From: Flippar Date: Sun Jan 13, 2002 7:42 pm Subject: Born To Be With You - Billy Walker BILLY WALKER Billy Marvin Walker, born on January 14 1929, Rails Texas. Raised in an orphanage after his mother`s early death, later returning to live with his father who had remarried. His father taught him to play guitar and inspired by a Gene Autry film he decided to become a singer. Appeared on the legendary Big D Jamboree show in Dallas and recorded unsuccessfully for Capitol 1949-51. Known as the Travellin` Texan and performed in a mask in the early days!! (the Lone Texas Ranger perhaps) First country hit Thank You For Calling on Columbia in 1954. Recorded at Jim Beck`s studio in Dallas same time as Lefty Frizzell and Ray Price. Joined the Louisiana Hayride and toured with the young ElvisPresley in early 1955 (the King was billed as ALVIS!!). The Crickets backed him on 2 Columbia songs in Dec 1957, On My Mind Again and Viva La Matador. Billy joined the Grand Old Opry in 1960. He was the first to record Funny How Time Slips Away, written by fellow Texan Willie Nelson and gave away another Nelson song to Patsy Cline, Crazy, now the most played song of all time on US jukeboxes!!! In 1962 he had his first country number 1 with Charlie`s Shoes, followed by big hits like Cross the Brazos At Waco. Cut a variety of styles over the decades stand outs for me are She`s Got Honky Tonk Blood In Her Veins, Down To My Last Cigarette, Lonely Street, Honky Tonkitis and Till I Drink Milwaukee Dry. Billy`s had 65 country hits over the decades, he`s a born again Christian and still performs today. (Shaun and I literally bumped into him walking into the Ryman in Oct 2000 where he`d just been celebrating WSM`s birthday, hopefully he`ll do so in future years despite Gaylord`s attempt to change the station to a sports format!) Recommended Listening Bear Family 6cd box CrossThe Brazos At Waco Or one of the many Best Of compilations