Please find here, a brief note on him and some of his songs that I’ve enjoyed listening to over and over again!
Early Life And Rise To Fame
Jim Reeves was born James Travis Reeves in Galloway, Texas, a small rural community near Carthage, Texas. His warm, velvety voice made him the remarkable singer that he is. His songs were outstanding for their simple elegance highlighted by his rich light baritone voice. Songs such as "He'll Have ," "Adios Amigo," "Welcome To My World," and "Am I Losing You" demonstrated this approach. Jim Reeves' Christmas songs have been perennial favorites, including songs such as "Silver Bells," and "An Old Christmas Card".
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Some Popular Hits
His first country hits included "I Love You" (a duet with Ginny Wright), "Mexican Joe", "Bimbo" and other songs on both Fabor Records and Abbott Records. Eventually, Reeves began to tire of the novelty bracket he had been forced into, and left for RCA Victor.
Indeed, by 1955 RCA signed Jim, and offered him a 10-year recording contract. The Abbot label had released a singer who was due to become one of World Music's Biggest and Brightest stars. In his earliest RCA Victor recordings, Reeves was still singing in the loud style of his first recordings, a style considered standard for country-western performers at that time. He sought to soften his volume, using a lower pitch and singing with lips nearly touching the microphone, but ran into some resistance at RCA—until in 1957, with the support of his producer Chet Atkins, he used this new style on his version of a demo song of lost love, written from a woman's perspective (and intended for a female singer). "Four Walls" not only took top position on the country charts, but went top-ten on the popular charts at the same time. Reeves had not only opened the door to wider acceptance for other country singers, but had also helped usher in a new style of country music, using violins and lusher background arrangements, soon called "The Nashville Sound."
His Hits In The 1960s
In 1959–60 Reeves scored his greatest hit with the Joe Allison composition "He'll Have ," which earned him a platinum record. He had a posthumous No.1 hit on the United Kingdom pop charts in 1966 with "Distant Drums," a song written for him by Cindy Walker. Jim Reeves was one of the few Western singers, who became widely known in the non-European world, including Africa, India and Southeast Asia. To this day he is affectionately referred to as "Gentleman Jim" in those parts.
Death
On July 31, 1964 Reeves and Dean Manuel (who was also the pianist in Reeves' backing group) left Batesville, Arkansas en route to Nashville. While flying over Brentwood, they encountered a violent thunderstorm which proved more than a match for the tiny, single-engined Beechcraft 'Debonair' aircraft. The plane faded from the radar screens at around 17:02, and all radio contact with the craft was lost. Reeves died when the small aircraft he was piloting crashed during a thunderstorm near Nashville, Tennessee.
Many thousands of people turned out to pay their last respects to Jim Reeves at his funeral, which took place on August 4, 1964. The coffin, draped in flowers from respectful fans, was driven through the silent streets of Nashville and to Jim's final resting place near his home town of Carthage, Texas.
Legacy
Reeves' records continued with good sales for both the old albums and a series of new ones. His widow, Mary, combined unreleased tracks with rerecorded previous releases (placing updated instrumentals alongside Reeves' original vocals) to produce a regular series of "new" albums after her husband's death. She also operated The Jim Reeves Museum (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/31515250_71176161eb.jpg) in Nashville, Tennessee from the early This home was built in 1794 and known as Evergreen Place. It used to be the location of the Jim Reeves Museum. Tennessee Preservation Trust has listed it as one of the most endangered sites in the state. Hopefully it will not be tore down.
Unfortunately in September 2005 this site was torn down.
He was elected posthumously to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967, and in 1998 he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage, Texas, where the Jim Reeves Memorial is located.
Reeves' inscription at the Country Music Hall of Fame reads - "The velvet style of 'Gentleman Jim Reeves' was an international influence. His rich voice bought millions of new fans to country music from every corner of the world.
Although the crash of his private aeroplane took his life, posterity will keep his name alive because they will remember him as one of country music's most important performers."
The inscription on the Jim Reeves Memorial has: If I, a lowly singer, dry one tear, or soothe one humble human heart in pain, then my homely verse d is dear, and not one stanza has been sung in vain.
