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Angus Walker

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Walker in 2015

Angus Reynolds Walker (August 27, 1939- November 6th, 2024[1]) was a Canadian bluegrass and country entertainer from Port Hastings, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He has been called "Canada's Prime Minister of Country Music" and "The Cape Breton Rebel".

Walker has appeared as a vocalist, upright bass and rhythm guitar player with various groups and artists. He has been featured on several albums and singles for various labels including Boot and Rodeo Records in addition to making numerous radio and television appearances such as CBC's Countrytime.[2] He has worked with Fred McKenna, Vic Mullen, Don Messer, Mac Wiseman, Charley Bailey, Doc Williams, and Ben Kerr, Marg Osborne and Brent Williams, among others.

Music career

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Promotional image

Walker's music career began at the age of 12, performing at local venues until 1953, when he began to appear with Ron Spencer, Cris Chisholm and Earl Chisholm as part of the Radio Rangers on CJFX Radio.[3] After 1956, he appeared as part of the West Virginia Jamboree Show with Charley Bailey and later toured with future Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame alumni Fred McKenna[4] and George Beck as a member of Beck's "Maritime Playboys".[5] Walker also participated and won the "CBC Talent Caravan", which was held at Saint Francis Xavier University and adjudicated by Glenn Sarty.[3] Around the same time, Walker played the upright bass, rhythm guitar and sang in various roles with The Birch Mountain Boys[5] who consisted of Vic Mullen usually playing banjo, Brent Williams playing fiddle and providing vocals, guitar and harmony and Harry Cromwell on mandolin, lead guitar[6] and singing harmony.[7] Eventually, he became a full-fledged member of the group.[5] Walker and the group became one of the earliest performers of Canadian Bluegrass music in the early 1960s.[8] The group performed at small venues in places such as Ingonish, Neil's Harbour, Baddeck, Waycobah, Port Hawkesbury, Goldboro, and Cheticamp, among others.

The CJCH Countrymen

After The Birch Mountain Boys disbanded in 1961,[9][5] Walker became part of The CJCH Countrymen. The group was assembled via audition by CJCH for their program which was "...the first cross-country television show of country music ever to originate in Halifax"[3] titled "The CJCH Countrymen Jamboree".[10] The CJCH Countrymen consisted of Walker (lead vocal and rhythm guitar), Beck (bass), Mullen (fiddle and banjo), Chuck Lohnes (steel guitar) and Ross Broughm (lead guitar). During this time, The Countrymen were the house band for the aforementioned TV show while also performing on the road with notable performers such as Mac Wiseman, Marg Osborne and Tommy Common. Later, Beck then Walker reunited with Williams and Cromwell, who had already relocated to the Gaspe area[5] as part of Beck's latest iteration of "The Maritime Playboys" who performed on weekly TV show for CHAU in Carleton, Quebec.[5]

The Hackamores and Carters

In 1963, Walker transitioned to Montreal where he eventually joined Dougal Trineer's band "The Hackamores" mostly appearing as a rhythm guitarist and harmony singer, along with Paul Menard on fiddle, June Davey supplying bass and vocals and Trineer as lead guitarist and singer. As part of big package shows organized by the CFOX radio station in Montreal, The Hackamores opened for both Buck Owens and The Carter Family at the Montreal Forum in 1964. The Hackamores also backed "...many of the country records out of Montreal" at the time,[11] in addition to playing at several venues in the Montreal and Toronto areas such as the Blue Angel, The Wagon Wheel and The Monteray Club where The Hackamores were considered the main attraction for a time.[5]

