George Jones has Passed Away at 81 !

[bamajohn1]

I was really sad to see this news trending on yahoo this morning! 'He Stopped Singing For Us Today' to sadly paraphrase his great tune! May there be no speeding zone for your lawnmover in heaven, our friend! You can light up heaven singing 'I Still Miss Someone' with your 'big buddy' Johnny Cash now! RIP

news.yahoo.com/george-jones-country-superstar-died-81-141813753.html

The article mentions Jones and Tammy Wynette's daughter, Georgette, who is a nurse here in my hometown in Alabama!

[uncleson]

John, I was shocked to see this news, shocked and saddened. I got into Georges music later in life with Same Ole Me. Then, of course, I discovered the rest of his magnificent library of work, She Thinks I Still care, He Stopped Loving Her Today, Golden Ring, White Lightning, on and on!

George just got better and better as time went on, as did Johnny Cash.

[bamajohn1]

I read that article, and just now realized, that after searching the tv dial all day, I just saw the first tv report of his passing at almost 3PM central time. I've talked about how Johnny's music and writing spread across a broad swath of musical genres such that he is in the (Country, Gospel, Rock N Roll, Songwriters, Rockabilly) Halls of Fame. I think he actually got undervalued until later in his life when he was doing hip Americana music appealing to a new generation. Even though his career had always spread far beyond country music, I think his association with it undervalued him somehow ; as much as he had been revered.

I say this for context. If you read the article, GJ was all, true country, all the time. I'm perceiving a lack of respect today that he deserves. As the article indicates, there virtually is no 'traditional country' today so it is kind of like talking about Harry Truman or Churchill in political terms as far as 'audience' appreciation.

The man had the most hit singles in the history of the US music charts with well over 150 on the country charts. In that genre, Hank Sr and Merle stand as the stalwarts of working man songwriter, and George is right alongside his idol Hank Sr as the greatest emotive singers of the genre.

A great loss. Indeed, the answer is 'No One' to his query 'Who's Gonna Fill These Shoes'!

I didn't know until recent years that Johnny and George had been great friends. 'Little buddy' and 'Big buddy'. I find that fitting!

I really dug what Waylon said about 'we all want to sound like GJ'!

I think George was a part of the CMT series, Outlaw Country, a few years ago; which was also fitting!

[uncleson]

Im surprised I didnt hear about this till I came on the board!

Youre right, no one can fill George's shoes. He was a national treasure.

[maddogtim74]

Sad to hear this, just one of the best singers ever! He Stopped Loving Her Today is the quintessential country song, and one that resonates with me more than most. RIP Possum.

[HollyH]

So many great songs in his catalog. I too only began to listen to him late, and still haven't figured out why he is so great. Was it his phrasing? The timber of his voice? He was like Sinatra, in that no matter who wrote the songs, they were better when he sang them. Comedy songs, love songs, revenge songs, break-up songs -- he made them all work. Magic in a bottle.

[bamajohn1]

I thought for awhile about how to answer your query Holly. It came to mind that he could jump to higher notes (glissandos ?) at the drop of a hat, it seemed. I didn't really feel I had a worthy answer, however.

Then, I was reading some liner notes by Colin Escott and found some interesting things worth mentioning.

No one can ring the drama out of a country song like he can. He'll twist and turn a word so many ways it's dizzying, squeeze a syllable out through his teeth, then drop to a note only he would think of hitting; perhaps only he could hit.



Students of the style can point out the technical aspects of certain things he does - but greatness is something else again. It's an emotional quality, the same quality that sets aside Johnny Cash from other guys with deep voices. George Jones tells us about the dark places, and about pitching a drunk and getting stupid, and about the shame of doing wrong. Sometimes it seems he has provided a soundtrack for our lives, while often seeming only half in control of his own.



- Colin Escott - liner notes to 2CD 'Cup of Loneliness' anthology of Jones early Mercury Records material.

[HollyH]

Very well expressed! Yes, George Jones seemed to have more tools at his command than most singers. But the genius part was knowing which to pull out when!