May 31: Songwriter Cindy Walker of Mexia remembered for ‘You Don’t Know Me’

Published 5:00 am Sunday, May 31, 2020

Mexia native Cindy Walker was one of the most successful songwriters in history.

 Beginning in the late 1930s she wrote songs over four decades that became hits for stars in pop, country, folk and R&B genres. 

Her best known song,  “You Don’t Know Me,” was a hit for Eddy Arnold and Jerry Vale (both in 1956), Lenny Welsch (1960), Ray Charles (1962), Elvis (1968) and Mickey Gilley (1981).  

By some estimates, the song has been recorded more than 100 times by artists, including Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson.

 In the Spotlight

— 2016: Tyler native Jon Ray hosts an episode of the TV show “Ghost Talk.”

— 2015 At the Emmy Awards, Jacksonville native Margo Martindale wins Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series (“The Americans”).

— 2014: Grand Saline native Chris Tomlin’s “Waterfall” peaks at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. 

— 2013: Marshall native Brea Grant appears in an episode of “Maron.”

— 2011: Jacksonville native Margo Martindale wins an Emmy for her role Mags Bennett on “Justified.”

— 1996: Greenville native Doug Jackson appears in the movie “Carried Away.”

— 1996: Edwin Neal, who attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, voices Dr. Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie.”

— 1996: Basketball great Larry Johnson, a native of Tyler, appears in the movie “Eddie.”

— 1991: Richard Bradford, who was born in Tyler, is seen in “Ambition” starring Lou Diamond Phillips. 

— 1985: Groesbeck native Joe Don Baker stars in “Fletch” with Chevy Chase.

— 1971: Mount Vernon native Don Meredith is a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

— 1947: Wills Point native Lee “Lasses” White stars in “Song of the Wasteland.”

— 1935: Longview native Jean Howard appears in “Break of Hearts” starring Katherine Hepburn and Charles Boyer.