Hillbilly-Music.com—The People. The Music. The History.
Billy Whelan
Died:  December 2, 1987
Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame (1999)
CJCH Halifax, NS
CKCW Moncton, NB

About The Artist

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.