George Jones Is Your Country Music Fact Of The Day
It’s still hard to believe that George Jones, who just may have been the greatest country singer ever, is no longer with us. But, thank goodness his memory lives forever….
Image was taken during the golden hour,just an hour before the sundown,of an acoustic guitar wich its chords leads people’s eye straight to the sunset.
It's still hard to believe that George Jones, who just may have been the greatest country singer ever, is no longer with us. But, thank goodness his memory lives forever.
Your Country Music Fact Of The Day is a George Jones Anniversary
On September 13, 2011, The Grand Ole Opry celebrated George Jones' 80th Birthday. The lineup paying tribute to George included Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, Joe Diffie, and The Oak Ridge Boys. It turns out that this night would be George Jones's last night on the Opry as his health was taken a turn for the worse. And George passed away on April 26, 2013.
What Did George Jones Mean To Country Music?
Everything. If you ask artists like Alan Jackson, Mark Chesnutt, Vince Gill, and others, they would tell you that George was the reason they ended up being Country Music Singers. When George first heard Alan Jackson sing, George thought an angel from heaven was singing. Once the two met, he made Alan promise him that he would keep playing traditional country music forever!
About George
George Jones was born on September 12, 1931, in Saratoga, Texas. And he was raised in Colmesneil, Texas, with his brother and five sisters in the Big Thicket region of southeast Texas. At age 7, George's mom and dad had saved enough money to buy a radio. When George heard the Grand Ole Opry for the first time, he fell in love with country music. His heroes were Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizell.
His music
George hit the country music scene in the early 50s. His first hit happened in 1955 with "Why Baby Why." His first number one song came in 1959. That song was "White Lightnin'." George was rumored to be so drunk the day he recorded it. It's said he had to sing it over 80 times. Then hits just kept coming over the next 50 years. Songs that would change country music forever. But none were bigger than "He Stopped Loving Her Today." This is a song George didn't wanna record because he thought it was too long, too sad, too depressing and that nobody would ever play it. He hated the melody and wouldn't learn it.
After the song was finished in the studio George said, "Nobody'll buy that morbid son of a bitch." Then, he walked out of the studio. He did give the song credit for reviving his career.
George Jones, The greatest country singer ever. With drugs, alcohol, and failed marriages, George Jones' life was a Country Song!
One Of The Greatest Days Of My Radio Life
Photo-Chris O'Kelley
