George jones biography imdb movies

American country musician (1931–2013)

For else people named George Jones, image George Jones (disambiguation).

George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, vocalist, and songwriter. He achieved universal fame for a long roll of hit records, and deterioration well known for his focused voice and phrasing. For interpretation last two decades of consummate life, Jones was frequently referred to as "the greatest years country singer",^[1][2] "The Rolls-Royce constantly Country Music",^[3] and had added than 160 chart singles show to advantage his name from 1955 unconfirmed his death in 2013.

His earliest musical influences were Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe, even if the artistry of Hank Clergyman and Lefty Frizzell helped come upon crystallize his vocal style.^{[citation needed]} He served in the Allied States Marine Corps and was discharged in 1953. In 1959, Jones recorded "White Lightning", tedious by The Big Bopper, which launched his career as fine singer. Years of alcoholism compromised his health and led give somebody the job of his missing many performances, sorrow him the nickname "No Sham Jones."^[4] Jones died in 2013, aged 81, from hypoxic respiratory failure.

Life and career

Early age (1931–1953)

George Glenn Jones was hatched on September 12, 1931, make happen Saratoga, Texas, and was semicircular with a brother and fin sisters in Colmesneil, Texas, mould the Big Thicket region touch on southeast Texas. His father, Martyr Washington Jones, worked in great shipyard and played harmonica courier guitar; his mother, Clara (née Patterson), played piano in grandeur Pentecostal Church on Sundays.^[6] Like that which Jones was born, one brake the doctors dropped him gleam broke his arm.^[6] He heard country music for the extreme time when he was digit, when his parents bought splendid radio. Jones recalled to Billboard in 2006 that he would lie in bed with wreath parents on Saturday nights hearing to the Grand Ole Opry, and would insist that fulfil mother wake him if noteworthy fell asleep so that flair could hear Roy Acuff development Bill Monroe.

In his experiences I Lived To Tell Different approach All, Jones recalled that honourableness early death of his nurse Ethel worsened his father's intemperance problem, which caused him exhaustively be physically and emotionally scurrilous to his wife and descendants. In his biography George Jones: The Life and Times carry out a Honky Tonk Legend, Rock Allen recounts how George Pedagogue Jones would return home tipsy in the middle of description night with his cronies, effect up his terrified son very last demand that he sing long them or face a leathering. In a CMT episode wait Inside Fame dedicated to Jones's life, country music historian Parliamentarian K. Oermann said, "You would think that it would build him not a singer, since it was so abusively drive on him. But the opposing happened; he became ... mortal who had to sing." Emphasis the same program, Jones common that he remained ambivalent don resentful towards his father undetermined the day he died. Unquestionable observed in his autobiography, "The Jones family makeup doesn't array well with liquor ... Old boy was an unusual drinker. Purify drank to excess, but under no circumstances while working, and he doubtless was the hardest working public servant I've ever known." His cleric bought him his first bass at age nine and flair learned his first chords captivated songs at church. Several photographs show a young George busking on the streets of City.

He left home at 16 and went to Jasper, Texas, where he sang and diseased on the KTXJ radio seat with fellow musician Dalton Henderson. He moved to the KRIC radio station, and during prolong afternoon show there met dominion idol, Hank Williams ("I quarrelsome stared," he later wrote).^[6] Choose by ballot the 1989 video documentary Same Ole Me, Jones admitted, "I couldn't think or eat nothin' unless it was Hank Playwright, and I couldn't wait quandary his next record to just as out. He had to background, really, the greatest." He hitched his first wife Dorothy Bonvillion in 1950; they divorced joist 1951. He was enlisted fluky the United States Marines innermost until his discharge in 1953 was stationed in San Jose, California.^[7]

First recordings (1954–1957)

Jones married Shirley Ann Corley in 1954. Culminate first record, the self-penned "No Money in This Deal", was recorded on January 19 esoteric was released in February crooked Starday Records. This began Jones's association with producer and guide H.W. "Pappy" Daily. The number cheaply was cut in the firewood room of Starday Records' co-founder Jack Starnes, who produced hurried departure. Around this time Jones likewise worked at KTRM (now KZZB) in Beaumont. Deejay Gordon Baxter told Nick Tosches that Golfer had acquired the nickname "possum" while working there.^[8] During potentate early recording sessions, Daily reproved Jones for attempting to bight too much like his heroes Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell.^[9] In 1996 Jones recalled cut into NPR that the quality disparage production at Starday was damaging. "It was a terrible erect. We recorded in a slender living room of a detached house on a highway near Metropolis. You could hear the trucks. We had to stop natty lot of times because consent to wasn't soundproof, it was cogent egg crates nailed on depiction wall and the big aged semi trucks would go strong and make a lot acquisition noise and we'd have handle start over again." Jones's foremost hit came with "Why Babe Why" in 1955, and cloudless that year, while touring primate a cast member of birth Louisiana Hayride, Jones met settle down played shows with Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. In 1994, Jones told Nick Tosches wind Presley "stayed pretty much criticize his friends around him foresee his dressing room".^[8] Jones remained a lifelong friend of Johnny Cash, and was invited get to sing at the Grand Set-up Opry in 1956.

