Alberta Slim
Alberta Slim | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Eric Charles Edwards |
Born | Wiltshire, England | February 2, 1910
Origin | Canada |
Died | November 26, 2005 Surrey, British Columbia, Canada | (aged 95)
Genres | Country |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Guitar |
Years active | 1938-2003 |
Labels | RCA Victor |
Alberta Slim (February 2, 1910 – November 26, 2005) was a Canadian country music singer.
Biography[]
Slim was born Eric Charles Edwards in Wiltshire, England, and emigrated with his family to Canada as a child. He was a hobo during the Great Depression, riding the railroads and playing on street corners as a guitarist and yodeler.[1] He played in an amateur talent show at Regina station CKCK; soon after, in 1938, he was offered a job singing there. After this he held radio spots at CFQC in Saskatoon from 1940 to 1944, and then on Regina's CKRM from 1945 to 1947.[2]
Slim started a traveling circus in the 1940s which included an elephant who could play harmonica, a singing dog, a chimpanzee on a bicycle, and a horse which Slim claimed could see the future.[1] In 1949, he had his first hit on record, "When It's Apple Blossom Time in Annapolis Valley", released on .[2] Later, RCA Victor signed him and released songs such as "Waltz Evelina Waltz", "You Say I'm a Fool", "My Annapolis Valley Home", and "It's Too Late to Care".
After his career ended, he got a job in British Columbia selling real estate. In 1997, he was asked to perform again at the . He continued to perform until he was 93. He died in 2005 at the age of 95 in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.[1]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Yodelling Cowboy Dead at 95. CBC, December 6, 2005. Accessed January 29, 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Alberta Slim at Hillbilly-Music.com
External links[]
- Official Alberta Slim site [1]
- Alberta Slim is interviewed by 10-year-old Kim Campbell [2]
- 1910 births
- 2005 deaths
- People from Wiltshire
- Canadian country singers
- Musicians from Alberta
- 20th-century Canadian singers