RIP Jimmy Dean

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 13 Jun 2010 7:46 pm

Jimmy Dean passed away tonight at his home at the age of 81.
Another one of the great ones gone.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 13 Jun 2010 11:09 pm

That is sad news. He was a good entertainer.

RIP, Jimmy!

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 13 Jun 2010 11:14 pm

That sucks that he didn't make it to his Country Music Hall OF Fame induction ceremony in October.

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 13 Jun 2010 11:30 pm

True, but at least he knew he was being inducted.

$:\$

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 14 Jun 2010 3:53 am

http://www.the33tv.com/entertainment/sn ... 6693.story

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 14 Jun 2010 6:43 am

Two New York Times articles today on Jimmy Dean:"

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/06 ... -Dean.html

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/ ... ?ref=music

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 16 Jun 2010 3:47 am

I was certainly a fan of his 5 day a week 45 minute morning show on CBS 1956-57. What a great band he had on that show.

Billy Grammer - guitar
Marvin Carroll - steel guitar
Buck Ryan - fiddle
Smitty Irvin - 5-string banjo
Mary Klick - stand-up bass
Herbie Jones - rhythm guitar
and of course
Jimmy on piano/accordion

I know that Buck and Smitty are gone but don't know anything about the rest, other than I believe Billy Grammer is still around.

Ray Campbell · Post by **Ray Campbell** » 16 Jun 2010 5:21 am

If I'm not mistaken that show also was the major kickoff point for Molly Bee and Roy Clark. Then later Dean moved to a prime time show on ABC (I think) where he helped make stardom for Jim Henson and his muppets. The man was a great one and should have been in the H of F long ago. Shame on them for keeping him out for so many years.

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 16 Jun 2010 7:04 pm

Ben Rubright wrote:
I know that Buck and Smitty are gone but don't know anything about the rest, other than I believe Billy Grammer is still around.

Billy Grammer is alive and well. Years ago, he moved back to Indiana. He is completely blind now, but hasn't lost his wonderful personality. Very classy guy. Still plays GREAT.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 17 Jun 2010 4:43 pm

The music on Jimmy's early morning show was what touched me a a child. It was my first time hearing a steel and a guitar, I was hooked from then on ..

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 18 Jun 2010 3:05 am

Me too Bo!! I can still hear the opening of each show ....Billy Grammer playing thumb-style and the whole gang singing...

Whenever the day is dawning
and wherever we are seen,
It's the whole gang saying Good Morning,
Good Morning from Jimmy Dean

Most all of the 'Stars' of the day appeared on that morning show...Johnny Cash, Carl Smith, Webb Pierce, Porter Wagoner (who introduced 'I Thought I Heard You Calling my Name'), Elton Britt, Hank Thompson (Hank actually broke his wrist during a softball game between Jimmy's people and Hank and the Brazos Valley Boys that week) and on and on.....

I believe that I remember Buddy Emmons being Carl Smith's steel player the week that Carl was the guest...furthermore, I believe that Carl had Buddy demonstrate 'Travis Style' on the steel....anyone else remember any of this?

On the last day of the week, Jimmy had a little ceremony of the guest star of the week signing his piano. I wonder where that piano is today....

Other members of that show were:

George Hamilton IV
The Country Lads - Billy Graves and Dick Flood
Singers Jan Crockett and Jo Davis
Alec Houston (ventriloquist) with Elmer

Roberta Sherwood appeared so often, she was almost a regular.

Having to leave to catch the school bus before the show was over was a killer.

I was such a fan.....I even remember Billy Grammer going on a 2 show vacation...he was replaced those two weeks by guitarist Jimmy Groves.

I wonder if any of those shows were kinescoped/recorded.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 18 Jun 2010 3:32 am

I was caught off guard when I heard that Jimmy Dean had passed. I certainly enjoyed his music. I also remember him being on "That Good Ole Nashville Music". Buddy Emmons had a band called "Sound Factory" and they were the staff band for the show. Jimmy was singing and he said "Here's the Big E". Buddy started playing and turned the bar around and never missed lick. I nearly fell out of my chair. I also like the Jimmy Dean Sausage and Biscuits on the market. "Big John" was a huge hit for Jimmy which I still hear on the redio occasionally. Rest in peace Jimmy Dean. You will certainly be missed.

Ric Nelson · Post by **Ric Nelson** » 20 Jun 2010 7:25 pm

Marvin and Herbie are both gone,sorry to say.

Rick Jackson · Post by **Rick Jackson** » 23 Jun 2010 5:20 pm

Bud Isaacs told me he also played on Jimmy's show while he was stationed in the army there. Unfortunately, someone dropped a dime on him to the local union and the army made him stop playing the show...

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 6 Jul 2010 3:39 pm

Ray Campbell wrote:If I'm not mistaken that show also was the major kickoff point for Molly Bee and Roy Clark. Then later Dean moved to a prime time show on ABC (I think) where he helped make stardom for Jim Henson and his muppets. The man was a great one and should have been in the H of F long ago. Shame on them for keeping him out for so many years.

I remember watching the show, when I was about 4 years old, The puppet he had was named Ralph.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 6 Aug 2010 8:45 am

[quote]Bud Isaacs told me he also played on Jimmy's show while he was stationed in the army there. Unfortunately, someone dropped a dime on him to the local union and the army made him stop playing the show...

That's what the musicians union does best!

Al Johnson · Post by **Al Johnson** » 31 Aug 2010 3:18 pm

I enjoyed Jimmy Dean every time I saw him
I purchased my first tv so I could watch the morning Jimmy Dean show. One of my favorite songs by JD was in an LP on the Mercury label the whole album was great and country my favorite tho was Fright Train Blues A great entertainer. Thank you Jimmy Dean
Al Johnson

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 31 Aug 2010 3:29 pm

Here ya go, Al:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKWNwS6qw_E

It's my favorite Dean tune also.

Al Johnson · Post by **Al Johnson** » 31 Aug 2010 4:14 pm

hi Mitch thank you so much How 3 people can do the same song Jimmie and Ernie had arrangements that were interesting anybody could enjoy I'm getting older every year I am now 76. Can't handle most of the "Country music these last number of years.
I always did and will enjoy Western Swing I remember you are a big fan of the same
Again thank you very much Al