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From: PJC114A@aol.com
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 16:14:22 EDT
Subject: Jim on TNN's "Century of Country"

I have been a super-fan of Jim Reeves since 1966 when I "took a chance" and purchased my first Jim Reeves album, "Moonlight and Roses." That was one of the best "chances" I've ever made! What a thrill it was to see Jim singing on last week's "Century of Country." I would love to see the entire video, or as much as possible, of these wonderful songs by Jim made available on VHS. Can anything be done to have this idea become a reality? It would be great if they included the part of the currently available video "Gentleman Jim" which shows Jim singing "Adios Amigo" at a Norwegian concert. Only a very short part of the concert is shown on that tape but I'm sure the entire concert is somewhere to be found. A few years ago I wrote to Mary Reeves inquiring about that Norweigen concert and she told me the tape was owned by two men from England. That's all the information she gave me.

Please let me know if you think these great videos will be made available to us.

Thanks so much for your help.
--Philip Cafiero

Editor's Note: This video, in its entirety, has been traded back and forth amongst a handful of collectors for years, and Norwegian television has also shown it in the past year. Like a lot of wonderful things pertaining to Jim, no one with the power to do anything about it is interested. Just us fans.

Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 15:25:32 +0200
From: "Theo Smit" <T.Smit@sfb.nl>
Subject: Jim Reeves on DVD?

Jim Reeves made a movie called "Kimberley Jim." Is there a chance that this movie will come out on DVD?

I would also like to know are any (live) performances of Jim Reeves on film ("clips") witch have been brought out on DVD.

Yours sincerely,
--Theo Smit

Editor's Note: Dream on. We can't even get BMG to release Jim's major LPs on CD!

Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 13:13:37 -0600
From: "Ann Morris" <amorris@sat.net>
Subject: Re: Jim Reeves

Have you ever visited Jim's hometown of Carthage, Texas, and visited the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame that honors him, Tex Ritter (also from Panola County), Willie Nelson, Joe Allison (writer of several of Jim's songs), Cindy Walker, and others?

--Ann Morris

Editor's Note: I have not but people who have been there -- including Jim's family members, who live close by -- say that Jim is given short shrift. Apparently, the new owner of the Reeves estate, despite all the accolades that were heaped on him last Summer, has not not seen fit to even loan some of Jim's memorabilia to his home county for its museum. Tom and Billie Perryman did, however, donate some of Jim's clothing. There is very little else. A Ritter family member oversees the museum so -- not surprisingly -- the emphasis there is on Tex, not Jim, despite that Reeves is the one who truly spread the gospel of country music throughout the world. It's a shame.

Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 17:56:55 -0400
From: Ken and Betty Bendig <BetKen@Worldnet.att.net>
Subject: I Missed It!!

Week after week I check TNN in our Cableviews Magazine in hopes of finding The Life and Times of Jim Reeves, or ANYthing that might be about him. This past week I did not check. I am truly sick at heart for having to missed [Century of Country], and seeing Chet, too. Do you know of any possible way of getting a video of that hour? Do you think I should try writing directly to TNN and not only ask for that, but ask for more about Jim? I have a feeling they will pay no attention.

I'm also disgusted with A&E for not doing his biography.

I understand that at last the grass has been cut at the Memorial, but it never should have gotten in that condition. Distressing, isn't it?

You are doing a magnificent job with the website. I love visiting there even though the news must often be sad. Thank you for all that you do for Jim and for his fans.

As always,
--Betty

Editor Note: Perhaps some fan out there who made a homemade tape could make you a copy. Will someone write to Betty and arrange this? So far I have not seen any promotion indicating that TNN will sell copies of the shows. What's interesting also is that normally TNN repeats shows later in the evening and/or the next day. Not this one. It only aired once.

With regard to the grass finally having been cut at the Memorial, the fact is this has been a recurring problem and no doubt will be again.

From: "Kai Aurbo" <kaiaurbo@city.dk>
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 10:01:02 +0200
Subject: Spanish words

I have some problems with three "Jim" songs, which contain Spanish words. Maybe you can help me or somebody out there, if you will kind to put me on the Fan Forum.

# 1. "Drinking Tequila" (Bear Family record 2 cut 6), all the chorus: "Viva ......

# 2. "Echo Bonita" (Bear Family record 1 cut 15), the first word in the last line: "Enara.... for just we three".

# 3. "El Rancho Del Rio" (Bear Family record 1 cut 11), the third line: It sounds like: "Bontusanora with matijaka (?) gonna catch a señorita".

I'll be very glad, if somebody can help me. Thank you!

Kai Aurbo

Editor Note: I assume you are looking for the English translations? Can someone out there help him?

From: sajan@teil.soft.net
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 22:51:41 -0600
Subject: guitar tabs

I was wondering why people who set up Jim Reeves pages don't add any guitar tabs for any of his songs? Even [the website] "olga" has only one tabbed song. Is there any such site in your knowledge?

--Sajan

Editor Note: The reason for the scarcity of guitar tabs on the web for Jim Reeves songs is that the songs -- music and lyrics -- are copyrighted. The various music publishers require that permission be obtained and fees paid every time a song appears in print or on the web. There ARE lyrics for Jim's songs posted elsewhere on the internet, but this is a flagrant violation of copyright statutes, it is NOT covered by the so-called "fair use" doctrine, and it is ILLEGAL. Hence I will not do it. Perhaps there are some fans out there who wouldn't mind sharing a copy of some of Jim's sheet music with you. -- Julie

From: MSMJORDAN@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 23:10:31 EDT
Subject: Jim Reeves

I was born a year before Jim Reeves' death but my Dad always bought his records so of course I became his fan. Our Sunday morning "alarm clock"were songs by Jim being played on a record player. Those were great and unforgetable days. He had the most beautiful voice and the sweetest words in his songs. I commute to work every morning and I play his music; it not only lifts my spirits, but makes my day. Listening to his music help me find peace and solace. It is so comforting and clean. He was the greatest. Some of my favorite songs are "Little Ole Dime," and "Blue Side of Lonesome." I play it over and over; I can never get tired of listening to his music. I would love to purchase some CDs. San you tell me how I could get them? Thanks for keeping his memories alive. I know he is an angel in heaven. May God bless his wife Mary.