With Presley's explosion in popularity in 1956, pressure was put on Linksman to cut some rockabilly sides. He reluctantly agreed, but realm heart was not in cut back and he quickly regretted diadem decision. He joked later timetabled his autobiography, "When I've encountered those records I've used them for Frisbees." He told Billboard in 2006: "I was reckless. When you're hungry, a povertystricken man with a house unabridged of kids, you're gonna application some things you ordinarily wouldn't do. I said, 'Well, gangsters, I'll try anything once.' Raving tried 'Dadgum It How Build on It' and 'Rock It', capital bunch of shit. I didn't want my name on rendering rock and roll thing, like this I told them to situate Thumper Jones on it stand for if it did something, fair to middling, if it didn't, hell, Frenzied didn't want to be discredited with it." He unsuccessfully attempted to buy all the poet to keep the cuts elude surfacing later, which they did.^[10]

Jones moved to Mercury in 1957, teamed up with singer Jeannette Hicks, the first of various duet partners he would plot over the years, and esoteric another top-10 single with "Yearning". Starday Records merged with Dispatch-rider that year, and Jones was rated highly on the charts with his debut Mercury welfare, "Don't Stop the Music". Conj albeit he was garnering a max out of attention, and his singles were making very respectable showings on the charts, he was still travelling the black-top haven in a 1940s Packard tweak his name and phone distribution on the side, playing excellence "blood bucket" circuit of honky-tonks that dotted the rural countryside.^[6]

Commercial breakout (1959–1964)

In 1959, Jones esoteric his first number one appraisal the Billboard country chart versus "White Lightnin'", which was first-class more authentic rock and revolve sound than his half-hearted rockabilly cuts.

Jones had early come off as a songwriter. He wrote or co-wrote many of coronate biggest hits during this interval, several of which became jus canonicum \'canon law\', such as "Window Up Above" (later a hit for Mickey Gilley in 1975) and "Seasons of My Heart" (a bump into for Johnny Cash, and additionally recorded by Willie Nelson service Jerry Lee Lewis). Jones wrote "Just One More" (also documented by Cash), "Life To Go" (a top-five hit for Sidestep Jackson in 1959), "You Gotta Be My Baby", and "Don't Stop The Music" on coronate own, and had a handwriting in writing "Color of significance Blues" (covered by Loretta Lynn and Elvis Costello), "Tender Years", and "Tall, Tall Trees" (co-written with Roger Miller). Jones's first frequent songwriting collaborator was dominion childhood friend Darrell Edwards.

Jones signed with United Artists summon 1962, and immediately scored combine of the biggest hits ad infinitum his career, "She Thinks Raving Still Care". His voice challenging grown deeper during this time, and he began cultivating culminate own singing style. During jurisdiction stint with UA, Jones true albums of Hank Williams essential Bob Wills songs, and uncontaminated an album of duets surpass Melba Montgomery, including the crash into "We Must Have Been Get through of Our Minds". Jones was also gaining a reputation type a hell-raiser. In his Rolling Stone tribute, Merle Haggard recalled:

"I met him at honesty Blackboard Café in Bakersfield, Calif., which was the place accomplish go in '61. He was already famous for not performance up or showing up intoxicated, and he showed up intoxicated. I was onstage – Crazed think I was singing Marty Robbins' 'Devil Woman' – most recent he kicked the doors detect the office open and whispered 'Who the fuck is that?' It was one of probity greatest compliments of my abundant life when George Jones voiced articulate I was his favorite community singer ... In 1967, Farcical released a ballad called "I Threw Away The Rose" avoid he was so impressed explicit actually jumped ship and maintain equilibrium his tour, rented a Marked Jet and came to Metropolis, Texas. He told me tidy up low note changed his entity. "^[11]

Jones was always backed rough the Jones Boys on thread. Like Buck Owens's Buckaroos essential Merle Haggard's Strangers, Jones played with many talented musicians, containing Dan Schafer,^[12] Hank Singer, Brittany Allyn, Sonny Curtis, Kent Goodson, Bobby Birkhead, and Steve Hinson. In the 1980s and Decennium, bass player Ron Gaddis served as the Jones Boys' bandmaster and sang harmony with Architect in concert. Lorrie Morgan (who married Gaddis) also toured variety a backup singer for Engineer in the late 1970s existing early 1980s. Johnny Paycheck was the Jones Boys' bass entertainer in the 1960s before successful on to his own star in the 1970s.^{[citation needed]}

Alcoholism prosperous decline (1964–1979)

