Obit: George Jones (12 Sep 1931-26 Apr 2013)

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Bobert
Date: 18 Aug 13 - 09:02 PM

Sniff...

I always loved the guy... And most of his music...

B~

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 18 Aug 13 - 12:20 PM

I didn't intend for the phrase to evoke controversy. I just liked it. And certainly, what George Jones could do with a song was pretty incredible.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: gnu
Date: 18 Aug 13 - 05:36 AM

RIP and thanks.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: GUEST,Gio
Date: 18 Aug 13 - 05:26 AM

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090312210436AAMUEup
Twitty was great singer. Listen you Rainy Nights In Georgia with Sam Moore

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 07:56 PM

I found no attribution in any of the places I looked - I would guess this phrase has been used liberally in various music genres.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 07:08 PM

The same line was often used for John Denver and several others. Personally the line I liked the most about any singer came from someone, perhaps Ralph Emery, talking about Patsy Cline.

When Patsy Cline did a song, it was completely done. Others could do it but it would always be a Patsy Cline song.


Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 06:36 PM

Translation is most difficult when it comes to verbs. Articles would also have helped. When you look up "Conway Twitty the best friend a song ever had" you find lots of hits - many of them album reviews and sales sites. There is a Conway Twitty biography fan site that uses the term in a paragraph

Widely regarded by Nashville's songwriters as "the best friend a song ever had," Twitty was pitched top shelf material for the better part of two decades. Much of it he turned away, even passing eventual smash singles on to other artists. One of his many gifts, beyond the elusive art of knowing which songs would be hits, was knowing which of those songs would work for him. Of course, he was one of Music Row's best songwriters in his own right, writing 19 of his No. 1s and earning Grammy nominations for compositions including his signature song "Hello Darlin'."

So what Gio is telling us is that Larry attributed that saying to the wrong singer, and he's correct. I didn't know it, I never paid any attention to country music in general or Twitty in particular. He lost me at the name.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: JennieG
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 06:09 PM

Remember the Johnny Preston hit "Running Bear"? According to this information, the "Indian" noises were made by George Jones and The Big Bopper.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: GUEST,Gio
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 12:37 PM

Isn't my opinion, the best friend a song could have is invented to Conway Twitty. Probably Larry confused Jones with Conway Twitty.
Yes, my english is poor. I speak italian, speak you italian erudite man?

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Ron Davies
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 11:41 AM

Aside from being ungrammatical--but decipherable-- that opinion is just that.   And probably not shared by many.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: GUEST,Gio
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 10:32 AM

The best friend a song could have is relate to Conway Twitty, not Jones

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 10:51 PM

The best friend a song could have.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 04:52 AM

"He changed your name from Brown to Jones, and mine from Brown to Blue" !!

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 08:16 PM

I guess this means that "No Show" Jones will be a 'no show' for his farewell concert! As I've said before, the man who proved that country is the white man's blues.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: frogprince
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 08:09 PM

I have no difficulty believing that Brooks stole the Beer Run line and title outright. I've been a little ticked off at him for years for another plagerism. Almost sixty years ago, I heard Carl Sandburg on TV singing what he called the world's shortest blues song:

Papa loved Mamma
Mamma loved men
Mamma's in the grave yard
Papa's in the pen.

I don't know if Brooks has ever acknowledged where he got that, but even if he has, someone should kick his ass for incorporating it as part of a longer song. Ya just don't drop a few lines of sacred scripture like that into the middle of something you take credit for.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: PHJim
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 07:11 PM

What a sad time. Richie Havens, Bob Brozman and now George Jones all in the last few days.


Jack Blandiver posted "Beer Run", written by Garth Brooks. While it's not the same song, it does have a lot in common with Todd Snider's song "Beer Run", including the line "B -double E -double R -U -N".

When Todd sings it, he introduces it by saying, "I wrote this song, then a couple years later, Garth Brooks wrote it again."

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Ron Davies
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 02:42 PM

Larger than life.   Not only did he put his stamp--which has influenced just about every good male country singer since--on the music, but the number of legends about him (some of which even have a grain of truth) is amazing.

