Posted on 04/26/2013 8:27:09 AM PDT by navysealdad
George Jones-He Stopped Loving Her Today 4-26-2013 Country Music legend George Jones has died at the age of 81 "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist George Jones that has been named in several surveys as the greatest country song of all time. It was released in April 1980 as the lead single from the album I Am What I Am. The song was Jones's first No. 1 single in six years.(VIDEO)
The song is performed with the singer telling the story of his "friend" who has never given up on his love. He keeps old letters and photos, and hangs on to hope that she would "come back again." The song reaches its peak with the chorus, telling us that he indeed stopped loving her – when he finally died. She attends his funeral.
(Excerpt) Read more at angelfire.com ...
LOL that’s horrible. I’m sure Mr Jones would approve.
Damnit!
Rest in Peace....
I saw a picture of him once and was astonished that a few of his hairs were out of place. Had to be an imposter.
RIP Possum. What you did was country music...not the disco with boots that’s popular today.
I guess he is riding a tractor to the liquor store somewhere.
Semper Fi, Possum.
I hope they have a riding mower at your funeral.
To understand and for a good laugh see his video Honky Tonk Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2OA1ldr8H4
Mr. Jones was one of the most honored performers in his profession. Music writers often placed him in the same echelon as Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday for his expressive and unguarded style.
“With other country singers, it’s almost about what they hold back. With Jones, it’s almost a cry for help, pure emotion,” said country music historian Bob Allen, describing Mr. Jones’s singing style. “He could bring a palpable anguish to a song.”
In a career that spanned more than six decades, Mr. Jones influenced several generations of singers and put an astonishing 72 hits from 1955 to 1988 on the Billboard Country charts — including his first success, “Why Baby Why” (1955), the moonshiner’s anthem “White Lightning” (1959) and “The Race Is On” (1965).
He recorded with fellow country singers Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck but also duetted with such pop performers as Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards and Gene Pitney.
Within the confines of country music, Mr. Jones was versatile. He recorded up-tempo rockabilly novelties such as “Who Shot Sam” (1959) and smooth, “countrypolitan” ballads like “Tender Years” (1961), where tinkling, cocktail piano replaced the country fiddles.
However, Mr. Jones was best known for such tearjerkers as “She Thinks I Still Care” (1962) and the 1980 Grammy Award-winning ballad of obsessive, unrequited love, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
Throughout his career, Mr. Jones drew attention for his heavy drinking and wild behavior.
In his 1996 memoir, “I Lived to Tell It All,” written with Tom Carter, Mr. Jones recalled driving a riding lawn mower to the liquor store when his second wife hid the keys to his many cars — an incident later alluded to in one of Mr. Jones’s music videos.
George Glenn Jones was born Sept. 12, 1931, in Saratoga, Tex., in a log cabin built by his father.
The elder Jones — an alcoholic who struggled to support his wife and eight children — worked variously as an iceman, lumberman and pipe fitter. He bought his son his first guitar for his 11th birthday but, according to Mr. Jones, he would also beat the boy if he didn’t sing for his drinking buddies.
Mr. Jones quit school in the seventh grade and began singing gospel songs on the streets of Port Arthur, Tex. After leaving home at 16, he performed on radio and in honky-tonks in East Texas. At 17, he married Dorothy Bonvillion, but they divorced before their daughter was born. His second marriage, to Shirley Ann Corley, also ended in divorce.
After Marine Corps service in California during the Korean War, Mr. Jones returned to the East Texas honky-tonks. He first recorded in the mid-1950s for a fledging Houston label, Starday Records, with a style modeled on twangy honky-tonk singers Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/george-jones-legend-in-country-music-dies-at-81/2013/04/26/28517c7a-7cee-11e1-a01f-52d5c6187537_story.html
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Not a real country music fan, but George (along with ex-wife
Tammy Wynette was the best of the best.
.
Who gonna fill his shoes?
Thanks for this. I’ve loved that song for years. Sorry to hear about this passing.
I am shocked he lived to be 81, with the habits he had.
A true great who “kept it country”. So long, George. We’ll miss you.
George Jones hatred “He Stopped Loving her today” and had difficulty recording it during take after take. When it was finished and he was leaving the recording studio, he commented, “Nobody will buy that morbid SOB.
She Thinks I Still Care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owWNCNyEuYI
RIP George our old and trusted friend. You have left us a legacy of great music.
RIP.
For some reason, this post reminded me of one posted here a while back on a song by Meathead: “Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer than they Are.”
Worth a listen—and a look at the incredible graphics—if you don’t know it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37GrbCUvZEM
Something light to remember him by:
George Jones - The Corvette Song (The One I loved Back Then)
George “No-show” Jones.
Oh no. I am sad to hear this.
One of the great American voices of all time. Distinctive, extremely influential...the Sinatra of country music.
Well damn.
My wife knew him distantly...I don’t think she knows
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