When people discuss what the Grand Ole Opry means to them, there will be numerous names mentioned. Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, "Little" Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner and the list goes on. One name that always pops up is Billy Walker. Born in Ralls, Texas on January 14, 1929, he was one of eight children to a Methodist minister. His mother died when he was four and it was downhill for the family. Billy, and three of his brothers went to an orphanage, where he remained until the age of eleven when his father re-married.
Billy always knew he wanted to make his mark as a country music singer. He worked anywhere he could to raise enough money to buy a guitar. By the age of fifteen he won his first contest in New Mexico and also discovered his strong sense of religion. His father condemned his desire to become an entertainer and even told him "that guitar will send you straight to hell."
Continuing to struggle inside, Billy still had the dream to entertain. Once he had the taste of performing he landed his first big show at the Big D Jamboree in Dallas. This eventually led him to the Louisiana Hayride where he performed with some of country music's finest prior to going to the Grand Ole Opry. Once at the Hayride, Billy got the nick name as "The Tall Texan" simply because of his tall stature. He and fellow performer Slim Whitman helped get an unknown performer on the show and eventually a rotating slot. This entertainer happened to be none other than Elvis Presley, who also went on the road with Billy making one hundred and fifty dollars a day plus ten dollars for vehicle expenses.
Billy signed to Capitol Records for a short time and then signed on to Columbia Records in 1951. He joined the Grand Ole Opry on January 1, 1960. During this time period, he raked up a remarkable thirty-two Top 10 hits, one hundred chart records, and six No. 1 hits. With a career that spanned over fifty years, Billy achieved more that most can fathom. Appearing on every major country music based television show from Hee Haw to Nashville Now, he even had his own show for many years called Billy Walker's Country Carnival.
After having a major record deal, he, like most legendary artists ended up recording for small independent labels. Billy has always been one of the most respected entertainers throughout Nashville. Known for his kind words and uplifting attitude, he always had two rocks he leaned on. One being his faith, and the other being his wife of twenty-eight years, Bettie. Although Billy announced that his latest album Thank You, Thank You Very Much would be his last album and he was retiring from recording, he still continued to perform all over Nashville and the rest of the country.
Billy and Bettie were always attending special functions around Nashville. Bettie herself played a huge role in the Golden Voice Awards every year during the CMA Festival. The Grand Ole Opry holds fan club parties every year in January, in June during the festival as well, and in October during the Opry birthday celebrations. Every time the doors opened for the stars to meet the fans during these times, Billy was one of the first stars you would see. As fans gathered around him, I always got cold chills. The way he interacted with the fans and treated them was unreal. He always gave the fans a free 8x10 that he would autograph. Bettie was always by his side at these functions helping him greet the fans and keeping him on track. Their relationship was genuine and pure. The love they had for the music was breath taking, but their love for the fans was astronomical.
Unfortunately his story has a tragic ending. On May 21, 2006, on their way back to Nashville after performing in Alabama, the van Billy was driving crashed, taking the lives of Billy, his wife Bettie, two band members, and seriously injuring his grandson. Country music has never been the same since the loss of such a valued member. The fans still grieve yet the music continues to touch their hearts.
Top Songs:
- Charlie's Shoes
- Cross The Brazos At Waco
- Funny How Time Slips Away
- A Million And One
- Nobody But A Fool
- Sing Me A Love Song To Baby
- I Saw Elvis At Walmart
- On My Mind Again
- Forever
- Heart, Be Careful
- I Wish You Love
- Willie The Weeper
- Morning Prayer
- Circumstances
- It's Lonesome
- Down To My Last Cigarette
- If It Pleases You
- Come A Little Closer
Album Recommendations:
- Greatest Hits On Monument
- Cross The Brazos At Waco
- 20 Greatest Cowboy Hits
- 15 Gospel Super Hits
- Tribute To Jimmie Rodgers
- 20 Greatest Hits
