George Jones

From New World Encyclopedia

George Jones
Jones performing in June 2002
Jones performing in June 2002
Background information
Birth name George Glenn Jones
Also known as The Possum
No Show Jones
Born September 12 1931 (1931-09-12) (age 92)
Origin Saratoga, Texas, USA
Died April 26 2013 (aged 81)
Genre(s) Country Music
Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter
Instrument(s) Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Years active 1954 – Present
Label(s) Starday (1954 - 1958)
Mercury (1958 - 1962)
United Artists (1962 - 1965)
Musicor (1965 - 1971)
Epic (1971 - 1991)
MCA Nashville (1991 - 1999)
Asylum (1999 - 2001)
Bandit (2001 - Present)
Website GeorgeJones.com
Members
Country Music Hall of Fame
Grand Ole Opry
Notable instrument(s)
Acoustic Guitar

George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 - April 26, 2013), was an award-winning American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his famous marriage to fellow country star Tammy Wynette. Frequently referred to during the last twenty years of his career as "the greatest living country singer," Jones' superb vocal control and expressiveness influenced many top singers of the current generation of male country stars.

Jones had 14 number-one hit singles, including "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "White Lightning," "Walk Through This World With Me," and "She Thinks I Still Care," as well as many top-selling duets, especially with his third wife, the late Tammy Wynette. In the 1970s, Jones and Wynette were the acknowledged "king and queen" of country music, singing about and exemplifying an ideal of marital love which, unfortunately, lacked the foundation of individual character to last. Indeed, through much of his long career, Jones made headlines as much for tales of his drinking, carousing, and temper as for his music.

Jones' career spanned more than 55 years during which he gained a host of awards and national recognition. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992, received the Grammy Hall of Fame award in 1998, and in 2002, he received the U.S. National Medal of Arts.

Early life

George Jones was born in Saratoga, Texas and raised in nearby Vidor, a few miles outside of Beaumont along with his brother and five sisters. Another sister died young before George was born. He was exposed to music from an early age through his parents' record collection and listening to the gospel music he heard in church. When George was seven, the Jones family bought a radio, which introduced George to the country music that would become his life. The gift of a guitar when Jones was a boy of nine soon saw him playing for tips on the streets of Beaumont.

Jones left home at 16 and headed for Jasper, Texas, where he found work singing and playing on a local radio station, later moving to KRIC in Beaumont. While there he briefly met his idol and greatest musical influence, Hank Williams, who had stopped by the station to promote a performance.

Before he was out of his teens, Jones married his first wife, Dorothy, but their union lasted less than a year. Jones then joined the United States Marine Corps and gained more musical experience singing in bars near his base in California.

Career

After leaving the Marines, Jones married his second wife, Shirley Ann Corley in 1954. He signed with Starday records and had his first hit in 1955: "Why Baby Why." The song, which he had co-written, reached number four on the Billboard country chart. Jones reached number three in 1956, with "Just One More." Moving to the Mercury label, he recorded several rockabilly sides using the moniker "Thumper Jones."

Jones' career really took off in 1959, when his "White Lightning," an up-tempo novelty number about drinking moonshine whiskey, reached number one. Two more number one hits followed in 1961, with "Tender Years" and "She Thinks I Still Care." These ballads displayed Jones' unique use of tonal control to produce an unrivaled expressiveness, establishing him as one of the top talents of the era.

He continued to score hits consistently after switching to Musicor label, often the Top Ten in the mid and late 60s. He also had a number of hit duets singles and albums on various labels with Melba Montgomery, Gene Pitney, and several other artists. In 1967, his ballad, "Walk Through This World With Me" was yet another number one hit.

Did you know?
George Jones and Tammy Wynette recorded many hit duets that made the couple the undisputed king and queen of country music

After divorcing in 1968, Jones married Tammy Wynette the following year, a partnership that led to many more hit duets and made the couple the unquestioned king and queen of country music and a major attraction when they performed together live. Jones followed Wynette to Epic Records, where producer Billy Sherrill further perfected his sound. Their duet "Take Me" reached number nine in 1972. They followed this with the smash hit "We're Gonna Hold On" in 1973, reaching number one together for the first time.

Jones had two more number one hit singles on his own in 1974: "The Grand Tour" and "The Door." Jones' marriage to Wynette ended in 1975, but their singing partnership continued to score successes. Their ironic duet "Golden Ring," detailing several poignant chapters in a failed young marriage, reached number one in 1976. The duo's classic love song, "Near You" did likewise in 1977, despite the paradox of the now divorced couple pledging their undying love in song. Several Jones-Wynette albums of this period were also huge successes.

Despite his identification with ballads and romantic duets, Jones also recorded a number of novelty songs which delighted audiences through the years from his first number one "White Lightning" to "The Race Is On," "Love Bug," the duets "We're Not The Jet Set" and "God's Gonna Getcha For That" with Wynette, and many others.

In 1980, Jones released "He Stopped Loving Her Today," one of his biggest hits. It was honored as best record of the year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, as well as a Grammy for best male country vocal performance. Jones was named CMA male vocalist of the year in 1980 and 1981.

