Charlie Walker

He was born in Texas in 1926. He grew up on a cotton farm about 35 miles east of Dallas, the son of a Texas lawman and Justice of the Peace who taught him the basics of music. He started singing in high school with a band called “Billy Boyd’s Cowboy Ramblers”. But before the year was out Uncle Sam cut the young musician’s gig short, sending him to Japan during WWII. While there, Charlie Walker introduced the Japanese to his loved country music as a broadcaster on the Armed Forces Radio Network in Tokyo.

Once his tour of duty was completed, Mr. Walker returned to the states, took a job in San Antonio and continued his career in broadcasting. Long before he was a star, he was named one of the top ten disc jockeys in the country. Mr. Walker became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1967 and he performed on the famous stage for decades, recognized as a traditional country entertainer with a special connection to the common man. With song titles like, “Tell Her Lies and Feed Her Candy”, and “Pick Me Up on Your Way Down” it’s easy to see why they say it’s hard to forget a Charlie Walker song.

In addition to his musical career, Charlie Walker tried his hand at acting, portraying country singer Hawkshaw Hawkins in the 1985 film biography of the late great Patsy Cline, Sweet Dreams. Charlie Walker passed away on Sept. 12, 2008 in Hendersonville, TN after a battle with colon cancer, but his fans will always remember the gifted musician with the witty lyrics.

For today’s southern quote I offer you the following thought from Charlie Walker, who once penned the infamous line: “I wouldn’t take her to a dog fight, even if I thought she could win.” – Charlie Walker

~Shellie