A fan forever!
--M. Jordan, (Tacoma, WA)

Editor Note: With your last name, I thought maybe you were related to my inlaws but I guess not. Anyway, I recommend you call Margaret Beeskau at 615-833-6525 in Nashville. Not only does she have the best prices, she gives you personal service and is great about tracking down items you're looking for. Plus she's a dear lady and friend of Joyce Jackson's. She also saw Jim at a live concert in Madison, Tenn. and is a big fan. Tell her I said "hi"... -- Julie

From: "Ieuan Ellis" <ellisig@btinternet.com>
Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 09:17:24 +0100
Subject: jim reeves bear 16 cd set

Can you tell me if the [Bear Family] 16-CD Jim Reeves set is available in the UK and if so how much it costs?

--Ieuan G. Ellis

Editor Note: Our friend Tony Wall, one of the world's foremost Reeves collectors who lives in England, advises that the HMV store on Oxford Street in London carries the CD set. The cost is around 200 pounds ($300 American). The cost in the U.S. is less, of course, so it may make sense to buy it here and have it shipped. Look on the "Recordings" page for more details. -- Julie

From: bero1@home.com
Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 22:02:50 -0400
Subject: Beautiful Page!

What a wonderful thing you did by making this page about Jim! Lucky me, I keyed in "Jim Reeves" in my search engine and yours was the first one up! I thereby got the best, most authorative page about Jim. I believe this to be true because so many things about him were verified here, things that I had heard and read many years ago. I had the most wonderful meeting with Mary in Nashville in '71. Again, thanks for a wonderful job, keeping his memory alive!

Sincerely,
--Bent Romnes

From: mpc8509@ibm.net
Subject: Re: A Touch Of Velvet
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 18:53:40 -0600

[I would like to know about] the availability of "A Touch Of Velvet" on CD. Anywhere in the world.

(Unsigned)

Editor Note: As far as I know it is not available as a CD release (though it is on the big Bear Family 16-CD set).

Incidentally, I've gotten a lot of email from people lately wanting to acquire this or that album on CD. They apparently assume that all of Jim's vinyl albums are now obtainable in digital format but unfortunately that is NOT the case. BMG/RCA has been extremely slow to realize the demand for this.

Recently I had a conversation with a BMG representative in New York and I asked him why they were not doing more with Jim's catalog. I cited the example of Patsy Cline, whose record company (MCA) has done such things as put out "Live At the Cimmaron Ballroom" -- which was actually a bootleg recording that they made available on CD. Since similar live recordings exist on Jim -- including things of much better audio quality -- in addition to some studio tunes no one has heard before, it indeed is strange that nothing has been released. The record exec responded that "there simply isn't a market for it." To my further astonishment, he also commented, "Of course, you realize Jim Reeves wasn't as big of a star as Patsy Cline was..."

This should tell you all you need to know about the appalling ignorance of the younger people who now run the show there in New York and don't have a clue about Jim's recording legacy. Reeves' sales dwarf those of his contemporaries, and continue to be strong throughout the world today. His recordings in Australia, the UK and Denmark have reached the top of the charts even in the last year or two. Pretty amazing that the BMG guy didn't know this. And yet HE'S the man in charge of selecting songs for any repackagings done under the BMG label.

The reality is that BMG can make money merely by licensing Jim's masters to independent labels all around the world, without putting forth any extra effort to make new Jim Reeves recordings available. And the powers that be are too stupid to realize that if his OLD recordings are selling so well, think of what something NEW would do in the marketplace.

From: Jstadancin@aol.com
Date: Sun, 2 May 1999 05:38:24 EDT
Subject: Jim

I was so pleased to find this web site! I have been a Jim Reeves fan for over 30 years. I had an uncle who was in the service in France with Jim, and used to receive Christmas cards from Jim every year. I grew up loving his music and warm ways. Again.....thank you.

--Bob Outman

Editor's Note: I appreciate your kind email but your uncle could NOT have been in the service with Jim in France or anywhere else. Although Jim was very athletic, and of course pursued a baseball career as a young man, he developed a condition known as "athlete's heart" and hence was exempted from military service.

Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 14:46:41 -0500
From: Karen Young <kyoung01@mail.state.mo.us>
Subject: Dark Moon

Could you please tell me if Jim Reeves ever recorded "Dark Moon"? We are trying to find out who sang the original recording of this song and if you can still buy it but are not having very much luck. Thank You.

--Karen Young

Editor's Note: Indeed he did. Like most things, it is in that big Bear collection. But maybe it's been released on one of the many repackagings that have been put out by independent labels around the world. If anyone knows, please write in.

From: "Kai Aurbo" <kaiaurbo@city.dk>
Subject: Lyrics
Date: April 30, 1999 15:15:00 +0200

Hi Julie!

I'm a 54 years old man from Denmark. I am, and have been since the beginning of the seventeen's, a great fan of Jim Reeves. I really appreciate your website and all those things you are doing to keep our great Jim Reeves in mind. I also think, there's too little about Jim Reeves generally. Last year my wife and I took a trip to Nashville, Shreveport and Carthage. It was a great experience, but also a little disappointment, because of the very little we found about Jim Reeves, especially in Nashville.