Some Songs
Now Let’s Listen and try singing along to some of his songs…
Let’s start with his all time great: Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Where you going e o
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Does your mommie know,
That your going down the road
to see a little girlly o
Bimbo, is a little boy,
who's got million friends
and every time he passes by,
they all invite him
He'll clap his hands and sing and dance
and talk his baby talk.
With a hole in pants
and his knees stick out,
he's just big enough to walk.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Where you going e o ,
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Does your mommie know,
that your going down the road
to see a little girlly o
Bimbo's got two big blue eyes, that light up like a star
and the way to light them is to him buy candy bars,
cracker jack and bubble gum, will start his day off right
all the Girllies follow him just to beg him for a bite
Bimbo, Bimbo
Candy on your face eo.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Chewing on your gummy e o
Bimbo, Bimbo
When you going to grow
Everybody loves you little baby Bim b o
Instrumental
You never catch him sitting still
He's just the roving kind
All though he just a little boy, he's got a grown up mind
He's always got a shaggy dog a pulling at his clothes
Everybody calls to him as down the street he goes.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Where you going e o ,
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Does your mommie know, that your going down the road to see a little girlly o
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Where you going e o
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Does your mommie know,
That your going down the road
to see a little girlly o
Bimbo, is a little boy,
who's got million friends
and every time he passes by,
they all invite him
He'll clap his hands and sing and dance
and talk his baby talk.
With a hole in pants
and his knees stick out,
he's just big enough to walk.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Where you going e o ,
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Does your mommie know,
that your going down the road
to see a little girlly o
Bimbo's got two big blue eyes, that light up like a star
and the way to light them is to him buy candy bars,
cracker jack and bubble gum, will start his day off right
all the Girllies follow him just to beg him for a bite
Bimbo, Bimbo
Candy on your face eo.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Chewing on your gummy e o
Bimbo, Bimbo
When you going to grow
Everybody loves you little baby Bim b o
Instrumental
You never catch him sitting still
He's just the roving kind
All though he just a little boy, he's got a grown up mind
He's always got a shaggy dog a pulling at his clothes
Everybody calls to him as down the street he goes.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Where you going e o ,
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Does your mommie know, that your going down the road to see a little girlly o
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
I Love You
I love you because you understand, dear
Ev'ry single thing I try to do
You're always there to lend a helping hand, dear
I love you most of all because you're you
No matter what the world may say about me
I know your love will always see me through
I love you for the way you never doubt me
But most of all I love you 'cause you're you
I love you because my heart is lighter
Every time I'm walkin' by your side
I love you because the future's brighter
The door to happiness you open wide
No matter what the world may say about me*
I know your love will always see me through
I love you for a hundred thousand reasons
But most of all I love you 'cause you're you
Am I losing you
Am I losing you
Are my fears coming true
How I wish I knew
Am I losing you
Is your love really true
Is there somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you
Am I too blind to see
What's been happ'ning to me
Ev'ry road has a bend
Will I be sweetheart or friend
Will the sweet things you do
Be for somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you
Am I too blind to see
What's been happ'ning to me
Ev'ry road has a bend
Will I be sweetheart or friend
Will the sweet things you do
Be for somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you
Am I losing you
Are my fears coming true
How I wish I knew
Am I losing you
Is your love really true
Is there somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you
Am I too blind to see
What's been happ'ning to me
Ev'ry road has a bend
Will I be sweetheart or friend
Will the sweet things you do
Be for somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you
Am I too blind to see
What's been happ'ning to me
Ev'ry road has a bend
Will I be sweetheart or friend
Will the sweet things you do
Be for somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you
Mexican joe
South of the border, hey, I know a lad,
He's got more fun than anybody's had,
Don't got no worry, don't got no dough,
Everybody's wondering 'bout Mexican Joe.
In old Mexico, they call him the Rhumba King,
Leads all the women around on a string,
When they go out, they get a million thrills,
But the lovely senoritas wind up with the bills.
