Angus Walker
Angus Reynolds Walker (born August 27, 1939) is a Canadian bluegrass and country musician 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.[1] 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
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
After The Birch Mountain Boys disbanded in 1961,
Four of Walker's singles charted above the top 50 in RPM Magazine's weekly ranking of
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[21] and on May 12, 1971, Walker joined folk performer and television personality Don Messer on a tour across Canada.[22][23] Additionally, Walker performed Parliament Hill on an episode of The Don Messer Show that aired on January 29, 1972, on CJAY-TV.[24] Walker also spent time playing at The Dunes nightclub in Hawaii, starting in 1972[25] 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",[26] recorded with The Cabinet[27] and also made an appearance on The Ian Tyson Show backing Jim and Don Haggart.[2] Walker began an indefinite hiatus from his music career due to medical issues in 1977[26] although he did occasionally record songs and perform[28] after 1989 as "The Cape Breton Rebel".
Discography
Albums
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
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)[16] | Big Chief |
1970 | My Wife's Liberation Front/Canadian Country Music Man | #22 (B side)[19] | Rodeo International |
1971 | Don't Wake the Sleeping Lion/ Parliament Hill | #18 (B side)[20] | 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
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
- ^ "'The Way We Were': Nova Scotia in Film, 1917–1957". Nova Scotia Archives collection
- ^ a b c d "The PM and Cabinet Complete Local Lounge Circuit". The Scotia Sun. December 4, 1974.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees: Fred Mckenna". Canadian Country Music Association. 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ ISBN 9798885364188.
- ^ "TF007 New Brunswick: Maritime Bluegrass". The Folk Podcast. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ISBN 9781447591184.
- ^ "Bluegrass Music | The Canadian Encyclopedia". The Canadian Encyclopedia. January 31, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ^ "Vic Mullen". Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "Angus Walker". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
- ^ "Country Music" (PDF). RPM Music Weekly. January 27, 1968. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ a b "Canadian Country Shapes Up" (PDF). RPM Music Weekly, Vol.5, No.10. May 2, 1966. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
- ^ a b "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine, Volume 4, No. 2. November 15, 1965. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "Walker Tapes for Big Chief" (PDF). RPM Weekly Magazine. November 22, 1969. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ ""Previous Juno—Gold Leaf Winners from 1964 to '72"". Billboard Magazine. April 27, 1974. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
- ^ "RPM Music Awards" (PDF). RPM Magazine. Vol. 4, no. 21. January 17, 1966. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine, Volume 13, No. 12. May 9, 1970. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "Big Chief Signings" (PDF). RPM Weekly. November 15, 1969. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ "Ontario's Country Music Pioneers: Mickey McGivern". Country Music Association Ontario. 10 July 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine Volume 14, No.26. February 13, 1971. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ a b "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine, Volume 16, No, 3. September 4, 1971. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "Turner Corralling Top Country Acts". RPM Weekly Magazine. August 28, 1970. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ "Angus Walker joins Messer tour". RPM Weekly Magazine. June 12, 1971. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ "FORTY YEARS AGO". Caledon Enterprise, Aug 08, 2012
- ^ "RPM Nuts and Bolts". RPM Weekly Magazine. January 22, 1972. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ "Marathon's Taylor in Full Disc Production". RPM Weekly Magazine. June 24, 1972. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ a b "Angus Walker into surgery" (PDF). RPM Magazine. March 26, 1977. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ "RPM Picks" (PDF). RPM Magazine. December 20, 1975. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ "Angus Walker". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
External links
- Angus Walker discography at Discogs