And then I want some help from other fans of Jim Reeves. Ten years ago I started to translate the lyrics of Jim's songs into Danish, because sometimes I couldn't hear exactly or understand a single word or a line of the song, that Jim was singing, so I decided to translate it all. And with a great help from two fans of Jim Reeves, I have almost finished that. But I'm still missing the Afrikaans songs. Maybe somebody will be kind and help me with that? It's all only for myself. Please send me an e-mail!

--Best wishes
Kai Aurbo

Editor Note: Can anyone out there help him out with the English translations of Jim's Afrikaans songs?

From: "LisaP" <map@digitex.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 13:13:16 -0500
Subject: Search for a particular song

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am looking for a song that my Mother used to sing all the time. Yesterday I heard that it was Jim Reeves that did the song. The name of it is "Poor Little Doll" I believe. Did he record the song and if so, could you tell me the name of the albulm and how I could go about finding it? I appreciate you taking the time to read this and for any help you could give me.

--Thanks,
Lisa

Editor Note: The name of the song to which you refer is actually called "Don't You Want To Be My Girl" but most people know it for the hook, "Poor little doll." It was written by Nellie Smith and Leona Butrum. The only place I know of where you can find it is on the big Bear Family 16-CD collection of Jim's recordings. If anyone knows of another place, please let me know!

From: DollsCars@aol.com
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 20:44:12 EDT
Subject: JIM REEVES MUSEUM

Recently my wife and I were in Nashville and went to see the Jim Reeves Museum. It appeared to be run down and possibly closed down. Do you know what the status of the museum is?

--Bob Lasagna, Miami, Florida

Editor Note: Not only is the Jim Reeves Museum closed at the historic Evergreen Place, the new owner of the Reeves estate, Ed Gregory, has been trying to sell it. Rumor has it that he has an option on a couple of pieces of real estate with the idea of combining Jim's memorabilia with that of some other artists. (Gregory is a big cowboy fan so we're not sure how Gentleman Jim fits in that scenario). Nothing has been announced as yet. -- Julie

From: cglocks@pop.mindspring.com
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 14:37:16 -0400
Subject: Jim Reeves movies

I just saw your post about Country Weekly's answer concerning Jim Reeves movies. I would have thought someone working in a Q&A dept would have been more careful than to rely on an internet database for this info.

In fairness to the database I believe Julie G. Bandy used -- Internet Movie Database -- they do have a way to correct erroneous info, but you have to register to do it.

No database is perfect, as the people at IMDB realize. These databases are after all, powered by a computer, not a person. The computer searches for Jim Reeves, and finds 3 of them, 2 actors, and one crewman. How does the computer distinguish between Jim Reeves the actor, and Jim Reeves, the other actor? It can't.

A person who knew anything about either Jim Reeves, or westerns would have looked at the info, and realized that Jim Reeves in 1953 was not likely to play an old man in a movie -- unless it was one cheap film. He was way too young for the part, and a movie with a decent budget would have hired an old man, not a young one to play an old man. A person would have said a movie directed by Raoul Walsh, and starring Rock Hudson wasn't likely to be a cheap film, so the 1953 Jim Reeves is probably a red herring. But Ms. Bandy either doesn't know anything about Jim Reeves, or western movies, or both, or she just didn't bother to do her research.

Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) nowadays will not allow two members to register with the same name. For example, there is a John Jackson registered, so when John Jackson of Texas came to California to be an actor, he had to register as John M. Jackson -- even though he doesn't have a middle name. This helps prevent some but not all of the database goofs and miscredits that can otherwise occur.

Thanks for being on top of this, you really are doing a great job of keeping all of us out here in cyberspace informed!

Take care,
--Cathy

Editor Note: Thanks for such an informative letter! -- Julie

From: "Karl T. Thurber, Jr." <kthurber@mindspring.com>
Subject: Louisiana Hayride
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 14:08:14 -0600

Hi. I saw the article on the attempt at bringing the Lousiana Hayride back both in the newspaper and posted on your Website, and wonder if anything has come of it.

Thanks.
--Karl Thurber, Jr.

Editor Note: That's a good question and I hope someone who knows will write in and update us.

From: "KAP-ctaylor" <kapusa@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: song lyrics
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 13:55:17 -0500

I need to identify a song I think was recorded by Jim Reeves. The words I remember go something like this:

"How many fools would love you
After all is said and done...
If you need a fool to love you,
I know one."

Can you tell me if it's one of his and if so who wrote it?

--Carol Taylor

Editor's Note: Your lyrics are a little off, but the song to which you are referring is "I Know One." To listen to Jim's live performance of this song on the Grand Ole Opry stage, click here (and hear it in streaming RealAudio).

From: Birdie2357@aol.com
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 18:34:00 EDT
Subject: JIM REEVES SONG: "Partners"

Hello fellow Jim Reeves fans! I was wondering if you knew where I could get a copy of "Partners", by Jim Reeves. Is there anywhere I can find a single of said song? Or is it not made anymore? A reply would be much appreciated.

--Robin

Editor Note: This song has got to be the strangest Jim ever recorded. It's about cannibalism! There may be collectors out there who have an extra copy on a single and will contact you. Good luck.

From: CW4ALEX@aol.com
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 11:37:33 EDT
Subject: Jim Reeves Onstage

Being a Jim Reeves fan all my life I have never heard a voice so clear and beautiful as Jim's voice. I think Jim without a doubt is the best singer I ever heard. The reason I say this is because of the songs that he did (children's songs) and what I call off the wall songs, ("The Mighty Everglades") and his recital songs. Songs that weren't done to make money. Anyway the reason why I'm writting this mail is to tell you something I'm sure you never heard before.

I'm sure you heard the album "Jim Reeves On Stage." The original tape of that album was my uncle's. It was taped in Dry Run, Pa. If I remember right Jim makes a statement on the tape saying that he didn't know whose sound system this is but it makes my system sound dinky. Well that tape like I said was my uncle's (Ken Alexander's.)

