Donald Ray Walser (September 14, 1934 - September 20, 2006)
was an American country music singer. He was known as a unique, award-winning
yodeling "Texas country music legend." Nicknamed "the Pavarotti
of the Plains", Don Walser was an institution in the Lone Star State. An
important interpreter of traditional country music and a peerless yodeller, his
musical integrity had made him an icon of the thriving Austin music scene, a
favourite not only with country fans, but also with those drawn to alternative
rock.
Walser was born in Brownfield, on the Texas Panhandle, in
1934. His mother's early death and his father's hectic work schedule forced him
to combat loneliness by immersing himself in the music he heard on the radio.
He was particularly attracted to hillbilly/country yodellers such as Jimmie
Rodgers, Elton Britt and Slim Whitman and later recalled that the first
yodelling number he learned was Britt's "Chime Bells" (1948).
At 15 he lied about his age and joined the Texas National
Guard, remaining with them as a mechanic, superintendent and auditor for 45
years. All the while he performed locally at weekends, even, on a few
occasions, finding himself on stage alongside a young Buddy Holly.
As time went on, Walser also became known for maintaining a catalogue of older, obscure country music and cowboy songs. He kept alive old 1940s and 1950s tunes by country music pioneers such as Bob Wills and Eddy Arnold, and made them his own in a style that blended elements of honky tonk and Western swing. He also was known for his extraordinary yodeling style in the tradition of Slim Whitman and Jimmie Rodgers.
As rock'n'roll began to skyrocket in popularity, Walser
opted to stay in the Texas Panhandle, raise a family and work as a mechanic and
later as an auditor for the National Guard, rather than move to Nashville and
pursue a recording career. As a result, he had little following outside Texas
for the first part of his career. However, he never stopped playing and became
widely known in Texas.
In 1959 he formed a group named the Texas Plainsmen and,
based in Midland, Texas, found himself starring on a weekly radio show. In 1964
he and the band recorded a single, "Rolling Stone from Texas", but,
despite gaining a four-star review in Billboard magazine, it flopped. For the
next 30 years he performed at Saturday-night dances across the state,
eventually, in 1984, relocating to Austin where, fronting his Pure Texas Band,
he became a popular fixture.
As time went on, Walser also became known for maintaining a catalogue of older, obscure country music and cowboy songs. He kept alive old 1940s and 1950s tunes by country music pioneers such as Bob Wills and Eddy Arnold, and made them his own in a style that blended elements of honky tonk and Western swing. He also was known for his extraordinary yodeling style in the tradition of Slim Whitman and Jimmie Rodgers.
In 1984, the Guard transferred Walser to Austin, a centre of
the burgeoning alt-country music scene. He put together his Pure Texas Band and
developed a strong local following. Walser opened for Johnny Cash in 1996. In
1990, Walser was "discovered" by musician and talent scout TJ
McFarland.
In 1994, aged 60, Walser retired from the Guard. Able to
devote himself fully to music for the first time in his life, he was
immediately signed by Watermelon Records and released the album Rolling Stone
From Texas, produced by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel. His extraordinary
vocal abilities earned him the nickname "the Pavarotti of the Plains"
by a reviewer for Playboy magazine. Because of his Austin base, he attracted
fans from country music traditionalists, and alternative music and punk fans.
His band later became the opening act for the Butthole Surfers.
Don Walser was voted "Best Performing Country
Band" at the Austin Music Awards, was voted top country band of the year
by the Austin Chronicle in 1996, and received an Association for Independent
Music "Indie" Award in 1997. He also received recognition in
mainstream country, and played the Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 1999, and
again in 2001. In 2000 he received a lifetime "Heritage" award from
the National Endowment for the Arts, and he and the Pure Texas Band played at
the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. He also received cameo roles in
feature movies with Western swing settings, especially an acclaimed and
memorable role as the lead singer in a rodeo dance band, singing "I'll
Hold You in My Heart," in the 1998 Stephen Frears film The Hi-Lo Country —
a performance often regarded as one of the highlights of the picture.
In September, 2003, Don Walser retired from live
performances due to health issues. Three years later, Walser died due to
complications from diabetes on September 20, 2006, six days after his 72nd
birthday.
(Compiled from The Independent and mainly Wikipedia)
Don Walser's Shotgun Boogie music video filmed at Babe's
in Austin 1995.
5 comments:
For “I'll Hold You In My Heart - Don Walser” go here:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/vw33waqsty9ns6a/Don%20Walser%20-%20Heart.rar
01 Yodeling The Blues
02 Sweet Thang & Cisco
03 I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)
04 Rock-A-Billy Rage
05 El Paso Cowboy
06 If You Don't Want To See Me Going (Turn And Look The Other Way)
07 Buck And Merle
08 Sweet And Kind Love
09 When It's Springtime In The Rockies
10 Cinderella
11 Hungry Eyes
12 Country Gold
Thanks Bob for this post and your three previous
Great stuff! It's a pity, but I'm late ((. Please fix the link. Thanks a lot in advance!
Hello Yodeller Heres the new link
https://www.upload.ee/files/12238363/Don_Walser.rar.html
Bob! Thank you so much!
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