Billy Walker (musician)
Billy Walker (born January 14, 1929 in Ralls , Texas , † May 21, 2006 ) was an American country musician who celebrated his greatest success in the 1960s.
After winning a talent competition at the age of fifteen, he got the chance to appear on the radio. In 1949 he was hired by the Dallas- based Big D Jamboree Show. A few singles were recorded for the Capitol label before he moved to Columbia in 1951. Shortly thereafter, he took the next step in his career when he received a contract from the major Louisiana Hayride Show. Here he stood on stage with the leading country musicians of the 1950s. In 1955 he hired a young musician named Elvis Presley for the opening act for his tour.
After a five-year engagement at the Ozark Jubilee , he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 . He remained linked to the Opry until his death and became one of its most famous stars. For many years he was less successful with his records. He achieved his first top hit in 1962 with Charlie 'Shoes . This was followed by a series of top 20 hits, the best known of which is Cross The Brazos At Waco , published in 1964 . In 1970 he switched to the MGM label, but there were no great successes. In the mid-1970s he played a few duets with Barbara Fairchild .
The Texan built a small following in Europe through several concerts. Among other things, he performed at the Wembley Festival and worked with Tom Astor and Hermann Lammers-Meyer . On May 21, 2006, Billy Walker was killed in a car accident along with his wife and two band members.
Web links
- Works by and about Billy Walker in the catalog of the German National Library
- Official website
- Interview with Billy Walker ( Memento from January 12, 2005 in the Internet Archive )
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Walker, Billy |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 14, 1929 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Ralls , Texas |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 21, 2006 |