Charlie Walker
Back in the early 70’s. the Collie’s went to visit the Charlie Walker’s at their home in Hendersonville. My sister and I were little girls and we were standing at the top of the stairs, fighting over a doll when suddenly, Sandra sailed down the big ol’ staircase, rendering her unconscious momentarily. (I think.)
Every SINGLE time I saw Charlie Walker for the rest of his life, be it at the Opry or the last time I saw him a year ago Easter at the Springhouse at the Brunch (Charlie was a big golfer) he would ask me “Now, were you the one that fell down my stairs?” Heh. Nope. Still wasn’t me, Cholly.
Charlie’s passing today in Hendersonville is quite a bittersweet one. (Here she goes…her Dad and Charlie) Yep…Dad and Charlie went all the way back to their very beginnings in radio in San Antonio, Texas. In fact, most of my family in San Antonio knew Charlie and some of his older children (the man was fruitful and multiplied, folks. To the tune of 10 kids, ranging in age now from upper 50’s to young adult. One of his girls was a professional basketball player and I believe, was, and may still be, a commentator for the WNBA). Charlie and Biff were born the same week, actually, and now that Charlie’s gone, there’s only one or two of his contemporaries left, meaning the guys that started in radio around about the same time and were good, good buddies til Dad died in 1992. T. Tommy’s gone…Joe Allison, Tom Perryman is still alive and kicking and on the air in Tyler, Texas.
Charlie was a radio man, but, he was the voice behind one of my favorite hardcore, country records ever…this one right here. I wonder how many times in my life I saw Charlie Walker go on the Opry stage and sing this Harlan Howard gem? More times than I can count.
[...] sistasmiff first collected Added 12 Sep 08 from sistasmiff.wordpress.com [...]
Charlie Walker Video said this on September 12, 2008 at 2:13 pm |
oh, i’ve scooted my boots to that ol’ tune many a time. it is, as we used to say, a good daincin’ song.
the tree in the background looks like every fake we ever had growing up. LOL.
do you know everybody?
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>(Here she goes…her Dad and Charlie)
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Don’t you ever again imagine that any of us that “‘count” might think in that tone.
And if anyone ever says that they do think like that and it might bother you, just point me in their direction….
I love all your stories, but especially those of country music and the people involved.
There is no other way to know stuff like this. Whe don’t you do what I have tried to get my buddy Burley to do, and write a book….
I hope you keep driving it into your kids heads what an opportunity your connections and those of their daddy mean. So that they can appreciate and REMEMBER the moment.
Tell them they need to keep a diary (or you do it for them for a while) of who, what, when and where they met up with those classic country people.. They will get old like me and stuff might get “lost” or mixed up in their memory…
Jerald
appreciative
in southeast tenn
I’m sure my kids will be like we were and when they get to be a certain age go…”Wait a minute…I was in Earl Scruggs’ house. That is a large deal.”
I thought everybody’s parents had friends like Carl Smith who had a collection of colorful cowboy boots.