george jones
12. September 2013 By Walter Price 0

Day Of The Possum

The George Jones (1931-2013)

Today The GTC would like to celebrate the day of birth for one of the greatest voices to be etched into vinyl, George Glenn Jones. Sometimes know as “No Show Jones” or even “The Possum’. We prefer, simply, George Jones.

Jones has charted over 140 times in his extraordinary career going back to the 1950s and won every award known to a music artist, including ‘National Medal of Arts’ (2002) and being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1992). 

But it is the voice and character Jones provided each and every track he recorded that stay with music lovers of all genres and all over this planet. Two unbelievable examples of this man’s ability to tell stories or present profound questions in song are “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” (’85) and, the greatest country song ever recorded, “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (’80).

We could write volumes on George Jones and we won’t. Please check out his website (Here) for all you need to know. You do need to know.

What do other music greats think of Jones?

“George Jones is a National Treasure and should be treated accordingly” – Keith Richards

“If we could all sound the way we wanted we’d all sound like George Jones” – Waylon Jennings

“George’s voice is equal parts pain and home”  – Eric Church 

“His voice is the voice of your own spirit. If your spirit could jump out and have its own voice and sing a country song to you, it’d sound like George Jones. He feels everything for you.” – Jamey Johnson

Again, we could go on with the words of adoration but we won’t. What we will do is hear from the man himself:

“I sing from my heart, I love country music and I love the people that respond to it. You never see yourself as others do but I’ve always been proud to be part of country music and I hope that the format is proud of me.” – George Jones

“Country music to me is heartfelt music that speaks to the common man. It is about real life stories with rather simple melodies that the average person can follow. Country music should speak directly and simply about the highs and lows of life. Something that anyone can relate to.” – George Jones

“Be real about what you do. Stay true to the voice inside you. Don’t let the “business” change what it is you love because the people, the fans, respond to what is heartfelt. They can always tell when a singer is faking it.” – George Jones

R.I.P. George Jones (1931-2013)  NO ONE WILL EVER FILL YOUR SHOES

Also Born Today: The Amazing Neal Peart – RUSH (1952), Pat DiNizio – The Smithereens (1955) & Jennifer Nettles – Sugarland (1974)