Breaking News: George Jones, Country Singer, Dies at 81

[bigtree]

Last edited Fri Apr 26, 2013, 11:29 AM - Edit history (1)

The New York Times ?@nytimes 1m

http://t.co/PDM5PjG4Cn

Bonnie Raitts rendition of The George Jones classic, 'Bartenders Blues'

I need four walls around me to hold my life To keep me from going astray And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight To keep me from slipping away
Now the smoke fills the air in this honky-tonk bar And I'm thinking 'bout where I'd rather be
But I burned all my bridges and I sank all ships Now I'm stranded at the edge of the sea
I still need four walls around me to hold my life To keep me from going astray And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight To keep me from slipping away

- GEORGE JONES

[datasuspect]

1. godspeed

old possum.

wow.

[auburngrad82]

2. Frankly I'm amazed he made it this long

He battled alcoholism for many years.

I love He Stopped Loving Her Today. Songs used to tell stories. I wish they still did.

[hfojvt]

3. I probably like songs ABOUT him, more than I like his songs

Here's to George

[bigtree]

4. kick

[The Straight Story]

5. I won't know how to feel until someone tells me his politics/religion. Dance or be sad?

Someone will surely look into this for us and tell us whether their should be praise of his life and career or not.

Example: President George W. Bush awarded Jones the National Medal of Arts in 2002

So...he took an award from a war criminal....he obviously loved bush cause none of us would have accepted it. Not pure enough. I also hear he owned a gun (which can't be possible, every gun owner shoots someone - maybe I just missed that story). Hell, even has a gun named after him:

The George Jones Single Action Army .45
http://www.americaremembers.com/products/GJSAA/GJSAA.asp

He smoked and drank for a good part of his life too. Damn smokers. Tried to find out if he owned pit bulls or stock in Olive Garden, nothing yet but I suspect he not only owned both but made his friend chicken with cornflakes....

So I am on the fence right now...just like with steve irwin (thought he was a wonderful guy, turns out he wasn't).

[bigtree]

6. George Jones in '04

Clark for President

George Jones radio ad run in TN starting Feb. 7, 2004.

"This is George Jones. You know I've never done anything like this before, but I feel so strongly about where our country is headed, that I want to share with you why I'm supporting General Wes Clark for President. Wes Clark has dedicated his whole life to three principles, duty, honor, and country. And he shares the same values that you and I share here in Tennessee. Wes Clark knows what it means to put his life and career on the line for this country, and he'll put the nation's interests first - not the Washington special interests. I'm George Jones. Like Wes Clark, I'm no career politician, but I know a leader when I see one, and that's why I'm asking you to vote for Wes Clark for President on Tuesday."

Voice: "Paid for by Clark 04"

Wes Clark: "This is Wes Clark and I approve this message."

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/ads04/clarkad020704r.html

[Tikki]

7. That voice...was like no other...perfectly perfect.

Tikki

[HiPointDem]

12. +1. i had a tape with jones singing with a collection of rocksters -- linda ronstandt, delaney

& bonnie, etc.

it was the first time i'd heard his voice w/o the usual overdone nashville orchestration -- just folkish accompaniment -- beautiful.

[Tikki]

13. Best in County...and the fact he recorded and sang with so many, they wanted their legacy with him.

Here is a younger George Jones singing a trademark song....

Tikki

[Eleanors38]

8. I'll just take a slug of White Lightnin.' RIP.

[bigtree]

9. .

[Eleanors38]

14. Back un the 60s our family was winding through the

the Carolina Mtns, and stopped for gas in Trannsylvania Co. 'Git a jug after we inquired (a Florida plate was good as currency even then). Had a faint cloudy blue tinge and was great.

That Jones song IIRC charted about the time Mitchum's "Thunder Road" was being turned into a red neck cult classic (the movie, anyway).

Fun old memories, increasingly brought to fore by death.

[HereSince1628]

10. He Stopped lovin U.S. today

They put a wreath upon his door.

[kentuck]

11. Here it is:

So long Possum.

[Eleanors38]

15. Raitt's song turned to eulogy. Da Poss!

[Bake]

16. Greatest country singer of all time, bar none.

Influenced EVERYBODY who came after him.

RIP, Possum.

Bake