The way I heard the story was my uncle loaned this particular tape to someone (Ihave no idea who), this person took the tape to RCA and got the tape recorded [and then released as a live album]. Without permission I might add. I guess the reason why I wrote this is because I felt shorted for my uncle's sake. Why my uncle never pursued this matter for legal reasons is probably money reasons. Well that's my little connection to the Greatest of the Greats

--Stan Alexander

From: "STAN" <AIRDATA@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: James Travis Reeves and Mitch Torok
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 14:40:52 -0500

This site is great. Thank you. My dad was born in Logan, Texas and went to school in Galloway. Dad knew Jim very well. In fact, my grandfather Archie Lee Farris said that Jim's mother Beula Adams was a first cousin. My aunt Willie Lee in Center, Texas remembers that she and "her cousin" Beula worked together picking other people's cotton in 1925. Mom and Dad used to visit Beula in Latex, and went to Beula's funeral also. Now, Mom and Dad are gone, and I am trying to make the link to Jim's mother. If any of Jim's relatives remember Acie, Turner, Laura, Callie or Willie Lee Farris please contact me. Also, by a strange twist of fate, I worked with Mitch Torok at Glenn Advertising in Houston about 1968. If anyone talks to him, please give him my email address. Again, this site is great.

--Stan Farris
airdata@worldnet.att.net

From: Boguinskai@aol.com
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 21:13:57 EST
Subject: MR. VELVET

You are now reading a letter from the biggest fan Jim has in the world. I received my first album, "Blue Side Of Lonesome," new for Christmas in 1968 when I was fourteen, bought his rare "Jim Reeves On Stage" album in 1967, and visited Juanita Larrison at the JR Museum in March, 1985. If there is any way in the world to obtain a Jim Reeves souvenir (not gift shop item; rather, something which was his...i. e., guitar pick, etc.?) I would like to know. Of course I'd like to have that Rickenbacker arch top guitar with his initials which he played in "Kimberly Jim" (ha-ha). If Mary ever gets rid of it, let me know. I myself perform and recorded for Bunky Keels, and when he heard the playback of a Reeves song I did, he shook his head and said "that's spooky, man". So my question is, I understand Jim wasn't particularly fond of being photographed. Is that just a rumor, or accurate?

Thanks.
--Odie Palmer Jr.

Editor's Note: Jim did not particularly care to have his picture taken. In fact, he told one of his friends, Wilma Sedivy of Walford, Iowa that "if you want to be my friend, DON'T take my picture!" Of course, he posed politely for fan photos, but could abruptly cut them off as he grew impatient.

Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 01:28:54 -0800 (PST)
From: WILMER GIESBRECHT <wilmgie@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE:PLANE CRASH

I first became aware of Jim Reeves some time in 1958. We lived on a farm in Canada and had a battery-operated radio which we weren't allowed to listen to very much because, of course, the batteries were expensive. I was 12 years old at the time.

This one night, I was home by myself and after finishing with farm chores I came into the house and listened to the radio. Suddenly I heard the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard in my life. It was Jim Reeves singing "The Blizzard." I noted his name at the end of the song and since that time he was absolutely my favorite singer. Of course, I'd heard "Billy Bayou" and "Bimbo" previously but these were only run of the mill songs in my opinion and I never took note of the artist's name.

I've been impressed reading the large volume of e-mail on your site, how many folks became ardent Jim Reeves fans after hearing A SINGLE TUNE of his. That seems to be a pattern with Jim Reeves lovers...it wasn't any particular song which he sang that they liked but they liked his singing above all else. There's only one of JR's latter songs which I dislike and that's "From A Jack To A King," and only because of the arrangement and not his voice.


It's just very strange to see a whole realm of people out there who are as nuts about Jim Reeves as I am. Until about a year ago, I thought I was the only ardent Jim Reeves fan in the world!!

Sincerely
Wilmer Giesbrecht (Calgary, Alta. Canada)

Yours faithfully
--Margaret

From: "Anton H. Pálsson" <ahp-bj@simnet.is>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 23:39:48 -0000
Subject: Fans in Iceland

Hi. We are just tryng to find some Jim Reeves CD´s. We are from Iceland and we would like too buy some discs. Please contact us on our e-mail address: ahpbj@simnet.is

--Anton H. Pálsson (Iceland)

Editor's Note: Wow. A letter from Iceland. Jim's fans really do span the globe, don't they? Have you looked on our links page? The Ernest Tubb Record Shop does international shipments. I'd recommend you give them a try. You can reach them via email (listed on our links page).

Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 01:38:05 -0500
From: Cathy <cglocks@mindspring.com>
Subject: Jim's horoscope

I don't know if you believe in astrology or not, but you really should see this. Go to the page below:

http://205.186.189.2/ms/astro/ast_serv.html

Once there type in Jim Reeves' birthday (August 20, 1923) and check the dot next to "Yesterday" to get a natal horoscope. Also mark the little box about astrological keys.

The first page that comes up is just general info -- you can skip it. Then you go through Saturn and a couple of other planets, and you may or may not agree with what is there.

But pay attention when you get to the pages on Mars and the Sun. I think you will find yourself recognizing the man described.

--Cathy

From: Brandon Rozairo <brandon@slt.lk>
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 23:14:19 +0530
Subject: Jim Reeves

Dear Julie: With regard to your website, I really wanted to write to you immediately after I got onto it. It is truly a work of LOVE! By a dedicated fan for her idol who is the singing idol of many. You really have done a tremendous job of keeping other fans like us properly informed of the state of Jim's affairs which are really incomprehensible. Apart from the sordid current affairs the site has given us so much insight into Jim and his personality which we did not know very much about.

