From the Smoky Lake Signal, July 9, 1980. Volume 3, Number 10.

Wilf Carter

- Coming to Smoky

Wilf has had a long and varied career. Things started for him at the age of 10 - 66 years ago! He worked for CFRN Radio when their headquarters were one small room in the York Hotel, working with Cy Hopkins; he earned $5.00 a week. At this time he also did lots of rodeos around the area, working with his friend Dick Cosgrave.

His first big break came when the CP Railway hired him for their trailride through the Canadian Rockies. 1933 was a big year for Wilf, his first recording was released through RCA - Swiss Moonlight Lullaby & Albert Johnstone the Mad Trapper; then CP Rail sent him to the West Indies. In 1934 he was back in Canada and working for the CRC, then with the CBC. Next he got a call from the CBS to go to New York, which he did, and he worked there until 1940.

In 1940 Wilf had a car accident in Shelby, Montana. After this he went back to his ranch and stayed there until 1949. In 1950 Wilf, his wife, and their two daughters went on the road. They travelled around as "The Family Show" for the next 10 years, until in 1960 the girls decided to quit and go to College. Wilf carried on by himself, and has been doing his own show ever since.

He's been riding in the Calgary Stampede Parade since 1924, and says that last year (1979), when they made him Grand Marshall, was one of the greatest thrills in his life.

When working for the CBS the show went out to 250 stations, and they used to receive an average of 10,000 letters every week. Wilf says that it is this kind of support and backing from the public that has made his long and varied career possible.

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