THE MUSICAL MAGIC OF BILL WALKER By Bill Winstead
In the 1960s Eddy Arnold, who had already had incredible record-selling success, soared
to new musical heights that brought unprecedented widespread respect to country music.
Manager Jerry Purcell wanted more class in presenting Eddy Arnold to the masses. The
man most responsible for providing the appropriate background to showcase Eddy
Arnold’s incomparable voice is pianist/arranger/conductor Bill Walker. His polished,
symphonic arrangements helped Eddy Arnold place 16 straight songs on the country and
pop charts and produce the gold album, My World. Bill Walker's musical magic on hits like Make The World Go Away, Somebody Like Me, and Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye carried Eddy Arnold to a second career of stardom on records, television, and the concert stage.Born in Sydney, Australia Bill Walker exhibited innate musical talent at an early age.
Whenever he heard a song he liked on the radio, he could play it almost immediately. He
started piano lessons at the age of six. Within a couple of years, his piano teacher told
Bill's parents that their son was so musically gifted that he could no longer benefit from
her knowledge or skill.Bill Walker's formal music education brought him an undergraduate degree from Sydney
University and a Masters from the Sydney University Conservatory of Music. During his
college days Bill played piano and served as band leader in some of Sydney's most popular
night clubs and theaters.Working successfully with RCA International in Sydney, Bill was transferred to
Johannesburg, South Africa to become the musical director for Teal Records. During his
seven-year stint there, Bill recorded many best-selling albums with a variety of artists. In
addition, Bill was the featured performer on over twenty piano and orchestra albums.In South Africa Bill also became involved in British touring musicals. He arranged and/or
conducted famous musical productions like The Sound Of Music, Oliver, and The King
And I.Bill embarked on a pivotal period in his career when he met Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer,
and Jim Reeves as they prepared to tour South Africa. Bill suggested that Reeves record
From A Jack To A King which became a big hit. Then Bill scored, composed, arranged
and conducted the sound track for the Reeves movie, Kimberly Jim. Reeves persuaded
Bill to move to the United States to became his musical director.Bill Walker arrived in New York City late in July of 1964. That is when he met Eddy
Arnold. Steve Sholes, Eddy Arnold’s first producer, invited Bill to the RCA studios to
watch Marty Gold arrange and conduct for Arnold sessions that would become the album,
Pop Hits From The Country Side.Bill's introduction to America was accompanied by tragedy. His arrival in
Nashville virtually coincided with the death of Jim Reeves in a plane crash. To make
matters even worse, Bill's other sponsor, Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver, also died.
So, Bill was in the midst of tragedy and trauma, sponsorless in a strange land without a
job. That lean, traumatic time is in Bill's memory banks, but time has certainly tempered that period.“I played anywhere I could. Nightclubs, parties,” recalled Bill. “Anywhere I could earn a
dollar.”Soon, Bill presented an idea to Chet Atkins. Thinking that Eddy Arnold could fill the
musical void in South Africa resulting from the death of Jim Reeves, Bill suggested that
Arnold record an album in Africaans, the language of that country. Less than four months
after his arrival in Nashville, Bill Walker had his first recording session with Eddy Arnold,
arranging, conducting, and playing vibes on a twelve-song Africaan album.Obviously impressed with Bill’s talents, Eddy Arnold had to be particularly pleased with
the Australian’s contributions to the next studio sessions. Assembling a large contingent
of musicians, Bill arranged and conducted for violins, pianist Floyd Cramer, saxophonist
Boots Randolph, and the Anita Kerr Singers. Bill’s fresh, innovative arrangements helped
make Eddy Arnold’s album, The Easy Way, a memorable one. The Easy Way was Bill’s
first Arnold album for American consumption.Bill Walker brought more precision to recording in Nashville. He significantly increased
the number of musicians backing Eddy Arnold. In addition to arranging and conducting
the Eddy Arnold sessions, Bill often played celeste or vibes, as well as piano.On January 13, 1965 Bill Walker arranged and conducted his first hit single with Eddy
Arnold. What’s He Doing In My World climbed to the top of the charts, marking
Arnold’s biggest hit in a decade.But even better success was to come. On June 25, 1965 Bill’s arranging skills highlighted
what was to become Eddy Arnold’s all-time hit, Make The World Go Away. Bill revealed
that, contrary to some previously published material, he did the entire arrangement,
including the background vocals of the Anita Kerr Singers.Eddy Arnold’s manager, Jerry Purcell, assessed Bill Walker this way: “Finding Bill was
like finding a goldmine.”Bill’s musical partnerships with Eddy Arnold involved much more than just recordings.