In 1983, Jones married Nancy Sepulveda, who soon became his manager. In the 80s and 90s, Jones' reputation as a superb duet artist found him recording with such diverse singers as James Taylor, Johnny Paycheck (formerly Jones' singer partner in the "Jones Boys"), Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, Brenda Lee, Shelby Lynne, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, and Garth Brooks. The last three of these and many others of the younger generation of male country stars cited Jones as a major influence on their singing styles.

Jones moved to MCA Records in 1991, and in 1992 he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He soon produced a surprisingly successful video, "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair," as well as a hit album HighTech Redneck. His next offering was an acoustic album, The Bradley Barn Sessions, which also won critical acclaim, followed by a reunion album with Wynette entitled One, which proved that the couple could still both sing well as a couple and sell records together.

Jones career slowed in the later 90s as his drinking and carousing caused hims to miss many performances and solidified his reputation as "No Show Jones." However, his ' 1996 autobiography, I Lived to Tell It All, reached number six on the New York Times bestseller list. After a serious car crash in 1999, Jones released a reflective ballad entitled "Choices," which, while not a major hit, charted well and earned him another Grammy.

Jones has continued to be active in the new millennium, making numerous television appearances and recording the album The Rock: Stone Cold Country in 2001. In 2003, he released The Gospel Collection. His Hits I Missed… And One I Didn't (2005) featured songs Jones declined to record, but which became hits for the other artists, plus his own mega-hit "He Stopped Loving Her Today." In 2006, Jones and Merle Haggard collaborated on Kickin' Out the Footlights … Again.

Personal life

Despite being in his 70s, Jones continued his career as an active recording artist and toured extensively on the North American continent as well as overseas. His other projects included the George Jones "University" which is a twice-yearly training program for those wishing to learn about a career in the music business. Jones was also a partner in Bandit Records. In 2006, he was treated in a hospital for pneumonia but made a full recovery and continued with his touring schedule. The year 2008 marked Jones' fifty-fifth year recording country music.

Jones had two sons with his second wife, Shirley Ann Corley. Jones had one daughter, Georgette, with Tammy Wynette. Georgette Jones, now a published country singer in her own right, has performed on stage with her famous father. He married his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulveda, on March 4, 1983, in Woodville, TX. Jones credited Nancy for rescuing him from drinking, as well as cocaine consumption. He and Nancy owned a diner in Enterprise, Alabama, which is decorated with memorabilia from Jones' long career in the country-music business.

George Jones died early in the morning of April 26, 2013, at the age of 81. He had been hospitalized since April 18, 2013, at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville with fever and irregular blood pressure.

Legacy

Jones' gift of perfectly embodying a song's mood has been a key influence on numerous country artists. Other than his own idol, Hank Williams, he is cited more often by country singers as a major influence than any other artist. His duets with Tammy Wynette and others are among the best ever recorded, and his large catalog of solo albums and singles evidence his unique talent as a vocalist with superb range, control, sensitivity, and power.

His awards include:

  • Inclusion in the Walkway of Stars at the Country Music Hall Of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, 1970
  • Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "He Stopped Loving Her Today," 1980
  • Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, 1992
  • The Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music, 1993
  • Grammy Hall of Fame Award, 1998
  • U.S. National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment of the Arts, 2002
  • Ranked number three of the 40 Greatest Men of Country Music, CMT, 2003
  • Kennedy Center Honors, Washington, D.C., 2008.

