like "Matamoros" and "Cross the Brazos at Waco" in 1964.
In 1963, something very sad happened. After a concert in Kansas City, Kansas, Billy was supposed to fly back to Nashville on a private plane. But another singer, Hawkshaw Hawkins, gave Billy his commercial airline ticket instead. So, Billy took the commercial flight. The private plane crashed on March 5, killing Hawkshaw Hawkins, Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and the pilot. Billy Walker was very lucky to have missed that flight.
After leaving Columbia Records in 1965, Billy signed with other record labels like Monument Records, MGM, and RCA Records. He even started his own record label called Tall Texan.
In the late 1960s, Billy hosted his own TV show called Billy Walker’s Country Carnival. He also performed all over the world, including several times in London, England, during the 1980s. In 2006, just before he passed away, Billy recorded a duet song called "All I Ever Need Is You" with a Danish singer named Susanne Lana.
Billy continued to tour and perform at the Grand Ole Opry. He was scheduled to perform just two days after his death.
A Sad Farewell
On May 21, 2006, Billy Walker died in a car accident. He was driving back to Nashville after a show in Foley, Alabama. His van went off the road and overturned in Fort Deposit, Alabama. Sadly, his wife Bettie, his bassist Charles Lilly Jr., and his guitarist Daniel Patton also passed away in the accident. Billy's grandson, Joshua Brooks, survived with serious injuries. Billy Walker was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville.
Images for kids
-
Billy Walker, "The Tall Texan"