He became musical director for Eddy Arnold concerts and performed with the singer on
television.The Arnold-Walker collaboration graced New York City’s Carnegie Hall and the Coconut
Grove in Hollywood and many of the most prestigious concert halls and coliseums in between.Bill has fond memories of Carnegie Hall. “That was a great night for Eddy, “ Bill
remembers. “He got two standing ovations.”Another aspect of his years with Eddy Arnold that Bill enjoyed were concerts with
symphony orchestras.Bill wrote the arrangements for the symphonies. Eddy Arnold sang with the classical
orchestras in cities like Dallas, Atlanta, and Hartford. Even among such a large ensemble
of musicians, Bill’s piano artistry behind Eddy Arnold always stood out.Bill backed Eddy Arnold on virtually every major variety show on television, including
Dean Martin, Perry Como, Danny Kaye, Andy Williams, Mike Douglas, Jackie Gleason,
Jack Lawrence and Red Skelton, whom Bill particularly liked.“Eddy and I also did a summer replacement series for the Kraft Music Hall. I also enjoyed doing the Tonight Show for Johnny Carson.”
Bill is happy about his contribution to Eddy Arnold’s phenomenal middle-of-the-road
success.“Eddy drew huge crowds everywhere, not just in the South. We tried to have a little
something for everybody like the Dear Heart medley. Dear Heart appealed to pop fans,
Oh! Lonesome Me pleased the country fans and Hello Dolly caught the people who like
show tunes.”Performing with Eddy Arnold led to profoundly important fringe benefits. One night in
Brockton, Massachusetts, a young group called The Kids Next Door opened for Eddy
Arnold. One particular young lady caught Bill’s eye and ear.“I remember hearing this beautiful soprano voice, “ said Bill, wistfully.
That beautiful voice belonged to his future wife, Jeanine, who later came to Nashville to
do studio work with Bill. Next year the Walkers will celebrate thirty years of marriage.(An article on Jeanine Walker can be found elsewhere on this web site.)
Playing, arranging, and conducting for Eddy Arnold was just one chapter in the
extraordinary career of Bill Walker. He has written background music for movies. In
addition to the aforementioned Kimberly Jim, Bill composed, arranged, and conducted
music scores for Going Home with Robert Mitchum; I Walk The Line, starring Gregory
Peck; Prime Cut with George Kennedy; and Little Fauss and Big Halsey, starring Michael
Pollard.Bill Walker’s musical mastery in the recording studio was not just limited to Eddy Arnold.
He also arranged and conducted for artists like Chet Atkins and Al Hirt. As producer,
arranger and/or conductor, he created hits with Bobby Vinton, Roy Clark, Sammie Smith,
Marty Robbins, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Donna Fargo.Bill Walker’s television credits are astounding. Following his 1960s work with Eddy
Arnold, Bill was the musical director of the Johnny Cash Show in the 1970s. He recently
completed a seven-year stint with the Statler Brothers, when viewers became acquainted
with the back of his head as he played piano for the gospel part of the show.Over the years Bill has worked with major stars on television specials. He did one special
honoring Eddy Arnold in the early 1990s. Other people that Bill arranged and conducted
for on television include country stars like Lynn Anderson, the late Tennessee Ernie Ford,
Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, and Glen Campbell.Bill’s television specials have not been confined to Nashville artists. His musical talents
were used in specials involving Ann-Margaret, Tina Turner, Della Reese, Dennis Weaver,
Perry Como, and George Burns. Bill also did specials honoring such diverse stars as Elvis
Presley and Lawrence Welk.Even Presidents of the United States have come under the direct influence of Bill Walker’s
musical talents. He did a two-hour Ford’s Theater special for Jimmy Carter and another
two-hour program for Ronald Reagan at Constitutional Hall.One of Bill Walker’s most recent projects involves the works of one of America’s most
revered poets, Helen Steiner Rice. Bill put many of Rice’s inspirational poems to music, composed by Jonathan Urie. This web site will provide information about the release date of the Rice recordings as soon as possible.Bill and Jeanine Walker are born-again Christians who have spread their personal faith in
song in churches and conventions. In answer to many requests, they have recorded sacred
favorites for an album called Tell Me The Story Of Jesus, which will be released soon.
