Norman Walker

Norm Walker is a "story-singer" and songwriter from Regina, Saskatchewan who uses music and stories as his main vehicles, often with tongue in cheek. He receives much of his inspiration from folk tales, urban legends, true stories and even internet office jokes. He then tries to find the balance of poetic lyrics best suited to an appropriate melody and style based on the musical influences that have most touched him. Those musical influences cover a broad range of styles. As a result, he is a bit difficult to pigeon-hole in terms of describing his style of music. Generally, horizons are broadened as the songs he writes are sometimes ... unusual.

Norm’s approach to music is predominantly acoustic. His songs cover a variety of themes, including urban legends, electrical theory, the Saskatchewan prairie, gardening, apostrophe abuse, politics, and community. Some of these songs are thoughtful and serious; many others are not. The result is that "seldom is heard a discouraging word" and if you can't at least smile at some of these story-songs, there's probably something wrong with your face.

Norm Walker is no stranger to folk music. Not only has he had a long-time association with organizing folk music and storytelling concerts and festivals in Regina and area but he has also been a performing singer, songwriter and musician mostly in western Canada accompanying himself and others on guitar, mandolin and more recently the strumstick. He has been a featured guest on CBC Radio's Basic Black and Disc Drive radio programs and performed from coast to coast.

Norm released his first music cd in 2002 called "T" Time - Time Tested Tales, Tall and True. Penguin Eggs magazine described him as a "songwriter somewhat in the tradition of a Canadian Tom Lehrer". Since that time he has written many songs (many unrecorded as of yet) expanding on the approaches he began with the "T" Time cd.

In early 2011 he released a new cd, Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts, 16 songs and close to 67 minutes of an eclectic collection of stylistically varied and mostly (all but one) original songs. There’s country humour, urban legends, true stories, thoughtful reflection, a bit of politics, some reverence and a bit of irreverence too.

Norm, an electrician by trade, currently teaches in the Electrician Apprenticeship Training Program at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.