Alberta Slim (February 2, 1910 – November 26, 2005) was a Canadiancountry music singer.
Biography
Slim was born Eric Charles Edwards in Wiltshire, England, and emigrated with his family to Canada as a child. He was a hobo during the Great Depression, riding the railroads and playing on street corners as a guitarist and yodeler.[1] He played in an amateur talent show at Regina station CKCK; soon after, in 1938, he was offered a job singing there. After this he held radio spots at CFQC in Saskatoon from 1940 to 1944, and then on Regina's CKRM from 1945 to 1947.[2]
Slim started a traveling circus in the 1940s which included an elephant who could play harmonica, a singing dog, a chimpanzee on a bicycle, and a horse which Slim claimed could see the future.[1] In 1949, he had his first hit on record, "When It's Apple Blossom Time in Annapolis Valley", released on Gavotte Records.[2] Later, RCA Victor signed him and released songs such as "Waltz Evelina Waltz", "You Say I'm a Fool", "My Annapolis Valley Home", and "It's Too Late to Care".