CHARLIE WALKER

Charlie Walker had a sporadic career with one major highlight, his 1958 classic hit release of Harlan Howard's "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" which went to #2 in 1958. Texas-born Walker began in the early '40s as a vocalist in the Cowboy Ramblers. After several years singing with the Bill Boyd-led group, Walker briefly retired from the performing side of the business to work as a DJ.

A recording contract with Columbia brought him back to performing, though, and it was then that he scored with Howard's classic composition. Minor hits followed, including a trilogy of honky tonk-inspired tunes, "Close All The Honky Tonks," "Honky Tonk Season," and even a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women". In 1965 and 1967, he scored two more top ten hits with "Wild As A Wildcat" and "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon". After the hits dried up, Walker moved to Las Vegas, and did live appearances there for several years.

Although he never had major chart success, his music always stayed close to the traditional country music pattern with lots of steel and fiddle.