Grand Ole Opry Member Spotlight: Charlie Walker

Grand Ole Opry Country Music Show - Nashville

Dierks Bentley - The Opry's Youngest Member

From Texas swing to honky tonk shuffles, Charlie Walker has been a pioneer of straight-forward country music that has influenced generations of future country artists. Combine that with the fact that Walker is remembered as one of Texas' most revered radio disc jockeys, a home at the oldest live radio show in the world only seems fitting.

Background and Early Career

• Charlie Walker was born November 2 in Copeville, Texas. He began playing and singing while still in high school, and eventually joined the Cowboy Ramblers before broadcasting his music to American troops stationed overseas during World War II via the Armed Forces Radio Network.
• In 1951, Walker moved to San Antonio to work as a disc jockey on KMAC's country music shows. Within a short amount of time, Walker's popularity on the airwaves made him one of the Top 10 disc jockeys for country music in the United States. During this time, he continued to record and enjoyed some regional success before blasting onto to scene in 1958 with Harlan Howard's "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down."

Grand Ole Opry Induction

• Charlie Walker was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on August 17, 1967.

Charlie Walker at the Opry

• Charlie Walker continues to make scheduled appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. To see if he will be at the Opry in the coming weeks, please visit the VME Grand Ole Opry Blog.

Notable Hits

• "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down"
• "Only You, Only You"
• "Who Will Buy the Wine"
• "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon"
• "Moffett Oklahoma"
• "Fast Women, Slow Horses"
• "Out of a Honky Tonk"
• "Honky Tonk Season"
• "Close All the Honky Tonks"

More Information

• See the complete list of current Grand Ole Opry members!