Discography

Albums


Year Title US Country Billboard 200 Label RIAA
1957 Grand Ole Opry's New Star - - Starday -
1958 Hillbilly Hit Parade - - -
1958 Long Live King George - - -
1959 Country Church Time - - Mercury -
1959 White Lightning and Other Favorites - - -
1960 George Jones Salutes Hank Williams - - -
1962 Songs from the Heart - - -
1962 Sings Country and Western Hits - - -
1962 George Jones Sings Bob Wills - - United Artists -
1962 Homecoming in Heaven - - -
1962 My Favorites of Hank Williams - - -
1963 I Wish Tonight Would Never End - - -
1963 What's in Our Hearts (with Melba Montgomery) 3 - -
1964 A King & Two Queens (with Melba Montgomery and Judy Lynn) - - -
1964 Bluegrass Hootenanny (with Melba Montgomery) 12 - -
1964 George Jones Sings Like The Dickens! 6 - -
1965 Famous Country Duets
(with Gene Pitney and Melba Montgomery)
- - Musicor -
1965 George Jones and Gene Pitney:
For the First Time! Two Great Singers
(with Gene Pitney)
3 141 -
1965 George Jones and Gene Pitney (Recorded in Nashville!) (with Gene Pitney) - - -
1965 Mr. Country & Western Music 13 - -
1965 New Country Hits 5 - -
1965 Old Brush Arbors - - -
1966 Country Heart - - -
1966 I'm a People 1 - -
1966 It's Country Time Again! (with Gene Pitney) 17 - -
1966 Love Bug 7 - -
1966 We Found Heaven Right Here on Earth at "4033" 3 - -
1967 Hits by George 9 - -
1967 Walk Through This World with Me 2 - -
1968 If My Heart Had Windows 12 - -
1968 Sings the Songs of Dallas Frazier 14 - -
1969 I'll Share My World with You 5 185 -
1969 Where Grass Won't Grow 15 - -
1970 Will You Visit Me on Sunday? 44 - -
1971 George Jones with Love 9 - -
1971 George Jones Sings the Great Songs of Leon Payne 26 - -
1971 We Go Together (with Tammy Wynette) 3 169 Epic -
1972 A Picture of Me (Without You) 3 - -
1972 George Jones (We Can Make It) 10 - -
1972 Me and the First Lady (with Tammy Wynette) 6 - -
1972 We Love to Sing About Jesus (with Tammy Wynette) 38 - -
1973 Let's Build a World Together (with Tammy Wynette) 12 - -
1973 Nothing Ever Hurt Me (Half as Bad as Losing You) 12 - -
1973 We're Gonna Hold On (with Tammy Wynette) 3 - -
1974 In a Gospel Way 42 - -
1974 The Grand Tour 11 - -
1975 George & Tammy & Tina (with Tammy Wynette) 37 - -
1975 Memories of Us 43 - -
1976 Alone Again 9 - -
1976 Golden Ring (with Tammy Wynette) 1 - -
1976 The Battle 36 - -
1978 Bartender's Blues 34 - -
1979 My Very Special Guests (with various artists) 38 - -
1980 Double Trouble (with Johnny Paycheck) 45 - -
1980 I Am What I Am 7 132 Platinum
1981 Together Again (with Tammy Wynette) 26 - -
1981 Still the Same Ole Me 3 115 Gold
1982 A Taste of Yesterday's Wine (with Merle Haggard) - 123 -
1982 Anniversary - 10 Years Of Hits 16 - Gold
1983 Jones Country 27 - -
1983 Shine On 7 - -
1984 You've Still Got a Place in My Heart 17 - -
1984 Ladies' Choice 25 - -
1984 By Request 33 - -
1984 First Time Live 45 - -
1985 Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes? 6 - -
1986 Wine Colored Roses 5 - Gold
1987 Too Wild Too Long 14 - -
1987 Super Hits 26 - 2× Multi-Platinum
1989 One Woman Man 13 - -
1990 You Oughta Be Here with Me 35 - -
1991 Friends in High Places 72 - -
1991 And Along Came Jones 22 148 MCA -
1992 Walls Can Fall 24 77 Gold
1993 High Tech Redneck 30 124 Gold
1993 Super Hits, Volume 2 - - Epic -
1994 Bradley Barn Sessions (with various artists) 23 142 MCA -
1995 George and Tammy Super Hits (with Tammy Wynette) - - Epic Gold
1995 One (with Tammy Wynette) 12 117 MCA -
1996 I Lived to Tell It All 26 171 -
1998 It Don't Get Any Better Than This 37 - -
1998 16 Biggest Hits 50 - Epic Gold
1999 Cold Hard Truth 5 53 Asylum Gold
1999 Live With the Possum 72 - -
2001 The Rock: Stone Cold Country 2001 5 65 Bandit -
2003 The Gospel Collection 19 131 -
2004 50 Years Of Hits 20 118 Gold
2005 Hits I Missed…And One I Didn't 13 79 -
2006 God's Country: George Jones and Friends (with various artists) 58 - Category 5 -
2006 Kicking Out the Footlights...Again (with Merle Haggard) 25 119 Bandit -
2008 Burn Your Playhouse Down - The Unreleased Duets 15 79 -
2009 A Collection of My Best Recollection 22 88 Cracker Barrel -
2010 The Great Lost Hits 52 - Time Life -
2011 Hits 39 - Bandit -

Fourteen number-1 U.S. Country Hits

  1. "White Lightning" (1959)
  2. "Tender Years" (1961)
  3. "She Thinks I Still Care" (1962)
  4. "Walk Through This World With Me" (1967)
  5. "We're Gonna Hold On" (with Tammy Wynette) (1973)
  6. "The Grand Tour" (1974)
  7. "The Door" (1975)
  8. "Golden Ring" (with Tammy Wynette) (1976)
  9. "Near You" (with Tammy Wynette) (1977)
  10. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" (1980)
  11. "(I Was Country) When Country Wasn't Cool" (with Barbara Mandrell) (1981)
  12. "Still Doin' Time" (1981)
  13. "Yesterday's Wine" (with Merle Haggard) (1982)
  14. "I Always Get Lucky With You" (1983)

See also

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Dawidoff, Nicholas. In The Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music. New York: Vintage Books, 1998, ISBN 0-375-70082-X.
  • Jones, George, with Carter, Tom. I Lived to Tell it All. New York: Dell Publishing, 1997, ISBN 0-440-22373-3.
  • Malone, Bill C. Country Music U.S.A.. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1985, ISBN 0-292-71096-8.

External links

All links retrieved May 20, 2024.

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