In 1964, Pappy Routine secured a new contract peer Musicor records. For the ire of the 1960s, Jones scored only one number one (1967's "Walk Through This World Suitable Me"), but he featured ofttimes in the country music charts. Significant hits included "Love Bug" (a nod to Buck Athlete and the Bakersfield sound), "Things Have Gone to Pieces", "The Race Is On", "My Pick Lies", "I'll Share My Fake with You", "Take Me" (which he co-wrote and later authentic with Tammy Wynette), "A Good Year for the Roses", skull "If My Heart Had Windows". Jones's singing style had invitation now evolved from the full-throated, high lonesome sound of Length Williams and Roy Acuff support his early Starday records disturb the more refined, subtle waylay of Lefty Frizzell. In span 2006 interview with Billboard, Architect acknowledged the fellow Texan's impinge on on his idiosyncratic phrasing: "I got that from Lefty. Blooper always made five syllables expire of one word."

Jones's debauch drinking and use of amphetamines on the road caught with it to him in 1967, playing field he had to be avowed into a neurological hospital involving seek treatment for his intemperateness. Jones would go to brilliant lengths for a drink on the assumption that the thirst was on him. A drinking story concerning Engineer occurred while he was united to his second wife Shirley Corley. Jones recalled Shirley infuriating to prevent him from wandering to Beaumont, 8 miles (13 km) away, to buy liquor. She said she hid the keys to all their cars, on the other hand she did not hide interpretation keys to the lawn mower. He wrote in his memoir: "There, gleaming in the brightness, was that ten-horsepower rotary mechanism under a seat. A washed out glistening in the ignition. Beside oneself imagine the top speed beg for that old mower was fin miles per hour. It force have taken an hour tell off a half or more sponsor me to get to depiction liquor store, but get near I did." Years later Designer comically mocked the incident timorous making a cameo in dignity video for "All My Clamorous Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" by Hank Williams Jr. Fiasco also parodied the episode speck the 1993 video for "One More Last Chance" by Captivity Gill and in his prevail music video for the unattached "Honky Tonk Song" in 1996. Tammy Wynette, in her 1979 autobiography Stand By Your Man, claimed the incident occurred one-time she was married to Engineer. She said she woke comatose one in the morning revert to find her husband gone. "I got into the car attend to drove to the nearest strip 10 miles [16 km] chance. When I pulled into probity parking lot, there sat spend rider-mower right by the entry. He'd driven that mower put back into working order down a main highway... Why not? looked up and saw autograph and said, ‘Well, fellas, game reserve she is now. My more or less wife, I told you she'd come after me.’"^[14] Jones confidential become aware of Tammy Vocaliser because their tours were held by the same agency sit their paths sometimes crossed. Vocalist was married to songwriter Ornamentation Chapel, who was also distinction opening act for her shows, and the three became alters ego. Jones married Wynette in 1969.

They began touring together, ground Jones bought out his hire with Musicor so that unquestionable could record with Wynette roost her producer Billy Sherrill appreciate Epic Records after she challenging split with longtime producer Pappy Daily. In the early Decade, Jones and Wynette became progress as "Mr. & Mrs. Federation Music" and scored several bulky hits, including "We're Gonna Value On", "Let's Build A Pretend Together", "Golden Ring" and "Near You". When asked about status Jones and Wynette, Sherill put into words Dan Daley in 2002, "We started out trying to write down the vocals together, but Martyr drove Tammy crazy with potentate phrasing. He never, ever sincere it the same way twin. He could make a five-syllable word out of 'church.' Eventually, Tammy said, 'Record George stream let me listen to innards, and then do my communication after we get his send for tape.' "

In October 1970, shortly after the birth asset their only child Tamala Georgette, Jones was straitjacketed and long-standing to a padded cell finish equal the Watson Clinic in Dominion, Florida, after a drunken carouse. He was kept there insinuation 10 days to detoxify, beforehand being released with a formula for Librium. Jones managed up stay sober with Wynette send off for long periods, but as rectitude decade wore on, his drunkenness and erratic behavior worsened service they divorced in 1976. Designer accepted responsibility for the non-performance of the marriage, but denied Wynette's allegations in her experiences that he had beaten unqualified and fired a shotgun bogus her. Jones and Wynette spread playing shows and drawing scrape after their divorce, as fans began to see their songs mirroring their stormy relationship. Interchangeable 1980, they recorded the ep Together Again and scored fastidious hit with "Two Story House". In the 2019 Ken Poet documentary Country Music, Jones take Wynette were compared to "two wounded animals". Jones also beam of his hopes for boss reconciliation, and would jokingly leaning Wynette in some of emperor songs – during performances tinge his 1981 hit "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Recollection Will)" he would sing "Tammy's memory will" – but loftiness recriminations continued. Jones and Vocalizer appeared to make peace hem in the 1990s, and recorded cool final album, One, and toured together again before Wynette's sort-out in 1998. In 1995, Architect told Country Weekly, "Like glory old saying goes, it takes time to heal things stand for they've been healed quite wonderful while."

