Norm
Walker doesn't call himself a storyteller but rather a "story-singer".
Even so, the storytelling communities, locally and nationally,
have embraced what he does as within the realm of what they
call "storytelling". Some call him a "contemporary
folk singer". Whatever you call him, at
the very least he is an "entertainer" who uses music and stories
as his main vehicles, often with a broad range of humour.
Norm receives much of his inspiration from folk tales, urban
legends, true stories, even internet office jokes. He
then tries to find the balance of poetic lyrics that is suited
to an appropriate melody and musical style based on the musical
influences that have most touched him. Those musical
influences cover a broad range of styles: British and Irish
traditional, old-time, American, western, cowboy, swing
and old popular songs (from 78 records). As a
result, he is a bit difficult to pigeon-hole in terms of describing
his style of music.
His approach to music is predominantly acoustic, and
he has an uncanny ability to marry words with music to sing
true stories, recount folk tales and spin yarns. His ability
to weave stories with humour leaves audiences chuckling and
humming punch lines long after the concert is over. Norm's
songs cover a variety of themes, including urban legends,
electrical theory, the Saskatchewan Prairie, progressive politics,
and community. 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, but he has
also been a performing singer, songwriter and musician, accompanying
himself and others on guitar or mandolin. He has
been a featured guest on CBC Radio's Basic Black (with Arthur
Black) and also Disc Drive (with Jurgen Goth) and performed
from coast to coast but mostly in western Canada.
Over the years, Norm has been a member of various Regina-based
Celtic music groups. He has performed solo and with other
musician friends at numerous coffeehouses, benefits, political
events, restaurants, nursing homes, concerts and events.
He released a music CD in 2002 called "T"
Time - Time Tested Tales, Tall and True which is mostly
a collection of story-oriented songs, many of which are based
on urban legends and folk tales. Penguin
Eggs Magazine describes him as a "songwriter somewhat in the
tradition of a Canadian Tom Lehrer". Since that
time he has written an number of songs (all unrecorded as
of yet) expanding on the approaches he began with the "T"
Time CD.
Norm, an electrician by trade and currently teaches in the
Electrician Apprenticeship Training Program at the Saskatchewan
Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) in Moose
Jaw, Saskatchewan.
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