Walker was born in
Quapaw, Oklahoma. He wanted to become a country music performer but later found success as a songwriter in the 1950s and 1960s. Walker began his music career, influenced by his association with
Webb Pierce and
Tillman Franks. His first hit, "
I've Got a New Heartache," was a country hit for
Ray Price in 1956, later revived by
Ricky Skaggs in 1986. His songwriting resulted in top 10 country singles in the 1950s and 1960s. "All the Time," written by him, topped the charts in 1967 in
Jack Greene's rendition, receiving
Billboard's Country Song of the Year award. Some other country musicians who performed Walker's compositions include
Kitty Wells and Ray Price. "
Are You Sincere" broke beyond the country genre, reaching No. 3 on the 1958 Billboard pop chart with
Andy Williams and earning Walker a BMI Million Play award. ==References==