Yodeling Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

Montana Slim

Source: Steven Kovacik

Born one of nine children in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, on 18 December 1904, Canadian yodeler, Wilf Carter, composed songs like 'The Rescue from Moose River Gold Mine' (1936), 'Covered Wagon Headin' West' (1936), 'How My Yodelling Days Began' (1937) and 'Why Did We Ever Part' (1940). He was known as Carter chiefly in Canada, getting issued largely as Montana Slim in the United States. Wilf got moved to Canning at age eight where he left home at age fifteen or sixteen to become a lumberjack. Wikipedia has him singing with vagabonds in boxcars before heading to Calgary, Alberta, there to work as a cowboy while playing guitar at dances in the region. He began performing on radio in 1930 with Calgary's CFCN. In 1933 he performed on the British cruise ship, S.S. Empress. One port of call was Montreal where he recorded his compositions, 'My Swiss Moonlight Lullaby' / 'The Capture of Albert Johnson' (Bluebird 4966) on December 20, 1933. That is thought to have been issued at the time (likely 1934) [45 Worlds].

'My Swiss Moonlight Lullaby'   Wilf Carter

Carter's 1st recording to issue

20 Dec 1933 in Montreal, Quebec   Matrix 7764-1   Bluebird 4966

Composition: Carter

'The Capture of Albert Johnson'   Wilf Carter

Carter's 2nd recording to issue

20 Dec 1933 in Montreal, Quebec   Matrix 7765-1   Bluebird 4966

Composition: Carter

On January 11 and 12 of 1934 Carter spread tracks including 'Twilight on the Prairie' / 'Little Silver Haired Sweetheart of Mine' (Bluebird Canada 4969) which 45 Worlds has issued in 1934. Among a string of titles unloaded on October 17 and 18 that year were ''The Yodeling Trail Rider' / 'Prairie Blues' (Bluebird Canada 4985) which 45 Worlds has released in 1934 as well. Praguefrank's has Carter recording as Montana Slim for the first time in New York City on 19 February 1935 toward 'Lonesome for My Baby Tonight' and 'Gonna Ride to Heaven on a Streamlined Train' and 'Hillbilly Valley'.

'I Miss My Swiss'   Wilf Carter

18 Oct 1934 in Montreal, Quebec   Matrix 7828-1   Bluebird 4982

Composition: Abel Baer / L. Wolfe Gilbert

'My Little Swiss and Me'   Wilf Carter

18 Oct 1934 in Montreal, Quebec   Matrix 7832-1  Bluebird 4600

Composition: Abel Baer / L. Wolfe Gilbert

'Hobo's Song of the Mounties'   Wilf Carter

19 Oct 1934 in Montreal, Quebec   Matrix 7834-1   Bluebird 4988

Composition: Carter

'My Swiss Moonlight Lullaby'   Wilf Carter   Film   Sometime 1936?

Composition: Carter

'Memories of My Gray Haired Mother in the West'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

17 June 1936 in NYC   Matrix 7775-1   Bluebird 4976

Composition: Carter

'Everybody's Been Some Mothers Darling'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

19 Nov 1937 in Montreal, Quebec   Matrix 8289-1  Bluebird 4634

Composition: Carter

'Echoing Hills Yodel Back to Me'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

4 April 1940 in NYC   Matrix BS-048652-1  Bluebird 4682

Composition: Carter

'Sittin' By the Old Corral'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

16 Dec 1941 in Montreal, Quebec   Matrix 7834-1  Bluebird 4988

Composition: Carter

'I'm a Fool for Foolin' Around'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

25 June 1947 in Manhattan   Matrix D7-VB-1206   RCA Victor 20-3152

Guitar: Edwin Grosso (electric) / Anthony Gottuso   Bass: Charles B. Grean

Composition: Carter

'When the Ice Worm Nests Again'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

1949   RCA Victor 21-0136

Composition: Mona Symington / Marion Williamson / Joyce Kolgan

 Canadian Encyclopedia   Creative Serendipity Memories   Medium   Wikipedia

'Wha Hoppen?   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

9 Aug 1951 in Manhattan   Matrix E1-VB-2962   Decca 47-4252

Composition: Carter

'My Mountain High Yodel Song'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

22 Nov 1954 in Nashville   Matrix 87113   Decca 9-29384

Guitar: Chet Atkins / Jack Shook   Steel guitar: Jerry Byrd

Fiddle: Tommy Jackson   Piano: Owen Bradley

Bass: Ernie Newton   Drums: Farris Coursey

Composition: Carter

Carter issued his LP, 'I'm Ragged But I'm Right', in 1959. 'The Dynamic Trail' ensued in 1960. Other of numerous LPs included:

'Two Little Girls In Blue'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

C May 1964 in NYC   Matrix ST-7033   See the album 'Wilf Carter: "Montana Slim"' on Starday SLP-300

Composition: Charles Graham / George Spaulding / William Gray

'K.P. Blues'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

1966 in Nashville   Matrix S-SLP-389   See the album '"Montana Slim": Wllf Carter"' on Starday SLP-389

Composition: C. Swanson

'When It's Springtime In the Rockies'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

1966   See the album 'God Bless Our Canada' on CAS-2111

Composition: Mary Hale Woolsey / Robert Sauer

Touring and television appearances in Canada and the United States saw Carter inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971. Highlighting the eighties was a tour with Hank Snow in 1981 and election into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1985 Wilf saw induction into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Juno Awards Hall of Fame. Discogs dates above thirty Carter albums to as late as 1988: 'What Ever Happened to All Those Years'.

'What Ever Happened to All Those Years'   Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim

1988   See the album 'What Ever Happened to All Those Years' on RCA KZL1-7144

Probably Carter's final recordings

Composition: Mary Hale Woolsey / Robert Sauer

In 1991 Carter made his last tour in Canada called 'The Last Round-up'. Loss of hearing prompted his retirement from the music business in 1992. He died of stomach cancer on December 5, 1996, in Scottsdale, Arizona.