Bill Walker (music director)
| Bill Walker | |
|---|---|
| Born |
May 28, 1927 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, arranger, producer, musical director |
William Alfred “Bill” Walker (born May 28, 1927) is an Australian-born American composer and conductor. Born in Sydney, he attended the University of Sydney's Conservatorium of Music before moving to South Africa.
In 1959, he began working at RCA Records in Johannesburg, South Africa. One of Walker’s tasks was to arrange, conduct and record cover versions of songs that were popular in America. While there, he worked with many country stars who were touring Africa, including Jim Reeves. Reeves also filmed the movie Kimberley Jim in South Africa, for which Walker wrote the score. Reeves offered Walker the post of musical director on a new television series he was set to host. Walker moved to the United States and arrived in Nashville, TN just in time to learn that Reeves had died in a plane crash.
Walker decided to stay in the U. S. and apply for citizenship. Once settled in Nashville, he connected with Chet Atkins, who was working with artist Eddy Arnold. Atkins asked Walker to do orchestral arrangements for Arnold's album My World, which contained the #1 single "Make The World Go Away". That record became Walker's first gold. Walker also arranged orchestra scores for concerts and television appearances.
In the late 1960s, Walker got offered the position of musical director for the Johnny Cash Show on ABC. Cash would end every show by shouting, "Good night, Bill Walker!" The show lasted for 58 episodes. Walker continued as music director for other Johnny Cash television specials after the series was cancelled, including Johnny Cash's Christmas specials.
The Bill Walker Orchestra was also featured on The Statler Brothers Show on TNN, for the show's entire seven-year run. The Statler Brothers Show was the top-rated show on TNN during its entire tenure. Walker also directed the music for three of the Statler Brothers' TV specials.
Walker's other TV credits include Music Hall America, Nashville Remembers Elvis on His Birthday, Ann-Margret...Rhinestone Cowgirl and the Music City News Awards, among others.
He continued to work as a producer, with credits including Roy Rogers and Donna Fargo.
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