Four of Walker's singles charted above the top 50 in RPM Magazine's weekly ranking of Country music songs between 1965 and 1971. Cadillacin' Around, written by Will Odo and recorded with The Hackamores, plateaued at No. 2[12] and gained him "national popularity"[13] before winning the RPM Gold Leaf Award (later known as the Juno Awards) for "Most Promising Male Country Singer"[14][15] in 1965. Due to these successes, by 1966 he was receiving "much recognition as an up and coming country singer".[11] In 1968, Walker did some guesting work with Doc Williams and The Border Riders.[16] Peaking at No. 35 in 1970 was Crazy Tricks[17], written by Merv Smith and produced by Dick Damron and recorded in Edmonton. During this time in Alberta, Walker continued to have popularity in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.[18] In 1971, two of Walker's recordings reached the top 50 starting with the self-penned Canadian Country Music Man which featured Marie Babin (vocals) and "first call"[19] studio lead guitarist Mickey McGivern, reaching as high as No. 22.[20] Later that year, Parliament Hill, written by Ben Kerr and produced by Trineer, peaked at No. 18 on RPM Weekly's Country song listing.[21]

Boot Records promotional image of Walker

In the fall and winter of 1970 and 1971, now known as Canada's Prime Minister of Country Music, Walker made appearances on CBC's Countrytime[22] and on May 12, 1971, Walker joined folk performer and television personality Don Messer on a tour across Canada.[23][24] Additionally, Walker performed Parliament Hill on an episode of The Don Messer Show that aired on January 29, 1972, on CJAY-TV.[25] Walker also spent time playing at The Dunes nightclub in Hawaii, starting in 1972[26] along with Bobby Munro on piano and Doug Lewis on bass. Upon returning to Canada, Walker assembled his own exclusive band known as "The Cabinet" featuring lead guitarist Steve Lau whom he had met during his time in Hawaii and brothers, Larry and Henry Brennan, on drums and bass, respectively. In 1975, Walker received "heavy east coast airplay for his Diesel Drivin' Man single",[27] recorded with The Cabinet[28] and also made an appearance on The Ian Tyson Show backing Jim and Don Haggart.[3]

Walker began an indefinite hiatus from his music career due to medical issues in 1977[27] although he did occasionally record songs and perform[29] after 1989 as "The Cape Breton Rebel". In October of 2024, Walker was inducted into the Canadian Bluegrass Hall of Fame.[30] Angus Walker died on November 6th, 2024 at the age of 85.

Discography

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Albums

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Year Group Album Instrument Label
1961 Angus Walker and The Birch Mountain Boys Blue Grass Songs Lead vocals and rhythm guitar Banff
1963 Angus Walker and The Birch Mountain Boys Bluegrass Special Lead vocals and rhythm guitar Banff
1963 Brent & Harry Country Special Bass Banff
1965 Allan Trineer Allan Trineer-10 Jim Reeves Golden Hits Vocals and rhythm guitar Disques Major
1965 Bob King A King in the Country Bass Banff
1966 Angus Walker and The Birch Mountain Boys Let's Sing Bluegrass Songs (re-issue of "Blue Grass Songs") Lead vocals and rhythm guitar Rodeo
1966 June Davey with The Hackamores Patsy Cline and Kitty Wells Guitar and bass Point
1967 Dougie Trineer and The Hackamores Straight From the Heart Guitar and harmony Point
1967 The Hackamores The Hackamores Rhythm Guitar and vocals Harmony
1975 Angus Walker and The Cabinet Introducing Angus Walker: Canada's Prime Minister of Country Music Lead vocals and rhythm guitar Cynda
2016 Angus Walker and The Birch Mountain Boys Blue Grass Songs (re-issue with bonus tracks) Lead vocals and rhythm guitar Rosedale
2017 Angus Walker and The Birch Mountain Boys Bluegrass Special (re-issue with bonus tracks) Lead vocals and rhythm guitar Rosedale

Singles

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Year Single (A side/ B side) CAN

Country

Label
1960 Some Must Fail/I'm the One that Broke her Heart Rodeo International
1964 Eatin' Outta Your Hand/Hit Parade of Love Rodeo International
1965 Cadillacin' Around/Roses and Rings #2 (A side)[12] Citadel
1969 Crazy Tricks/Movin' Man #35 (A side)[17] Big Chief
1970 My Wife's Liberation Front/Canadian Country Music Man #22 (B side)[20] Rodeo International
1971 Don't Wake the Sleeping Lion/ Parliament Hill #18 (B side)[21] Rodeo International
1971 Ode to a Country Singer/Four Strong Winds Cannon
1975 Diesel Drivin' Man/ Parliament Hill Boot Records Limited
1975 Heavy Country Music/I'm a Believer Cynda Records

