Don Walser born 14 September 1934

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 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.