Chorus: Dancin', romancin',
Always on the go,
Sun shinin' down on Mexican Joe
He makes the night spots all along the bay,
People want to see him when he comes their way,
He spreads so much joy everywhere he goes,
Everyone shouts "Viva la Mexican Joe."
He likes to gamble, at poker he's an ace,
He's always lucky with the cards that got a face,
At winning the money, he is sure a whiz,
But when they win they don't collect
'cause they don't know where he is.
Repeat Chorus
He don't got no income tax 'cause he don't got no dough,
Still he gets along just fine, how we'll never know,
He's got everything he wants, a girl, a drink, a song,
If we use his formula, we surely can't go wrong.
His favorite playground is anywhere there's girls,
He's got that somethin' that sets their hearts a-whirl,
It couldn't be his money 'cause he ain't got a peso,
But when he wants a kiss all he's got to do is say so
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone
Let's pretend that we're together all alone
I'll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go
Whisper to me tell me do you love me true
Or is he holding you the way I do
Though love is blind make up your mind I've got to know
Should I hang up or will you tell him he'll have to go
You can't say the words I want to hear
While you're with another man
Do you want me answer yes or no
Darlin' I will understand
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone
Let's pretend that we're together all alone
I'll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go
Let's pretend that we're together all alone
I'll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go
Whisper to me tell me do you love me true
Or is he holding you the way I do
Though love is blind make up your mind I've got to know
Should I hang up or will you tell him he'll have to go
You can't say the words I want to hear
While you're with another man
Do you want me answer yes or no
Darlin' I will understand
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone
Let's pretend that we're together all alone
I'll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go
Adios amigo, adios my friend
The road we have travelled has come to an end
When two love the same love, one love has to lose
And it's you who she longs for, it's you she will choose
Adios compadre, what must be must be
Remember to name one muchacho for me
I ride to the Rio, where my life I will spend
Adios amigo, adios my friend
Adios compadre, let us shed no tears
May all your mañanas bring joy through the years
Away from these memories, my life I must spend
Adios amigo, adios my friend
The road we have travelled has come to an end
When two love the same love, one love has to lose
And it's you who she longs for, it's you she will choose
Adios compadre, what must be must be
Remember to name one muchacho for me
I ride to the Rio, where my life I will spend
Adios amigo, adios my friend
Adios compadre, let us shed no tears
May all your mañanas bring joy through the years
Away from these memories, my life I must spend
Adios amigo, adios my friend
\
Welcome to my world
Won't you come on in
Miracles I guess
Still happen now and then
Step into my heart
Leave your cares behind
Welcome to my world
Built with you in mind
Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you'll be given
The key to this world of mine
I'll be waiting here
With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world
Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you'll be given
The key to this world of mine
I'll be waiting here
With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world
Won't you come on in
Miracles I guess
Still happen now and then
Step into my heart
Leave your cares behind
Welcome to my world
Built with you in mind
Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you'll be given
The key to this world of mine
I'll be waiting here
With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world
Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you'll be given
The key to this world of mine
I'll be waiting here
With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world
Silver Bells
Silver bells, silver bells)
(Soon it will be Christmas day)
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling
Of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on ev'ry street corner you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
(Strings of street lights)
(Even stop lights)
(Blink a bright red and green)
(As the shoppers rush home)
(With their treasures)
(Hear the snow crunch)
(See the kids bunch)
(This is Santa's big scene)
(And above all this bustle)
(You'll hear)
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
There's an Old Christmas Card
There's an Old Christmas Card in an old dusty trunk
And it brings back sweet memories dear to me
'Though it's faded and worn, it's as precious as the morn
When I found it 'neath our first Christmas tree
Chorus:
I thrill with every word, every line
Guess I'm always sentimental 'round this time
Pardon me if a tear falls among my Christmas cheer
It's the memory of an Old Christmas Card
(Recitation)
You know, I don't know why I get to feeling sentimental
about this time, every year
But every time I see a Christmas card,
I somehow can't help reminiscing
About the very first Christmas that you and I spent together
What a beautiful Christmas card you gave me that year
Why I know you must have looked through thousands of cards
To find that wonderful poem that still brings a tear to my eyes
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