Autographed Billy Walker glossy

Billy Walker was born in Ralls, Texas about 35 miles East of Lubbock. From Ralls his family moved to Whiteface. When he was 13 he saw a Gene Autry movie that set the pattern for his lifelong love of country music. While in high school he bought himself a guitar and a chord book learning well enough to win a talent show in Clovis, New Mexico. The prize was a 15 minute weekly appearance on a radio station in Clovis. In order to claim the prize Billy would hitchhike from Whiteface to Clovis 180 miles. After high school he toured with a Texas country band and eventually organizing a trio. In 1951 he became a member of The Big D Jamboree in Dallas. It was here that he signed his first record contract. From The Big D he moved on to the Louisiana Hayride. His first charted record "Thank You For Calling" on Columbia was in 1954 reaching #8 on the country charts. From 1954 to 1980 he would have 65 charted songs that included 15 top 10 hits and a #1 in 1962 "Charlie's Shoes" that received a BMI Million Airplays award. During his career he was a regular on The Ozark Jubilee with Red Foley and a longtime member of The Grande Ole Opry making TV appearances on "Hee Haw", "Pop! Goes The Country", and "Nashville On The Road" plus his own TV show "Country Carnival".