Alberta Slim

A cowboy costume of Alberta Slim on permanent display in the Surrey Museum of BC, Canada

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".

After his career ended, he got a job in British Columbia selling real estate. In 1997, he was asked to perform again at the Vancouver Folk Festival. He continued to perform until he was 93. He died in 2005 at the age of 95 in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.[1]

• Official Alberta Slim site
• Alberta Slim is interviewed by 10-year-old Kim Campbell