ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Billy Walker (3 songs)

This Ralls TX-native singer-songwriter-guitarist was a regular on the Dallas TX “Big D Jamboree” radio show & acted in the movies ‘2nd Fiddle To A Steel Guitar’ & ‘Red River Round Up’. Known as “The Tall Texan”, he died in a car crash, 05/21/2006.

#1
This song, his 5th overall release, hit the airwaves 03/03/1962 & spent 23 weeks on the charts, 2 of those at #1. It was his 2nd Top 10, behind 1954’s “Thank You For Calling” (#8), his debut single. The 3 releases between the 2 Top 10s were 1957’s “On My Mind Again” (#12), 1960’s “I Wish You Love” (#19) & 1961’s “Funny How Time Slips Away” (#23). The follow-up single to this chart topper was 1962’s “Willie The Weeper”, which peaked at #5.

#2
Of 8 releases 1963-1965, 3 reached the Top 10: 1964’s “Circumstances” (#7), 1964’s “Cross The Brazos At Waco” (#2; 2 weeks) & 1965’s “Matamoros” (#8). His 1st release in 1966 failed to crack the Top 40; this song, then, debuted 06/25/1966 & spent 21 weeks on the charts, 4 of those at its peak position of #2. It sparked a string of 3 straight Top 10s, followed by 1966-7’s “Bear With Me A Little Longer” (#3, 2 weeks) & 1967’s “Anything Your Heart Desires” (#10).

#3
After 2 more Top 10s with 1968’s “Ramona” (#8) & 1969-70’s “Thinking ‘Bout You Babe” (#9), this song hit the airwaves 06/27/1970, spent 18 weeks on the charts & peaked at #3, sparking a string of 3 straight Top 10s. This single was followed by 1970’s “She Goes Walking Through My Mind” (#3) & 1971’s “I’m Gonna Keep On Keep On Lovin’ You” (#3). Of 33 releases mid 1971 to mid 1988, only 2 reached the Top 10: 1972’s “Sing Me A Love Song To Baby” (#3, 2 weeks) & 1975’s “Word Games” (#10).