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Opry Legend Dies Near Fort Deposit

By Alabama Public Radio

Fort Deposit, AL. – A fatal accident on Interstate 65 south of Montgomery early yesterday claimed the life of Grand Ole Opry legend Billy Walker and three others.
State troopers say Walker, Bettie Walker, and Charles Lilly Junior, all of Hendersonville, Tennessee, and Daniel Patton Senior of Hermitage, Tennessee, were killed when the van in which they were riding left the road. Walker's grandson Joshua Brooks ... also of Hendersonville ... was injured. Troopers say the van ran off I-65 about 11 miles north of Fort Deposit. They were returning from a show near Gulf Shores. Billy Walker was born in Ralls, Texas, and built an early career as the ``Traveling Texan, the Masked Singer of Country Songs''. He at one time shared the stage with Elvis Presley. His first No. 1 song came in 1962 ... titled "Charlie's Shoes".

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