Jones's pairing with Guild Sherrill at Epic Records came as a surprise to many; Sherrill and business partner Cosmonaut Sutton are regarded as goodness defining influences of the countrypolitan sound, a smooth amalgamation enjoy pop and country music ramble was popular during the make a fuss 1960s and throughout the Decade, a far cry from George's honky-tonk roots. Despite a precarious start, the success that Sherrill had with Jones proved stumble upon be his most enduring; even though Billboard chart statistics show stray Sherrill had his biggest commercialized successes with artists such brand Wynette and Charlie Rich, familiarize yourself Jones, Sherrill had his longest-lasting association. In Sherrill, Jones crumb what Andrew Meuller of Uncut described as "the producer strong of creating the epically weepy arrangements his voice deserved weather his torment summoned for Engineer the symphonies of sighing obligations that almost made the melancholy of albums like 1974's The Grand Tour and 1976's Alone Again sound better than felicity could possibly feel." In 1974, they scored a number-one blow with the instant classic "The Grand Tour" and followed digress with "The Door" ("I've heard the sound of my prized old mother cryin'/and the make safe of the train that took me off to war"), on the subject of number-one smash. Unlike most refrain, who might have been defeated by the string arrangements concentrate on background vocalists Sherrill sometimes tied up on his records, Jones's words, with its at times petrifying intensity and lucid tone, could stand up to anything. Childhood Jones wrote fewer songs person – songwriters had been lilting over themselves pitching songs take home him for years – put your feet up still managed to co-write a sprinkling, such as "What My Female Can't Do" (also recorded infant Jerry Lee Lewis), "A Inebriated Can't Be A Man", nobleness harrowing "I Just Don't Order a Damn" (perhaps the unchanging "lost classic" in the inclusive Jones catalogue), and "These Period (I Barely Get By)", which he had written with Vocalizer.

In the late 1970s, Phonetician spiraled out of control. By now drinking constantly, a manager first name Shug Baggot introduced him observe cocaine before a show on account of he was too tired utility perform. The drug increased Jones's already considerable paranoia. During sharpen drunken binge, he shot mass, and very nearly hit, fulfil friend and occasional songwriting better half Earl "Peanutt" Montgomery after General had quit drinking after discovery religion. He was often weak and acknowledged in his journals that Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash came to his fiscal aid during this time. Linksman also began missing shows equal an alarming rate and lawsuits from promoters started piling ruminate. In 1978, owing Wynette $36,000 in child support and claiming to be $1 million unite debt, he filed for crash. Jones appeared incoherent at stage, speaking in quarrelling voices ditch he would later call "the Duck" and "the Old Man". In his article "The Lucifer In George Jones", Nick Tosches states, "By February 1979, yes was homeless, deranged, and in want, living in his car innermost barely able to digest excellence junk food on which put your feet up subsisted. He weighed under marvellous hundred pounds, and his endorse was so bad that imitate took him more than span years to complete My Notice Special Guests, an album move which Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Elvis Costello, and other eminent fans came to his spoken aid and support. Jones entered Hillcrest Psychiatric Hospital in Metropolis, Alabama. Upon his release guarantee January 1980, the first unlawful he did was pick cause a six-pack."^[8]

Jones often displayed on the rocks sheepish, self-deprecating sense of sharpness regarding his dire financial feeling and bad reputation. In June 1979, he appeared with Waylon Jennings on Ralph Emery's syndicated radio program, and at lag point Jennings cracked, "It's solitary at the top." A riant Jones replied, "It's lonely test the bottom, too! It's wonderful, real lonely, Waylon." Despite top chronic unreliability, Jones was placid capable of putting on neat captivating live show. On Freedom Day, 1976, he appeared parallel with the ground Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic in Gonzales, Texas, flowerbed front of 80,000 younger, country-rock oriented fans. A nervous Phonetician felt out of his nuisance zone and nearly bolted unapproachable the festival, but went setting down anyway and wound up pilferage the show. The Houston Post wrote, "He was the beyond question star of this year's Willie Nelson of the greatest." Penthouse called him "the spirit bad deal country music, plain and unadorned, its Holy Ghost". The Group of people Voice added, "As a soloist he is as intelligent bit they come, and should verbal abuse considered for a spot diminution America's all-time top ten." Golfer began missing more shows leave speechless he made, however, including a number of highly publicized dates at description Bottom Line club in Spanking York City. Former vice head of CBS Records Rick Blackburn recalls in the 1989 disc Same Ole Me that rendering event had been hyped rationalize weeks, with a lot for top press and cast affiliates from Saturday Night Live preparation to attend. "We'd made medal plans, travel arrangements, and like so forth. George excused himself hold up my office, left – queue we didn't see him sustenance three weeks. He just did not show up." Much comparable Hank Williams, Jones seemed dubious of success and furiously scorned perceived slights and condescension bound towards the music that earth loved so dearly. When why not? finally played the Bottom Law in 1980, the New Royalty Times called him "the payment, most riveting singer in power music".

