George Jones Biography

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George Jones
Country Music | 3 CD Set
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Buying a ticket to a George Jones show was like visiting the lottery: The only person who knew if the quintessential honky tonk singer would show up was Jones. That may be a humorous exaggeration but he used it to his advantage with the tune "No Show Jones." Born in 1931 in Texas, Jones has probably influenced more country singers and had more hits on the country charts (some 150) than any other singer. He began his country music odyssey in 1947 when, at 16 and fairly proficient on guitar, he teamed up with country duo Eddie and Pearl, going from that into radio as a DJ. He married at 18, served in the Marines, got divorced and after being discharged in 1953 was signed to the Starday label. Jones fashioned his first hit in 1955 with "Why Baby Why," which had been a pop hit for Pat Boone. He veered off briefly into rockabilly but had already been taken by the Hank Williams style of country and honky tonk. It was 1959 when he had his first of several country No. 1 hits, "White Lightning," written by the Big Bopper and a tune that made the pop Top 100. Jones has always been an insightful writer of country songs, a talent for that and singing them he attributes to the axiom that "you have to live it to sing it." His songs have been recorded successfully by such as Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, to name a few. He's had hits with songs like "She Thinks I Still Care." And his duet recorded hits over the years, including "I've Got Give Dollars" and "It's Saturday Night" with Gene Pitney; "Stranger In the House," (Elvis Costello); "Bartender's Blues," (James Taylor); "I Gotta Get Drunk," (Willie Nelson). But his affair with then-wife Tammy Wynette created big hits, too. This stormy relationship that eventually ended after physical combat triggered by substance abuse began in 1969, and they eventually recorded several big hits from 1973 until divorcing in 1975. By the late '70s, his unreliability gave him the nickname "No Show Jones" but at the dawn of the '80s he was in medical treatment for addiction, making a major comeback with I AM WHAT I AM, the album that gave him his biggest country hit, "He Stopped Lovin' Her Today." He and Wynette also recorded an another album. His voice is pure country. He's been copied by many new singers as the honky tonk style makes a comeback in country. His voice drips with drama, making all those lyrics about drinking and womanizing come starkly to life. A singer named James O'Gwynn even made a tribute to him called "If I Could Sing a Country Song Exactly Like George Jones." Jones was also to sing a duet with Dolly Parton but when he moved to MCA Records his voice was replaced by Ricky Van Shelton. His first MCA album was ALONG CAME JONES and it continued to show off his talents. He made GEORGE JONES SALUTES HANK WILLIAMS in 1964 for Mercury.

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