George Jones and some other classic Country singers pass on

This week country legend George Jones died. Considered by many to be the greatest male country singer of all time (Hank Williams Sr. doesn't count, because he's Hank, and so is Johnny Cash). Starting out as just another hyperactive Honky Tonk and Rockabilly singer (recording a rockabilly single, which he later disowned, under the name Thumper Jones), George Jones sang with a sobbing tenor on the verge of a nervous breakdown that would personify the Hurtin' Song for the Honky Tonks of the 1960's and 70's. He had a more modern style than the older nasal twang of the previous post war generation of Hank, Webb, Ernest and Hank Snow, and having an obvious influence on Buck Owens and Johnny Paycheck in particular. Jones was also able to absorb the new Nashville Sound with it's assembly line approach of syrupy back ground vocals and lush string laden production on the strength of his instantly recognizable voice. In a way he was the male Patsy Cline.

GEORGE JONES ~ "WHITE LIGHTNING";


Of course his county outlaw persona helped keep him from becoming another faceless product, especially since the image was largely real. Jones was not a rebel in the sense of being a bad-ass rebel without a clue, like his friend Johnny Paycheck say. Jones was by all accounts a nice, friendly, down-to-earth guy, but he did like to drink and popped a lot of pills. By the late 1960's his reputation for blowing off gigs by being too drunk or hungover had earned him the nick-name "No Show Jones". On one occasion he had to be carried off stage in a straight jacket after having a bizarre on-stage meltdown in which he stumbled and slurred, insulted the audience, forgot the words to his songs or the names of his band and launched into an extended imitation of Donald Duck.

GEORGE JONES ~ "WALK THROUGH THIS WORLD WITH ME";


He went through a few marriages (of course) including to Tammy Wynette, with whom he would record a number of hit duets. They would continue to do so even after their divorce. All the while he would continue to churn out the hits, always supported by his devoted fans.

GEORGE JONES ~ "SHE THINKS I STILL CARE";


By the 1990's he had quit, or at least cut back on the drinking and was still recording and touring up to a few years ago. He was 81.

GEORGE JONES ~ "HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY";


Gordon Stoker ~ Singer with 1950's & 1960's Country, Pop and Gospel vocal group The Jordanaires who sang with Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, ~ 88

THE JORDINAIRES ~ "SOMETHING WITHIN";


THE JORDINAIRES ~ "GREAT GETTING UP MORNING";


FARON YOUNG & THE JORDINAIRES ~ "THE SHRINE OF ST CECILIA";


Claude King ~ 1950's Country singer with classic hit "Wolverton Mountain" ~ 90

CLAUDE KING ~ "THE COMANCHEROS";


Jack Greene ~ 1960's & 70's Country singer with hits w/ "There Goes My Everything", "Statue of a Fool", "All The Time" ~ 83

JACK GREENE ~ "THERE GOES MY EVERYTHING";


Cal Smith ~ 1950's Country singer ("The Lord Knows I'm Drinking", "Country Bumpkin" ~ 81

CAL SMITH ~ "I TOOK HER FOR A FOOL";




BOB WILLS & TEXAS PLAYBOYS ~ "STAY A LITTLE LONGER";


BOB WILLS & THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS ~ "SITTIN' ON TOP OF THE WORLD";