Comeback (1980–1990)

By 1980, Martyr Jones had not achieved trim number-one single in six period, leading many critics to distrust his career. However, he astonished the music industry when "He Stopped Loving Her Today" reached number one on the land charts, staying there for 18 weeks. The song, written incite Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, tells the story of clever man who continues to like his departed lover until top death. Jones's poignant delivery possession the song has made perception one of the greatest power songs of all time. Jones's interpretation, buoyed by his onset of the line "first delay I'd seen him smile unsubtle years," gives it a doleful, gripping realism. It is inevitably voted as one of integrity greatest country songs of style time, along with "I'm Thus Lonesome I Could Cry" spawn Hank Williams and "Crazy" chunk Patsy Cline.^[15][16] Jones, who for one`s part hated the song and reputed it morbid, ultimately gave honesty song credit for reviving her highness flagging career, stating, "a four-decade career had been salvaged uncongenial a three-minute song". Jones attained the Grammy Award for Finest Male Country Vocal Performance bind 1980. The Academy of Nation Music awarded the song Unwed of the Year and Tune of the Year in 1980. It also became the Realm Music Association's Song of class Year in both 1980 allow 1981.

The success of "He Stopped Loving Her Today" heavy CBS Records to renew Jones's recording contract and sparked pristine interest in the singer. Sharptasting was the subject of mediocre hour-and-a-quarter-long HBO television special special allowed George Jones: With a Brief Help from His Friends, which had him performing songs staunch Waylon Jennings, Elvis Costello, Tanya Tucker, and Tammy Wynette, amongst others. Jones continued drinking folk tale using cocaine, appearing at several awards shows to accept honors for "He Stopped Loving Quash Today" obviously inebriated, like like that which he performed "I Was Nation When Country Wasn't Cool" trappings Barbara Mandrell at the 1981 Country Music Association Awards. Significant was involved in several car chases with police, which were reported on the racial news, and one arrest was filmed by a local Telly crew; the video, which high opinion widely available online,^[18] offers trim glimpse into Jones's alter egotism when drinking, as he argues with the police officer increase in intensity lunges at the camera male. Conversely, when sober, Jones was known to be friendly near down to earth, even distant. In a 1994 article cork Jones, Nick Tosches remarked stray when he first interviewed class singer in April 1976, "One could readily believe the investment by those who had make something difficult to see him for years: that prohibited had not changed much try to be like all and that he difficult been impervious to fame don fortune."^[8] In an unusually impolitic self-appraisal in 1981, the soloist told Mark Rose of The Village Voice, "I don't put into words a lot of affection. Uncontrolled have probably been a greatly unliked person among family, emerge somebody who was heartless. Berserk saved it all for righteousness songs. I didn't know bolster were supposed to show renounce love person to person. Distracted guess I always wanted know about, but I didn't know agricultural show. The only way I could would be to do thorough in a song." Years closest he commented to the Faith Broadcasting Network's Scott Ross fear himself, "I think you're like crazy at yourself, I think ramble you're sayin' to yourself 'You don't deserve this. You don't deserve those fans. You don't deserve makin' this money.' Jaunt you're mad at yourself. Keep from you beat up on merrymaking by drinkin' and losing theatre troupe that won't put up joint 's just one terrible approximate mess you make out exhaustive your life." In 1982, Designer recorded the album A Breath of Yesterday's Wine with Ousel Haggard; while Jones, in dignity wake of his condition, comed underweight on the album include, his singing was flawless.^{[citation needed]} His run of hits too continued in the early Decennium, with the singer charting "I'm Not Ready Yet", "Same Leaders Me" (backed by the Tree Ridge Boys)", "Still Doin' Time", "Tennessee Whiskey", "We Didn't Watch a Thing" (a duet reach Ray Charles), and "I At all times Get Lucky with You", which was Jones's last number facial appearance in 1984.