I really hope Tom Perryman does come up with a new release of hitherto unreleased material if any are still available. It would definitely fill the vacuum felt by Jim's many fans who cannot accept the fact that there is no more of his wonderful singing to come. Also what is badly needed is to put together some of his live performances however rare and old they may be because this is the ONLY way fans like us who never saw him perform can get a glimpse of him performing and reaching out to his audience.

I was also lucky enough, during my visit to Nashville, to get a copy of [the video] "Kimberly Jim" from the souvenir shop at the Grand Ole Opry. If anyone wants to, they should be able to get copies from the shop although I don't know how to contact them save actually going over there. Maybe you can help by getting their address or e-mail and posting it on the Website.

Please do keep up with your updates which are eagerly looked forward to.You'll Never Know how much your work is appreciated.

With warmest regards from the Many fans of JIM in Sri Lanka
--Brandon Rozairo

Editor's Note: Thank you for your nice note. I have been a bit slow to update recently because our young daughter has been ill, first with mono and currently with a strep infection. I appreciate your patience and will do my best in getting things online as quickly as I can. I promised a whole bunch of new material (photos, etc.) and they are coming. I've just been waylaid by our little girl's illness. Thanks for understanding and keep checking back! -- Julie

From: Brewsbud@aol.com
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 19:16:37 EST
Subject: The Best Voice Ever

I just found your site tonight. I have been a huge Jim Reeves fan since I was 10 years old and 37 years later I love his music more than ever. Your site is a very fine tribute to the Best Voice Ever in Country and quite possibly in any music field. My uncle had a large collection of the original Reeves recordings, but they have long since been lost. We would sit for hours and listen to Jim's albums. This site has brought back many fond memories that I shared with my uncle. Thanks and keep up the good work.

--Chuck Smith

From: "Bjorn Tore Stolen" <bjorn.tore.stolen@ys.no>
Subject: Kimberly Jim
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 14:59:21 +0100

Julie, I`m sorry I saw this inquiry just yesterday, but I'd like to say that I hope they use the correct tracks on the CD [re-issue of the "Kimberley Jim" soundtrack]. The reason I say this is that the Bear Family box uses an alternative track for the title tune, the original LP track is not on the box-set. Therefore, there is a possibility to include the alternative version as a bonus track on the re-issue. The film premiered in Droebak in Norway in April 1996, and it was a great success in this country. I'm trying to convince Norwegian television to show the picture on July 31 1999, on the 35-anniversary of Jim`s death. By the way, there are more tracks on the box-set which are different than the original LP-versions.

--Bjørn Tore Stølen

Editor's Note: The gentleman who owns Soundies, the record label that's re-issuing "Kimberley Jim," is a regular visitor to this site. I'm sure he'll be interested in your thoughts. Thanks for writing.

From: GHunt10002@aol.com
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 01:41:31 EST
Subject: Jim Reeves recording

My father had an album of Jim Reeves entitled "Talkin' to Your Heart". It was full of stories that Jim had recorded. It was loaned to a friend years ago and never returned. No one seems to know what happened to it. I have searched the listing in the record shops hoping to replace it, but I have had no luck. I have contacted record shops that claim "if it was ever recorded we can get it". They also cannot find it. I cannot find any mention of it on any of the web sites I have looked at so far.

Can you give me any information about this album? Is there any way I can obtain a copy of it?

Thanks
--G.P. Hunt

Editor's Note: I posted this letter here to remind visitors that they can submit free ads for the Trading Post section of this website. Just email them to me.

From: "Alan Robertson" <Alan1rob@btinternet.com>
Subject: Kimberley Jim
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 23:27:51 -0000

Hello There!

Thanks for a great web site.

May I be so bold as to question an article you are currently promoting on your web site?

Your page on the pending release of the new "Kimberley Jim" CD has one minor error worthy of correcting. I believe the correct spelling of for the movie is KIMBERLEY and not KIMBERLY

I will humbly stand corerected if I am wrong -- please advise.

That aside, you go straight to the top of the class for the web site. I have been collecting Jim's recordings since around 1977 after a TV promotion for the UK release of "40 Golden Greats". My collection now boasts of over 100 albums, 40 singles, over 40 cassettes, an ever increasing CD collection and over 50 cassettes of various radio shows, interviews, & tribute shows to Jim, not to mention 8 albums of tributes to Jim by different artists including a Welsh Male Voice Choir.

Keep up the good work!

Regards,
--Alan Robertson

Editor's Note: Several people wrote to ask me about my spelling of the movie title. I plead guilty to leaving out the "e." I did some checking, however, and would you believe that even some of the original promotion for the movie featured two spellings of the word "Kimberley"?

As for your collection of Reeves material -- that Welsh Male Voice Choir sure sounds interesting! I once heard a rock group doing "He'll Have to Go" on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live" years ago. All sorts of people have sung Jim's songs!

From: "ema1" <ema1@istar.ca>
Subject: jim reeves
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 13:18:04 -0500

Did Jim ever record the song "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain"?

--Eve (Nova Scotia, Canada).

Editor's Note: No, he did not record this old Kate Smith signature song, but he sure could have done a beautiful job singing it, couldn't he? I'd never thought of that song in connection with Jim before, but it really does seem like one he could have done well. It IS possible he may at some time have sung it during a live appearance. When he played dances, Jim frequently sang a wide range of songs that none of his fans would ever have guessed he'd sing. As Mary explained, he always tried to at least sing a few bars of a requested song, even if he didn't know the whole song. His lead guitarist, Leo Jackson, confirms this.

Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 21:06:54 -0600
From: t15@webtv.net (Allen Chandler)
Subject: Re: Article on the film 'Kimberley Jim'

Hi Julie. I found this article on the movie "Kimberly Jim". I thought you would like to see it. (Article attached)

--Allen Chandler

Editor's Note: I have exchanged several emails over the months with the man whose article you sent me, and regretably he is full of speculation and conjecture without facts to back him up. Also, for him to recommend "Professor" Streissguth's book, and for this sort of recommendation to once again find its way to the web -- when it is so clearly established that the book is full of errors -- is really reprehensible. The truth is, many of the people who are quoted in the Streissguth book deny ever having talked to him! He may technically be a professor, but if any of his students showed a similar lack of scholarship, my guess is he'd give them a failing grade. Reeves fans who depend on these types of sources are filling their heads with a lot of stuff that's demonstrably untrue.

Misinformation about Jim Reeves abounds. For instance, an overseas website has an interview posted with Charlie Louvin, which even the webmaster admits contains some inaccurate information. My question is: WHY POST IT? I say this with all due respect to the foreign web host, who has been a steadfast fan of Jim's for many years. The trouble is, some of us have waited patiently for weeks for him to post a disclaimer which lets his visitors know that the Louvin interview has inaccuracies in it. But he has not done so. In the meantime, unsuspecting people who read the interview get a false impression about several matters pertaining to Jim. For instance, Charlie Louvin implies that Jim bribed the examiner to pass his flying test and get his license, that he hit a steel tower which caused him to crash, that the control tower operator with whom he was in contact told him not to look out the window -- that he'd talk him down; that he went to the Opry the week before he was killed but didn't sing because he had a cold; and that his brother, Ira Louvin, often accompanied Jim on out-of-town trips because Jim didn't like to travel alone. This is so much rubbish!

To take these silly claims in order: (1) Jim was described as an "above average" student by Fred Bunyan of Southeastern Beachcraft, who was trying to sell Jim the plane. He said Jim was so conscientious he always insisted on a check-out with the plane even if he'd been away from it for only a short while. Besides, the FAA does NOT operate that way -- conferring licenses on ill-equipped students. (2) Jim did NOT hit a steel tower. The plane nose-dived and barely ruffled the upper branches of the trees. (3) Jim reported running into heavy rain and said he had lost sight of the airport. The tower operator looked at his radar and advised Jim that on his present heading, he should pass through the small area of rain in about a mile. He crashed before that could occur. (4) Jim did NOT go to the Opry the weekend before his death (everyone including Joyce Jackson and Ray Baker deny it) and he wasn't even a member of the Opry anymore. (5) Jim Reeves was a grown-up man who didn't need a chaperone when he travelled. Any number of times, his secretary, Joyce Jackson, remembers Jim flying to New York to do a TV show alone.

Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 22:52:18 -0500
From: Ken and Betty Bendig <BetKen@Worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Unreleased Material!

For a long time I have been hoping -- wishing -- longing for some unreleased songs by Jim, but there has not been anything. I won't give up, though! I'm sure it's out there, and maybe Tom Perryman will help all of us who can never hear enough from Jim. Even just the possibility of having more is very exciting! I look forward to the reality. And I love this great website!

--Betty Bendig

Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 02:19:22 -0500
From: Cathy <cglocks@mindspring.com>
Subject: your website

Dear Ms. Campbell: As a fan of the great Jim Reeves, I want to thank you for doing this wonderful website. I must admit, after some of the things I have learned here, I almost wish I had never found your site. I had no idea what was going on. But Jim Reeves' true fans can't afford to turn a blind eye to the awful truth and remain uninformed while a great man is slandered and his widow is railroaded. I just wish there was something we could do to help the Reeves family in this terrible time.

Years ago I saw an article on Mary Reeves and Terry [Davis]; it included a picture of them together, and spoke of how Mary was keeping Jim's memory alive. I remember wondering how Terry liked being married to a woman whose focus was perpetuating the memory of her first husband. I wondered why he married her. Most men I know would find that a little uncomfortable -- unless they had something to gain by it. I also thought he looked like a snake. Now I know I was unfortunately right.

That's why I'll never believe a bad word I read or hear about Jim Reeves. If you look at his picture or see him on some of the old tapes you can see he is a good person -- it's written in his face. Just as Terry's true nature is written in his.

I had never heard of the slanderous book, but I'll be sure not to buy it if I see it.

I could not believe that Mr. Gregory now actually owns Jim Reeves' remains. For him to be owning anything of Jim Reeves is bad enough, but his remains? Is there anything that can be done legally?

Thank you again for this site. I'll be checking back regularly in hopes of good news soon. I know you are non-profit and don't take any money -- and I have none to give since I'm a starving student -- but I've been working my way through school with webwork, so if you ever have a bug in your html and need another pair of eyes to check it, I'd be happy to oblige.

--Cathy Locks

Editor's Note: Thank you so much for your wonderful letter. You so beautifully expressed the opinion of a lot of Reeves fans about what's happened to the estate. Let's face it -- big money talks. And in Tennessee, apparently, it not only talks -- it YELLS. But rest assured that the Reeves family plans to pursue justice in this matter with the same sort of tenacity that Jim himself was known for. There are already plans to take this matter to a higher court level with new counsel involved. When that happens, the actions of a number of people will be examined under a microscope and they aren't going to look very good. I'll keep you posted.

As for Terry Davis, his conduct over the last number of years with regard to his victimization of Mary will be detailed in the forthcoming new book on Jim that will appear later this year. It's a shocking story that is so unbelievable it could be made into a TV "Movie of the Week." But it's all true, and all documented through court records and interviews with those closest to Mary.

As the Good Book says, God's mill grinds slowly but exceedingly fine... -- Julie

Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 18:14:29 -0600
From: jusducky@webtv.net (Donald Chappell)
Subject: Jim on CD

I have quite an elaborate collection of Jim Reeves music, specializing in the overdubs. Unfortunately, most of my collection is on vinyl. I say "unfortunately" because Jim's velvety voice, along with the technical wizardy and superior audio quality of the newer overdubs, seem best suited for CD. I see very few CDs of Jim around -- and it's a darn shame. I can just imagine the goosebumps that would be produced by hearing overdub projects like the "There's Always Me" album in a digital format. It would be awesome!

