|
Billy Whelan was a native of Nova Scotia in Canada. He started
singing when he was just five years old. His first guitar was
given to him when he reached his fifteenth birthday. And he kept
on singing and entertaining the fans.
By 1953, Billy's son Douglas, who was four and a half years old,
was singing the hillbilly tunes with his dad.
Billy worked extensively on the CBC radio network for more than
three years. He also worked at CJCH out of Halifax, CKBW out
of Bridgewater and CKCW out of Moncton and CBY in Newfoundland.
He had his own show that was called "His Western Serenaders".
He recorded for the Hart-Van Recording Co. back then that
was out of La Grange, Illinois. His first release for them
was "Harvest Rose of San Antone", "Trusting In You", "If I
Had A Million Dreams To Dream", and "I Don't Want To Feel Blue".
He was also a bit of a songwriter and had already written more
than 45 tunes by 1953.
Credits & Sources
- Cowboy Songs Magazine No. 25; March 1953; American Folk
Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT.
|