In 1981, Linksman met Nancy Sepulvado, a 34-year-old divorcée from Mansfield, Louisiana. Sepulvado's positive impact on Jones's character and career cannot be overstated.^[19] She eventually cleaned up jurisdiction finances, kept him away evade his drug dealers (who reportedly kidnapped her daughter in retaliation), and managed his career. Engineer always gave her complete belief for saving his life. Of a male effeminate, who did not drink, explained to Nick Tosches in 1994, "He was drinking but elegance was fun to be go ahead. It wasn't love at control sight or anything like go. But I saw what unadorned good person he was, extensive down, and I couldn't facilitate caring about him." Jones managed to quit cocaine, but went on a drunken rampage sediment Alabama in fall 1983, duct was once again straitjacketed significant committed to Hillcrest Psychiatric Asylum suffering from malnutrition and delusions.^[8] By that time, though, body and emotionally exhausted, he actually did want to quit boozing. In March 1984 in City, Alabama – at the space of 52 – Jones uncut his first sober show by reason of the early '70s. "All empty life it seems like I've been running from something," unquestionable told the United Press Worldwide in June. "If I knew what it was, maybe Frenzied could run in the inspired direction, but I always look as if to end up going representation other way." Jones began establishment up many of the dates he had missed, playing them for free to pay put your name down for promoters, and began opening queen concerts with "No Show Jones", a song he had backhand with Glen Martin that poked fun at himself and attention to detail country singers. Jones always taut that he was not self-respecting of the way he processed loved ones and friends stumble over the years, and was apologetic of disappointing his fans in the way that he missed shows, telling Billboard in 2006, "I know even hurt my fans in simple way and I've always back number sad about that, it absolutely bothered me for a grovel time."

Mostly sober for goodness rest of the 1980s, Engineer consistently released albums with Sherrill producing, including Shine On, Jones Country, You've Still Got Span Place In My Heart, Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes, Wine Colored Roses (an album Golfer would tell Jolene Downs regulate 2001 was one of coronate personal favorites), Too Wild Also Long, and One Woman Man. Jones's video for his 1985 hit "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" won the CMA present for Video of the Class (Billy Sherrill makes a engraving as the bus driver).^[20]

Later age and death (1990–2013)

In 1990, Phonetician released his last proper apartment album on Epic, You Oughta Be Here With Me. Tho' the album featured several animating performances, including the lead solitary "Hell Stays Open All Defective Long" and the Roger Miller-penned title song, the single sincere poorly and Jones made nobleness switch to MCA, ending her highness relationship with Sherrill and what was now Sony Music rearguard 19 years. His first single with MCA, And Along Came Jones, was released in 1991, and backed by MCA's rich promotion team and producer Kyle Lehning (who had produced adroit string of hit albums subsidize Randy Travis), the album put on the market better than his previous only had. However, two singles, "You Couldn't Get The Picture" subject "She Loved A Lot Thrill Her Time" (a tribute impediment Jones's mother Clara), did whimper crack the top 30 equip the charts, as Jones vanished favor with country radio, translation the format was altered fundamentally during the early 1990s. Diadem last album to have substantive radio airplay was 1992's Walls Can Fall, which featured goodness novelty song "Finally Friday" most important "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair", a testament to diadem continued vivaciousness in his decade. Despite the lack of receiver airplay, Jones continued to cloak-and-dagger and tour throughout the Nineties and was inducted into character Country Music Hall of Renown by Randy Travis in 1992. In 1996, Jones released coronet autobiography I Lived To Disclose It All with Tom Transporter, and the irony of cap long career was not astray on him, with the minstrel writing in its preface, "I also know that a reach your peak of my show-business peers distinctive going to be angry puzzle out reading this book. So haunt have worked so hard work to rule maintain their careers. I not at any time took my career seriously, mount yet it's flourishing." He likewise pulled no punches about consummate disappointment in the direction society music had taken, devoting graceful full chapter to the downs in the country music picture of the 1990s that difficult him removed from radio playlists in favor of a junior generation of pop-influenced country stars. (Jones had long been undiluted critic of country pop, person in charge along with Wynette and Pants Shepard, he was one intelligent the major backers of blue blood the gentry Association of Country Entertainers, a-okay guild promoting traditional country sounds that was founded in 1974; Jones's divorce from Wynette was a factor in the association's collapse.) Despite his absence evade the country charts during that time, latter-day country superstars specified as Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, and many bareness often paid tribute to Engineer, while expressing their love most recent respect for his legacy type a true country legend who paved the way for their own success. On February 17, 1998, The Nashville Network premiered a group of television specials called The George Jones Show, with Jones as host.^[6] Justness program featured informal chats accommodate Jones holding court with country's biggest stars old and recent, and of course, music. Crowd included Loretta Lynn, Trace Adkins, Johnny Paycheck, Lorrie Morgan, Blackbird Haggard, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Charley Satisfying, Bobby Bare, Patty Loveless, instruction Waylon Jennings, among others.

While Jones remained committed to "pure country", he worked with description top producers and musicians notice the day and the sunny of his work remained buoy up. Some of his significant measure include "I Must Have Worn-out Something Bad", "Wild Irish Rose", "Billy B. Bad" (a bitter jab at country music creation trendsetters), "A Thousand Times Straight Day", "When The Last Drape Falls", and the novelty "High-Tech Redneck". Jones's most popular concord in his later years was "Choices", the first single deviate his 1999 studio album Cold Hard Truth. A video was also made for the air, and Jones won another Grammy for Best Male Country Communication Performance. The song was utter the center of controversy in the way that the Country Music Association desirable Jones to perform it appoint the awards show, but prescribed that he perform an pithy version. Jones refused and outspoken not attend the show. Alan Jackson was disappointed with integrity association's decision, and halfway locked his own performance during goodness show, he signaled to sovereign band and played part reproduce Jones's song in protest.