Compilation albums

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Year Album Name Label
1962 George Beck Picks: The Top Country & Western Hits Banff/Rodeo Records
1963 16 Great Country Songs by 16 Great Canadian Country Artists Banff Records
1963 Angus Walker Picks: 16 Western and Country Hits Rodeo International
1963 16 Great Songs of Praise Rodeo International
1964 16 Great Country Songs by 16 Great Canadian Country Artists Banff
1965 16 Great Canadian Country Artists Rodeo International
1966 16 Bluegrass Favorites Rodeo International
1966 Vic Mullen presents Countrytime Jamboree Rodeo International
1967 16 Country Hits-Various Artists Rodeo International
1985 50 Bluegrass Favorites Vol. 1 & 2 Holborne Distributing
1993 Nova Scotia Country RMS Recordings/Atlantica Music
2015 Bluegrass Sing, Sing, Sing Rosedale

References

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  1. ^ "Obituary of Angus Reynolds Walker | MacIsaac Funeral Home LTD". macisaacs.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
  2. ^ "'The Way We Were': Nova Scotia in Film, 1917–1957". Nova Scotia Archives collection
  3. ^ a b c d "The PM and Cabinet Complete Local Lounge Circuit". The Scotia Sun. December 4, 1974.
  4. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees: Fred Mckenna". Canadian Country Music Association. 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Williams, Brenton (2022). Levi Brenton Williams Before and After Notoriety. Writers' Republic. ISBN 9798885364188.
  6. ^ "TF007 New Brunswick: Maritime Bluegrass". The Folk Podcast. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  7. ^ Taylor, Derek (2000). Country Music Artists: A Directory of their Nostolgic Backing Groups 1920s to Present Day. Lulu.com. p. 189. ISBN 9781447591184.
  8. ^ "Bluegrass Music | The Canadian Encyclopedia". The Canadian Encyclopedia. January 31, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "Vic Mullen". Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  10. ^ "Angus Walker". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  11. ^ a b "Canadian Country Shapes Up" (PDF). RPM Music Weekly, Vol.5, No.10. May 2, 1966. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine, Volume 4, No. 2. November 15, 1965. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  13. ^ "Walker Tapes for Big Chief" (PDF). RPM Weekly Magazine. November 22, 1969. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  14. ^ ""Previous Juno—Gold Leaf Winners from 1964 to '72"". Billboard Magazine. April 27, 1974. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  15. ^ "RPM Music Awards" (PDF). RPM Magazine. Vol. 4, no. 21. January 17, 1966. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  16. ^ "Country Music" (PDF). RPM Music Weekly. January 27, 1968. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine, Volume 13, No. 12. May 9, 1970. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  18. ^ "Big Chief Signings" (PDF). RPM Weekly. November 15, 1969. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  19. ^ "Ontario's Country Music Pioneers: Mickey McGivern". Country Music Association Ontario. 10 July 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine Volume 14, No.26. February 13, 1971. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine, Volume 16, No, 3. September 4, 1971. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  22. ^ "Turner Corralling Top Country Acts". RPM Weekly Magazine. August 28, 1970. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  23. ^ "Angus Walker joins Messer tour". RPM Weekly Magazine. June 12, 1971. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  24. ^ "FORTY YEARS AGO". Caledon Enterprise, Aug 08, 2012
  25. ^ "RPM Nuts and Bolts". RPM Weekly Magazine. January 22, 1972. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  26. ^ "Marathon's Taylor in Full Disc Production". RPM Weekly Magazine. June 24, 1972. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Angus Walker into surgery" (PDF). RPM Magazine. March 26, 1977. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  28. ^ "RPM Picks" (PDF). RPM Magazine. December 20, 1975. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  29. ^ "Angus Walker". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  30. ^ Canada, Bluegrass (2024-10-09). "Canadian Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees for 2024". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
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