Keep checking this web site for the date of availability.Bill beams at the mention of his daughter, Beth. According to the medical community,
Beth should have never been born.“After we lost our first baby (two days old), Jeanine had all kinds of tests and doctors told
her she could never have any more children,” Bill recalled. “But God answered our
prayers.”Bill Walker, who tries to visit his 90-plus-year-old parents in Australia every year, is now at the stage of his career where he is very selective in what he does, often turning over requests for his services to others. “I want to spend more time with my family.”
Outside of music, one of Bill’s most passionate pursuits is golf. Eddy Arnold used to quip
about Bill “taking my money on the golf course.”Bill’s God-given musical ability has never gone to his head. He has been content to stay in
the background. “I've never worried about getting credit. I got satisfaction when a song
I arranged reached number one, number ten, or whatever.”In the 1960s many country music purists accused Eddy Arnold of abandoning country
music because of the uptown arrangements of Bill Walker. How does Bill answer these
critics? Bill is glad that his arrangements helped Eddy Arnold broaden his audience. Bill said that Arnold even captured the classical crowd at symphony concerts.Bill and Eddy Arnold reteamed in 1984 to do an album originally marketed on television.
That album, Songs That Touch My Heart, is now available on Curb Records under the
title “Greatest Songs.”Bill Walker lent his incomparable talents to thirteen Eddy Arnold albums. Including
singles that never appeared on albums. Bill arranged 170 songs for Arnold.Fans of Eddy Arnold have heard the string of hits he did with Bill Walker. However, only
dedicated collectors of Arnold recordings can fully appreciate the arranging skills of Bill
Walker. In addition to the hits, Bill wrote arrangements for famous songs like What A
Wonderful World, What Now My Love, Dear Heart, Secret Love, and All I Have To Do Is
Dream.There are many virtually unknown jewels in the Eddy Arnold catalog that benefited from
the musical touch of Bill Walker. More recent Eddy Arnold fans should try to check out
Walker-arranged songs such as The First Word I’ll Teach Him Is Love, Nothing But
Time, Heaven Below, Sweet Bird Of Youth, Love Finds A Way, The Sunshine Belongs To
Me, Did It Rain, and Calling Mary Names.During the decade from the mid 1940s to the mid 1950s, Eddy Arnold virtually owned the
country music charts. However, he wasn't satisfied. He wanted to do more of a variety
of songs. He longed for widespread acceptance.Bill Walker helped Eddy Arnold fulfill his dream. Bill’s arrangements wrapped Eddy’s
ultra-smooth, versatile voice in string-laced orchestral sounds that perfectly fit the singer’s
love-song-laden repertoire.It is not surprising that Eddy Arnold and Bill Walker worked so well together. These
genuine gentlemen are inordinately humble and known for their patience. According to
wife, Jeanine, “Bill is amazingly patient with musicians. Bill never yells or gets mad if
someone messes up. He treats everyone with respect.”In his biography, Eddy Arnold: Pioneer Of The Nashville Sound, Mike Streissguth
concludes that Eddy Arnold attained his goal of not being just a country singer or a pop
singer but just a singer. Bill Walker deserves a great deal of credit for helping make Eddy
Arnold’s dream a reality.