There’s only a short list of names nominated when the familiar barroom or living-room debate over “Who’s the best country singer there’s ever been?” comes up. The man who’s so often the winner continues to headline over a hundred live dates a year (after more than 50 years of recording), still sounds like no one else at all, and, to this day, always makes time for regular appearances at the Opry. As you know, he’s called “The Possum.”
For his singularly expressive delivery of every syllable of some of country music’s great heartbreaking ballads, and his rousing attack on those grin-making novelty change-ups, George Jones has been justly honored.
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992, he was awarded the Academy of Country Music’s Pioneer Award that same year. In 2002, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence, in a ceremony at the White House.
People who keep track of numbers say that George has charted more singles in his extraordinary career, than any other artist in any music format. As the 2004 compilation George Jones: Fifty Years of Hits made plain in its three CDs, he had hit records in every decade of the second half of the 20th century. Now that’s popularity that’s lasted!
Born in southeast Texas near Beaumont, the eighth child in a poor family, George was introduced to music by his mother, a church pianist, and his truck-driver/pipefitter father, who played guitar. He was singing at age 9, playing guitar at 11, writing his songs at 12 – and had a regular spot on a
Jasper, Texas, radio station by 15.
The first of his long list of hits was the nearrockabilly “Why, Baby, Why” recorded at Starday Records in 1955. Two years later, he moved to Mercury, where he recorded “White Lightnin’,” (his fi rst No. 1), and such enduring classics as “The Window Up Above,” “She Th inks I Still Care,” “The Race Is On,” and “Walk Through This World With Me.”
In the tumultuous years in which George was married to Tammy Wynette, and they both recorded with Billy Sherrill at Epic Records, their perfect duets included “Golden Ring,” “We’re Gonna Hold On,” and “Two Story House.” George’s own new hits there included “Th e Grand Tour,” “The
Door”—and in 1980, the indelible “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” From “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” to “Choices” on 1999’s Grammy-winning 1999 Cold Hard Truth album and beyond, great George Jones records have not stopped arriving.
Through every twist and turn in country music fashion, his pre-eminent gifts have remained clear. In recent years, George has become a successful seller of everything from sausage to that family-friendly drink called “water,” but he’s never “sold” anybody a song. He’s lived in them.
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Ciao,George Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot, Band, and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis, I feel great admiration for you, be really one whom is worth rather a lot! I hope to listen soon to you, in italy .. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music all the best.. from italy.. and good life.. every day neal
Hey Thanks!!! Thanks a million for the friendship add!!! Much appreciated and I think you are the greatest. I play music with my sons and we have some songs on our band page (myspace.com/studiofamilybusiness). If you have a minute, check us out. We would be happy if you did. Thanks again, Steve
THANK YOU FOR MY FRIEND REQUEST !!! PLEASE LISTEN TO MY MUSIC AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK !! HOPE YOUR FRIENDS ADD ME AS WELL !!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!
Hey there George, your still hanging on...How about a little"Who's gonna fill them shoes,Who's gonna stand that tall" hell yes man i love the old hits...Check me out
I was thinking of you today when my grandson was watching Curious George on TV. I asked him what he was watching and he said he was watching George Jones. You want to come watch george Jones with me MawMaw? So now you know what my 2 yr. old grandson listens to while at MawMaw's. I love to hear him sing White Lightning with his guitar! LOL. I hope this brings a smile to your face like it did mine and you and Your Family have a great weekend. Keep singing we are still listening!!!!
Compilation CD is finished!!! Will begin mailing out to radio stations any day now!! Please come by my page and listen to “Angel Kisses” by “Delores Hershey”. I hope you will also add Delores at www.myspace.com/deloreshershey and listen to “I’ve Been Waiting For You” Both songs are on this CD.
Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy these 2 beautiful songs by “Delores Hershey”
My buddy George, my father died a couple months ago. He was 68. He adored you so much. At the funeral, I had downloaded your version of Amazing Grace to be played, but, it would not play. I was so broken hearted. HE ABSOLUTELY adored you. I had got him tickets for fathers day to see you at the West Virginia State Fair in 1999. He got your autograph and still has it. I would love for you to send my mother a picture of yourself autographing it to my father, Arthur Radford, like in memory of.....I would so love that. I don't ask for much in life, but, would love that, please. Thank You So Very Much!!!You can send me a message and I will give you the address.
I feel like I won the lottery ha ha,, Thanks for the add,, sending all my love 2 you and your family,, I have your signed picture to me on my wall,, LOVE YA,, Tanya
HEY GEORGE, HOW ARE YOU,WE ARE BIG FANS OF YOURS,ME & MY HUS, JESSIE,WE LOVE ALL YOUR SONGS, YOU ARE TRULY A CLASSIC,HOPE TO MEET YA IN DOTHAN ALA,,MY HOMETOWN AT COUNTRY CROSSING, CANT HARDLY WAIT,IT THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPEN TO DOTHAN ALABAMA,LOOKIN FORWARD TO SEEIN YOU& YOUR FAMILY & LOTS SINGERS TO,YOU TAKE CARE,YOUR FRIENDS,,ANN& JESSIE LOCKE...DOTHAN ALA.. THE HOME OF COUNTRY CROSSING.....
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