and alternative music and punk fans. His band later became the opening act for the Butthole Surfers. He had cameo roles in feature films with Western swing settings, especially an acclaimed and memorable role as the lead singer in a rodeo dance band, singing "I'll Hold You in My Heart," in the 1998 Stephen Frears film The Hi-Lo Country — a performance often regarded as one of the highlights of the picture. In September 2003, Don Walser retired from live performances due to health issues. Three years later, Walser died due to complications from diabetes on September 20, 2006, six days after his 72nd birthday. Quotes about Don Walser "Perhaps the last of God's great pure country singers, with a national and international following among those who like the real deal" — John Morthland "This man's voice is a national treasure and qualifies as high Texas folk art. ... When it comes to evocative, classic country music, it doesn't get much better than this" — Erik Hage, Allmusic "Nothing less than pure country music incarnate" — David Courtney, Austin City Search "Country music's greatest yodeler" — Texas Music Group] "A Texas country music institution" — Jerry Renshaw, Austin Chronicle "Simply one of the great voices and nice guys of our day" — tunefan.com Awards and honors Don Walser was voted "Best Performing Country Band" at the Austin Music Awards, was voted top country band of the year by the Austin Chronicle in 1996, and received an Association for Independent Music "Indie" Award in 1997. He also received recognition in mainstream country, and played the Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 1999, and again in 2001. In 2000 he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and he and the Pure Texas Band played at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the awards ceremony. Discography Texas Souvenir (1992) Rolling Stone From Texas (1994) The Archive Series: Volume 1 (1995) The Archive Series Volume 2 (1995) Texas Top Hand (1996) Down At The Sky-Vue Drive-In (1998) Here's To Country Music (1999) I'll Hold You In My Heart (2000, Valley Entertainment) Dare To Dream: The Best of Don Walser (2001) Texas Legend (2006) See also Music of Austin References External links Story on Don Walser on countryrootsmusic.com tunefan.com tribute page with photos Allmusic Music samples on Rhapsody Texas Music Group page on Don Walser American country