Songwriter. She challenged the traditions of country music, and became a successful songwriter at a time when female songwriters were rare and not taken seriously. She was able to influence the industry while writing songs at her Texas home when most other successful songwriters lived in Nashville, Tennessee. A native of Mart, Texas she began writing songs at the age of twelve. In 1940, while visiting Los Angeles, California, she arranged an impromptu audition with Bing Crosby's brother, Larry. The audition led to Crosby recording her song "Lone Star Trail". This began a distinguished career that lasted more than fifty years. Other hits she wrote include, "In the Misty Moonlight" recorded by Dean Martin, "Dream Baby" recorded by Roy Orbison and "You Don't Know Me" recorded by co-writer Eddy Arnold, Ray Charles and others. She wrote more than fifty songs for Western swing star Bob Wills. Ricky Nelson, Hank Snow, Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves, Gene Autry and Sonny James were among the stars who recorded her songs. In 1970 she became a charter member of the National Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 1997 she was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Just weeks before her death she was honored by Willie Nelson's release of his new album "You Don't Know Me: Songs of Cindy Walker".
Songwriter. She challenged the traditions of country music, and became a successful songwriter at a time when female songwriters were rare and not taken seriously. She was able to influence the industry while writing songs at her Texas home when most other successful songwriters lived in Nashville, Tennessee. A native of Mart, Texas she began writing songs at the age of twelve. In 1940, while visiting Los Angeles, California, she arranged an impromptu audition with Bing Crosby's brother, Larry. The audition led to Crosby recording her song "Lone Star Trail". This began a distinguished career that lasted more than fifty years. Other hits she wrote include, "In the Misty Moonlight" recorded by Dean Martin, "Dream Baby" recorded by Roy Orbison and "You Don't Know Me" recorded by co-writer Eddy Arnold, Ray Charles and others. She wrote more than fifty songs for Western swing star Bob Wills. Ricky Nelson, Hank Snow, Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves, Gene Autry and Sonny James were among the stars who recorded her songs. In 1970 she became a charter member of the National Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 1997 she was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Just weeks before her death she was honored by Willie Nelson's release of his new album "You Don't Know Me: Songs of Cindy Walker".
Bio by: Bigwoo
Family Members
Advertisement