Just why is it that we don't see more digital stuff on Jim? Even the brilliance and clarify ot the originals would be sooooo much sweeter on CD! Are there plans for any more overdubs? And is the 16 CD set by Bear Family still "in print"?

I thank you in advance for your time, Julie. It certainly is nice to know that you and your incredible web page are available for people like me.

--Donald Chappell

Editor's Note: There were a few dozen separate releases of Jim Reeves music on CD on various labels around the world last year, but most of these were compiled by people just out to make a quick buck. Those choosing the songs often don't know enough about Jim's catalog to make intelligent choices. So there's no logic or theme to most of them. There just isn't anybody in a position of authority to take an active role with BMG/RCA in advocating these releases now that Mary is incapacitated through illness. However, that might all change sooner than anyone thinks. And yes, the Bear Family 16-CD is still in print byt rumor has it that the licensing agreement expires this year. You can find a phone number on the "Recordings" page for ordering this set. -- Julie

Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 22:32:40 -0600
From: lsherrie@sprynet.com
Subject: Re: thank you for a wonderful web site

Being raised on Jim Reeves there is still a cold chill of pride when I hear him sing. My mother had all his albums and 45s; she would make us be quiet when (as she called him) "Mr. Reeves" sang on the radio. She's gone now but when I hear him sing I can see my mom with her eyes closed listening to him on the radio. My favorite song of all times is "Night Watch" and my mother's too. But on to my question: Did Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline ever record a song together? Thank you.

--Louis w. Cuttlers

Editor's Note: Thank you for such a nice letter. I really appreciate it. No, as far as is known, Jim and Patsy never actually recorded together because he was on RCA and she was on Decca, and in those days record companies were very much rivals, and didn't cooperate together! However, Jim and Patsy worked shows together from time to time. For instance, she appeared at least twice on the old "Friday Nite Frolics" shows on WSM, with Jim as the guest host. (I have tapes of these performances). Also, they did the Opry together, a few armed forces shows, and even personal appearances. As you may know, they also performed at Carnegie Hall together. Later, in the 1980s, Mary Reeves and Owen Bradley combined the tracks that Jim and Patsy each recorded separately, and created two "duets" that hit the top of the charts -- "Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue)?" and "I Fall To Pieces." -- Julie

From: "Edward Morris" <charleypride@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Your wonderful website!!!
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 20:41:30 -0600

I've been a subscriber to your mailing list for only a few weeks, and I must say, kudos to you! I appreciate your e-mail concerning the health of Leo Jackson. Your website is very informative, and appreciated by yours truly.

I am 42, and was a disc jockey, music director and program director, in small market radio for 20 years. It drove me nuts to see fellow country music deejays in my age group, totally ignore the greatness of Gentleman Jim. A number of them seemed to resent the fact I loved Jim's music more than Hank Williams, Jr. What a joke! They felt since Jim was deceased, this about 1981, if you weren't into "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound," you were somehow viewed as an "oldtimer."

Julie, on a number of occasions, I attempted to talk my radio bosses into doing sponsored salutes to Jim, on the anniversary of his death, only to be told, "we'll see." Needless to say, nothing ever came of it. I pressed them as to why we aren't doing tributes to Jim, and was told, "if he were Elvis, we would." For some strange reason, they felt Jim's fans were people of a certain age group, while Elvis was practically a "god," who appealled to the masses. Ha!

For the life of me, I cannot understand why a movie or play hasn't been done on the life and career of Jim Reeves, much in the way of Patsy Cline. It's as if no one has ever heard of him. A&E's "Biography" recently dedicated a week to country music; and again, no mention of Jim Reeves. Even the plaque in the Country Music Hall of Fame, in Nashville, has 1924, instead of 1923, as the year of his birth. What's going on, here! I don't mean to sound irrational, however, it irrates the heck out of me, to show such disrespect to a man whose voice was so unbelievable!

I apologize for going on for so long. I'll close for now. Keep up the great work!!!

Sincerely yours,
--Ed Morris 

Editor's Note: The next time someone wants to compare Elvis Presley's continued popularity with Jim's, ask them how many hits Elvis had after his death. Did he have 34 like Jim did? Did he have 17 that made the Top Ten like Jim did? Is Elvis popular in places like Sri Lanka, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, etc.? NO artist has had the sort of long-term posthumous success as Jim Reeves -- not even Hank Sr. As for Jim appealing only to an older demographic, that's nonsense. I get letters all the time from young people -- teenagers even -- who love Jim's music and discovered it through their parents or grandparents.

As for the wrong date in the Country Music Hall of Fame -- that wasn't really the CMF's fault, it was a small concession engineered by Mary, who with tongue in cheek went along with the date Jim always put on his resume. She did, however, let fans know the truth when she made sure the date of his birth was shown correctly as 1923 at his burial site in Texas. -- Julie

--B. Ellis

Editor's Note: I hope someone out there will be able to help this woman find her son.

From: Crownman52@aol.com
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 22:41:54 EST
Subject: Hi

Jim Reeves is like Conway Twitty, in that he'll never be as appreciated as he deserves for all he's done. How can I get more of his CD's?

Editor's Note: A good source is the Ernest Tubb Record Shops of Nashville, Tenn. There is a link to them on my "Links" page.

From: Patsyfan1@aol.com
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 19:24:15 EST
Subject: Jim on the radio

Just wanted readers to know that Lexington, KY WBUL ( 98.1 fm) has a country gold program. Finally after the holidays have settled down they got some Jim Reeves tunes digitized for the computers. The DJ played "Blue Boy" today. It has taken a few weeks to get this done.