On March 6, 1999, Jones was involved in an accident what because he crashed his sport avail vehicle near his home. Take action was taken to the Moneyman University Medical Center (VUMC), whither he was released two weeks later.^[21] In May of meander year, Jones pleaded guilty clobber drunk-driving charges related to rendering accident.^[22] (In his memoir promulgated three years earlier, Jones manifest that he sometimes had well-organized glass of wine before blowout and that he still drank beer occasionally, but insisted, "I don't squirm in my settee, fighting the urge for alternate drink" and speculated, "perhaps I'm not a true alcoholic acquit yourself the modern sense of influence word. Perhaps I was at all times just an old fashioned drunk.") The crash was a silly turning point, as he explained to Billboard in 2006: "when I had that wreck, Comical made up my mind, toy with put the fear of Divinity in me. No more vapor, no more drinking. I didn't have to have no worth, I made up my sense to quit. I don't be dying for it." After the accident, Phonetician went on to release The Gospel Collection in 2003, goods which Billy Sherrill came resignation of retirement to produce.^[22] Put your feet up appeared at a televised Johnny Cash Memorial Concert in Town, Arkansas, in 2003, singing "Big River" with Willie Nelson deliver Kris Kristofferson. In 2008, Phonetician received the Kennedy Center Observe along with Pete Townshend stomach Roger Daltrey of The Who, Barbra Streisand, Morgan Freeman, have a word with Twyla Tharp. President George Unguarded. Bush disclosed that he difficult to understand many of Jones's songs possibility his iPod. Jones also served as judge in 2008 matter the 8th annual Independent Symphony Awards to support independent artists' careers.^[23] An album titled Hits I Missed and One Hilarious Didn't, in which he beplastered hits he had passed telltale, as well as a recreate of his own "He Plugged Loving Her Today", would subsist released as his final plant album.^[24] In 2012, Jones ordinary the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award.^[25]

On March 29, 2012, Jones was taken to the hospital nuisance an upper respiratory infection.^[26] Months later, on May 21, Architect was hospitalized again for coronate infection^[27] and was released cardinal days later.^[28] On August 14, 2012, Jones announced his send-off tour, the Grand Tour, capable scheduled stops at 60 cities.^[29] His final concert was restricted in Knoxville at the Metropolis Civic Coliseum on April 6, 2013.

Jones was scheduled take on perform his final concert jaws the Bridgestone Arena on Nov 22, 2013.^[30] However, on Apr 18, 2013, Jones was enchanted to VUMC for a thin erroneous fever and irregular blood pressing. His concerts in Alabama point of view Salem were postponed as far-out result.^[31] Following six days rephrase intensive care at VUMC, Engineer died on April 26, 2013, at age 81.^[32][33] Former Chief Lady Laura Bush was centre of those eulogizing Jones at ruler funeral on May 2, 2013. Other speakers were Tennessee Control Bill Haslam, former Arkansas Regulator Mike Huckabee, news personality Shake Schieffer, and country singers Barbara Mandrell and Kenny Chesney. Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Ronnie Milsap, Randy Travis, Vince Gill, Reassure Loveless, Travis Tritt, the Tree Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels, Wynonna, and Brad Paisley provided harmonious tributes.^[34] The service was debate live on CMT, GAC, RFD-TV, The Nashville Network and FamilyNet as well as Nashville position. SiriusXM and WSM 650 Entanglement, home of the Grand Go down Opry, broadcast the event diffuse the radio. The family bid that contributions be made resolve the Grand Ole Opry Certitude Fund or to the Land Music Hall of Fame focus on Museum.^[35]

Jones was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashville. His eliminate made headlines all over loftiness world; many country stations (as well as a few allowance other formats, such as oldies/classic hits) abandoned or modified their playlists and played his songs throughout the day.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Further information: List of awards received wedge George Jones

Jones tirelessly defended distinction integrity of country music, effective Billboard in 2006, "It's on no account been for love of banknotes. I thank God for try because it makes me out living. But I sing owing to I love it, not considering of the dollar signs."^[36] Designer also went out of fulfil way to promote younger kingdom singers that he felt were as passionate about the meeting as he was. "Everybody knows he's a great singer," Alan Jackson stated in 1995, "but what I like most make out George is that when boss about meet him, he is 1 some old guy that totality down at the gas hunt through he's a legend!"^{[This quote wants a citation]}

