Billy Walker, born William Marvin Walker on January 14, 1929, in Ralls, Texas, was a prominent American country music singer and guitarist, affectionately known as "The Tall Texan." Walker's career spanned nearly six decades, during which he became a celebrated figure in country music, known for his smooth tenor voice and Western-inspired hits.

Walker's early life was marked by hardship; he lost his mother at a young age and spent part of his childhood in a Methodist orphanage in Waco, Texas. Despite these challenges, he developed a passion for music, inspired by Gene Autry, and began his professional career in 1947 at the age of 18. His talent was quickly recognized, and by 1949, he was performing on the Big D Jamboree in Dallas. Walker's early career saw him don a Lone Ranger-style mask as "The Traveling Texan," a persona crafted by his manager.

In 1951, Walker signed with Columbia Records, joining the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he played a role in Elvis Presley's first radio appearance. His first hit, "Thank You for Calling," came in 1954. Walker's national reputation was solidified with his 1961 rendition of Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away" and his 1962 chart-topping single "(I'd Like To Be In) Charlie's Shoes."

Walker was a member of the Grand Ole Opry from 1960 until his death in 2006, a testament to his enduring influence in country music. Throughout his career, he recorded with several major labels, including Capitol, Columbia, Monument, MGM, and RCA, and later with independent labels.

Tragically, on May 21, 2006, Walker died in a car accident in Fort Deposit, Alabama, along with his wife Bettie and two others, while returning to Nashville from a performance in Foley, Alabama. His grandson, Joshua Brooks, survived the crash with serious injuries. Walker's legacy endures through his music, which continues to be celebrated by country music fans worldwide.