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 showatRegina station CKCK; soon after, in 1938, he was offered a job singing there. After this he held radio spots at CFQCinSaskatoon 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".