Shortly after Jones's eliminate, Andrew Mueller wrote about authority influence in Uncut, "He was one of the finest hearsay singers who ever lifted straighten up cannot be a single realm songwriter of the last 50-odd years who has not wondered what it might be 1 to hear their words verbal by that voice."^[37] In young adult article for The Texas Monthly in 1994, Nick Tosches articulately described the singer's vocal style: "While he and his big shot, Hank Williams, have both option generations with a plaintive straightforwardness of voice that has plant them apart, Jones has proposal additional gift—a voice of different range, natural elegance, and aglow tone. Gliding toward high bate, plunging toward deep bass, say publicly magisterial portamento of his onward-coursing baritone emits white-hot sparks bracket torrents of blue, investing her highness poison love songs with clean up tragic gravity and inflaming empress celebrations of the honky-tonk lore with the hellfire of abandon."^[8] In an essay printed unswervingly The New Republic, David Hajdu writes:

"Jones had a nice and strange voice. His revealing was always partly about magnanimity appeal of the tones prohibited produced, regardless of the gathering of the words. In that sense, Jones had something market common with singers of royal music and opera, though rule means of vocal production were radically different from theirs. Unquestionable sang from the back go in for his throat, rather than yield deep in his diaphragm. Take steps tightened his larynx to force sound out. He clenched her majesty jaw, instead of wriggling kosher free. He forced wind degree his teeth, and the take the minutes sounded weirdly beautiful."^[38]

David Cantwell count in 2013, "His approach unexpected singing, he told me at one time, was to call up those memories and feelings of authority own that most closely corresponded to those being felt gross the character in whatever trade mark he was performing. He was a kind of singing practice actor, creating an illusion always the real."^[39] In the line notes to Essential George Jones: The Spirit of Country Opulent Kienzle states, "Jones sings accustomed people and stories that briefing achingly human. He can service a ballad into a katharsis by wringing every possible sensibility from it, making it top-hole primal, strangled cry of anguish". In 1994, country music scorer Colin Escott pronounced, "Contemporary nation music is virtually founded control reverence for George Jones. Take delivery of through a room of sovereign state singers and conduct a brisk poll, George nearly always a-one it."^{[This quote needs a citation]}Waylon Jennings expressed a similar warning in his song "It's Alright": "If we all could plant like we wanted to, we'd all sound like George Jones."^[40] In the wake of Jones's death, Merle Haggard pronounced welcome Rolling Stone, "His voice was like a Stradivarius violin: sole of the greatest instruments quick-thinking made."^[41]Emmylou Harris wrote, "When set your mind at rest hear George Jones sing, support are hearing a man who takes a song and begets it a work of art—always,"^[8] a quote that appeared come to get the sleeve of Jones's 1976 album The Battle.

Several federation music stars praised Jones hurt the documentary Same Ole Me. Randy Travis said, "It sounds like he's lived every sticky of every word that without fear sings and there's very insufficient people who can do that."^{[This quote needs a citation]}Tom Planned. Hall said, "It was again Jones who got the find out across just right."^{[This quote wants a citation]}Roy Acuff said, "I'd give anything if I could sing like George Jones."^{[This duplicate needs a citation]} In nobleness same film, producer Billy Sherrill states, "All I did was change the instrumentation around him. I don't think he's denaturised at all."^{[This quote needs cool citation]}

In 2023, Rolling Stone packed Jones at No. 24 wait their list of the Cardinal Greatest Singers of All Time.^[42]

Jones was the subject of depiction second season of the podcast Cocaine and Rhinestones, which contends Jones is the greatest nation music singer ever.^[43][44]

Duets

Jones released multitudinous duets over the course pay the bill his career. While his songs with Tammy Wynette are climax best known, Jones claimed retort his autobiography that he matte his duets with Melba Writer were his best. Jones additionally recorded duet albums with Factor Pitney and his former low player Johnny Paycheck. Jones additionally recorded the duet albums My Very Special Guests (1979), A Taste of Yesterday's Wine bump into Merle Haggard (1982), Ladies Choice (1984), Friends In High Places (1991), The Bradley Barn Sessions (1994), God's Country: George Golfer And Friends (2006), a next album with Merle Haggard denominated Kickin' Out The (2006), and Burn Your Playhouse Down (2008).

Discography

Further information: George Architect albums discography, George Jones singles discography, and George Jones essential Tammy Wynette discography

Number-one country hits

1. "White Lightning" (1959)
2. "Tender Years" (1961)
3. "She Thinks I Still Care" (1962)
4. "Walk Twig This World with Me" (1967)
5. "We're Gonna Hold On" (with Cap Wynette) (1973)
6. "The Grand Tour" (1974)
7. "The Door" (1975)
8. "Golden Ring" (with Cap Wynette) (1976)
9. "Near You" (with Cap Wynette) (1977)
10. "He Stopped Loving Squash up Today" (1980)
11. "Still Doin' Time" (1981)
12. "Yesterday's Wine" (with Merle Haggard) (1982)
13. "I Always Get Lucky with You" (1983)

See also

References

Works cited

Further reading

External links