RIP, George.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 10:27 AM

George was one of my musical idols for many years! I saw him perfporm live a couple of times. The first time was great but the second very disappointing because it was an almost "no show" night, and perhaps better if it had been! In any case I still listen to his recordings and try to sing a few of his songs.
He was one of the last truly distinct country stars after the murder on Music Row!
Rest in peace, Possum!

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: Janie
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 06:42 AM

Best country singer ever was. Rest in Peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones (1931-2013)
From: GUEST,Mike Rogers
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 04:07 AM

One of the truly greats. There were no imitations, though some tried (and failed). End of an era.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: Midchuck
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 06:43 PM

I posted to Facebook:

There shouldn't be TWO Days the Music Died in one person's lifetime. Maybe I've lived too long.

Confused some people, seems to have upset others. People who know me tend to take me too literally when I'm just blathering, and assume I'm blathering when I'm trying to be serious. Even Kristina. The curse of a truly original mind...

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 06:32 PM

I guess he stopped loving her today.......

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 04:01 PM

Loved this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZScHp3Gpsk

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 03:26 PM

I only really know him from "The Race Is On". RIP Mr. Jones

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: Acorn4
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 02:51 PM

...The song perhaps is autobiographical - RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: Acorn4
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 02:50 PM

For me George and Dolly Parton are the greatest voices in country music:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMI7TksYo0

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: kendall
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 01:58 PM

Damn, the greats just keep checking out.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 01:39 PM

George Jones will remain a star of stars and a true legend in country Music. his lifee was lived large and his contributions as huge as his legendary excesses and weaknesses. he influenced so many both in music and lifestyle, for better of for worse.

What cannot be denied was his talent and his ability to put over a song. And especially one particular type of song. When you listen to The Possum at his best you cannot help but visualize some poor guy sitting in the rear of a darkened bar, chain smoking and crying in his beer. When the song ends he slowly pulls out a gun and blows his brains out. ThAT was the power and strength in George jones' voice.

There was only one although there were thousands who learned from him. Now he's gon and there will not be another quite like him......ever.


Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 01:15 PM

He and Don Gibson were two of the greatest 'white soul' singers of all time.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 01:14 PM

another great and original voice silenced. I always figured I'd get drunk when the ol' Possum checked out. It'll wait until another time.
Travel well Mr. Jones. He stopped loving her today.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 11:21 AM

Ah, I'm sorry about that. George Jones had a distinctive voice with an instantly recognizable treatment of a song. You could have been in the wilds of South America or the deserts of Sahara or the bleakest area of the north pole and known the singer from just a scrap of song.

That said, I too am surprised he lived to such an old age.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Jones
From: Midchuck
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 11:08 AM

NY Times obit.

F***!

Well, it took him 50 years of determined effort to kill himself. Few people could have lived the way he did and lasted that long.

Got to see him live at the Rutland Fair in '07. He still had it then. Didn't seem to mind being back on the Fair circuit after the big time.

P.

Subject: Obit: George Jones
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 11:00 AM

George Jones, legendary country singer, dies at 81

By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor

Country music legend George Jones has died in Nashville, Tenn., his representative confirmed in a statement on Friday. He was 81.

Jones had been in the midst of a year-long goodbye tour, deciding to withdraw from the road over health issues including an upper respiratory infection. He was hospitalized on April 18 with fever and irregular blood pressure; he died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. A cause of death has not yet been reported.

Jones was a Country Music Hall of Famer, Grand Ole Opry member and Kennedy Center Honoree, and the singer of such hits as "The Grand Tour," "She Thinks I Still Care" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today."
Born in Saratoga, Tex., on Sept. 12, 1931, Jones played on the streets for tips while still a teenager, then joined the U.S. Marine Corps. When he left service he began recording for the Starday label in Houston, and his first top 10 song "Why Baby Why" hit the charts in 1955. He hit No. 1 with "White Lightning" four years later. He continued to record and hit the charts throughout the next few decades.

He was married four times; his third wife was country singer Tammy Wynette, with whom he recorded several songs. Their daughter Georgette Jones is a performer, and appeared onstage with her father.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years Nancy Jones, a sister and offspring.

[Appeared a few minutes ago at MSNBC. More sure to follow.]

John