Texas Country Music Hall of Fame names inductees
By Elaine P. McPherson

THE PANOLA WATCHMAN  Sunday January 28 2001

The three newest inductees to the Fourth Annual Texas Memories, Country Music Hall of Fame Number, have been announced to Panola County. "
Ray Price, Billy Walker, and Stuart Hamblen will be honored in Panola County at the Country Music Hall of Fame weekend that will be held the weekend of August 17th.

To headline the show on Saturday will be inductee Ray Price. Billy Walker is also planning to be at the show. Stuart Hamblen will be represented by his family.
"in the 1950's price went to Nashville as the roommate of Hank Williams, Sr. in the 1990's he returned to claim one of the highest honors in country music. Now, he will be honored with another High honor.

Some of Prices' s timeless hits include,"For the Good Times,"Crazy Arms, "Burning Memories," "Crazy, " and "Danny Boy.
Price and his band, The Cherokee Cowboys, have thrilled audiences from concert halls and fairgrounds to The White House. His latest direction finds him reviving country and popular classics with a 29-piece orchestra on his first album in eight years. It contains remakes of Prices' own hits, pop standards and even a couple of new tunes.

Billy Walker, an international favorite entertainer, will also attend the inductee ceremony. Walker, who has been a Grand Ole Opry member for over 30 years, epitomized the changes that overtook country music over a 30 year period. he began with honky-tonk to Rock and roll, and the Nashville sound. A friend of many other popular music makers, Walker sang with Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Hank Thompson.  Walker has performed on many different music shows including the Lousiana Hayride in Shreveport, the jimmy Dean Show, the Grand Ole Opry and the Tonight Show.

Some of the songs that Walker made famous are: Thank you for Calling, On my Mind, Charlie's Shoes. Willie the Weeper, Cross the Brazos at Waco, Matamoros, and A Million and One. Altho very popular in Europe, Walker still performs in the States.

Stuart Hamblen, who died in 1989 will be recognized at the August show.
Hamblen is mostly known as a songwriter, but he also played in movies and sang his own songs.
In movies with Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, Hamblen usually played the bad guy. Other swards won by the Texas native are the Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame in 1970 and the American Country Music association's Pioneer Award. Top 10 songs written by Hamblen are" This Ole House, My Mary,  It is No Secret, Remember Me (I'm the One who Loves You). "I Won't go Huntin' Jake, But I'll go chasing Women."

See you are the August 17th 2001 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame