Gene Walker

Barberton, 1960s - early 70s

Gene Walker was a country singer who played the Akron area from the mid 1960s to the early 1970s.He may have been active before and after but for now we can only trace him through that time.

He led a couple different bands, the Sidekicks and the Country Sounds. He also played many gigs with other local country musicians that were probably more in the jam session style. 

Gene recorded four 45s. The first two were released on the Lark label from Viginia. The records came out about the same time as the Joe Shamp 45 so they were probably connected to Lark through the same person/event. On the first 45 Ronnie Allen is listed as 'accompanied by'.

Dec 1967 and March 1968 ads

Gene's best remembered 45 was a self-released 45, recorded at Audio in Cleveland and pressed by Pama. He does a cover of the Neal Sedaka hit from the 1950s, "I Go Ape" with some rockabilly styled electric and steel guitar. This record also credits Ronnie Allen.

September 1968 ad listing Gene and Joe Shamp as Major recording artists. Major was the parent label for Lark records.

Gene had a fourth 45 on the Ohio label. That is all the recordings we could find

1970 ad with a vintage look. We can only imagine what it was like in 1939

Discography 
Your Eyes Tell Me / Blue Light Waltz - Lark 1045, 1969
How Do You Say Goodbye / The Moon Went Out On A Date - Lark 1051, 1969
Don't Tear Our Hearts Apart / I Go Ape - no label, no number - early 1970
How Can I Tell Her (After She's Gone) / Castle In The Sky - Ohio 47022, June 1970