Through some hard work on my part and another Patsy fan we hear Patsy every Sunday morning on this program. I think the donuts we took out may have helped. Ha ha.

The program has just been named the #1 weekend morning program. We are so proud of John McNeese and the station for their hard work. Give us some time and we will get Jim on every Sunday and during the week. The program manager said he had several 1,000's of song to digitize.

Always,
--Jimmy Walker

Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 13:29:29 -0600
From: "marttin lowrie" <martinlowrie@mlowrie.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: The Jim Reeves Estate Controversy

I have just been reading the court proceeding on the Jim Reeves web site. I am shocked that the Jim Reeves estate has been through all this trouble. A lot of this information has not reached the UK and I think that if it had, the people who were trying to keep the estate in safe hands would have had more support from here in the UK. I am sorry to hear about the poor health of Mary Reeves. I think that her second husband sucks. Please let me know if you possibly could of any further developments in the case.

--Martin Lowrie (Wakefield W.Yorks UK)

Editor's Note: Thank you for your comments. Questions abound about how Mary was induced to supposedly change her mind and instead of giving her second husband, Terry Davis, $5,000 a month in support, give him HALF of everything that belonged to her, including royalties from Jim's recordings and his memorabilia. (He now draws over $20,000 monthly and will get it all when Mary dies). The second agreement was signed only a few weeks after the earlier agreement, and shortly before Mary was transferred by Terry to a lock-up facility and declared mentally incompetent. The full story remains to be told, and it is a shocking and disgraceful one which the whole world will soon know. After the Davidson County human services people had focused attention on the squalid conditions Mary had been living under (with a couple of hundred cats roaming the Reeves home in Madison, and cat feces everywhere, thanks to Terry), Davis took her to Rutherford County and hence got her beyond the jurisdiction of the authorities who had him under scrutiny. They lived for awhile in a ramshackle farmhouse without even some of the basic necessities of life. Tom and Billie Perryman, who profess to dislike Terry Davis, nevertheless helped him sell everything Mary owned to Ed Gregory, who bought everything at a low price and with an unsecured note. Perryman is now employed by Mr. Gregory. While she was in the hospital, but before she was transferred to a lock-up ward, Mary asked her close friends to help her find out from her attorney, Mr. Kilgore, if it was too late to divorce Davis. Yet Kilgore worked for a law firm that also represented Davis. Nothing was done in this regard. Bill White, a nephew whom Mary never had anything to do with, was suddenly appointed her "conservator" -- a move which Mr. Gregory heartily endorsed. White's handling of Mary's affairs also raises questions, since he's getting bookings through Mr. Gregory, to pursue a singing career. Meanwhile, Lani Arnold, Jim's niece, presses forward slowly but surely. There is a hearing scheduled in March at which time a number of matters may be addressed. But don't look for Judge Frank Clement, Jr. to suddenly change course. Throughout this ordeal, he has hamstrung Lani Arnold at every step of the way, not even allowing the mental state of Terry Davis to be examined, though surely any fair-minded observer would conclude that this was very gemaine. After all, Davis purported to know best what Mary wanted -- even though he directly benefitted -- and Bill White endorsed Davis' move, thus convincing the court to go along with this travesty. The evidence regarding Mary's abuse has been quietly suppressed. For now. But stay tuned. I can tell you only that an investigation of this matter is currently underway at a higher level. -- Julie (To read about this case, go to the About Mary section.)

Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 17:34:00 -0500
From: Ken and Betty Bendig <BetKen@Worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Two Questions

Hello Julie -

I need help with two questions and I look forward to having answers to these that puzzle me.

1. With regard to country music, what does A&R stand for?

2. Is it true that two songs in the Bear Family 16 CD set are not sung by Jim? If so, I wonder which two they can be?

--Betty Bendig

Editor's Note: "A&R" stands for "artists and repertoire." For instance, Chet Atkins with RCA's A&R man in Nashville, handling the artists and the songs they recorded.

A lot of people have privately emailed to ask which two songs in the Bear boxed set were NOT sung by Jim Reeves. Actually, I thought that was pretty obvious. They are "Right Words" and "You Darling You", both in CD #16. As Leo Jackson comments, "I guarantee you those are not Jim. Even on his worst day Jim never sounded that bad." Indeed, the songs sound like a very bad imitator. The phrasing is completely unlike anything else Jim ever did and the man's voice is quite nasal. -- Julie

From: Bob26354@aol.com
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 20:34:10 EST
Subject: Great web site

I used to write Mary years ago and got to know her thru our letters. She sent me several keepsake items about Jim; these I still have. One thing I promised her was I would never let his memories die. Thanks to people like you it will never die. I get so upset when you never hear about Jim Reeves at the CMAs and other country music TV specials. At the present I am upset with them all. Why can't they do a special on Jim? This is a great web site !! Keep up the great work! How I miss hearing from Mary and talking to her about Jim. If Jim would have lived could you imagine the songs he would have today? God bless you and yours.

--Bob

Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 15:47:53 -0500
From: Paul Bertils <paul.bertils@sympatico.ca>
Subject: YOURS SINCERELY ALBUM

Rumors have circulated for years that there are two different versions of this album "Yours Sincerely, Jim Reeves." One was distributed only in Africa while the second was made available in the rest of the world, so the story goes. Can you comment on the veracity of this? Thank you for your consideration of this request.

With personal regards,
--Paul Bertils

Editor's Note: That's a good question. Perhaps someone who has both albums an write in.

Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 22:53:31 +0100
From: wallace.thompson@mail1-gui.server.ntli.net
Subject: Radio Days Vol. 1

I recently purchased the latest Bear Family Jim Reeves release "Radio Days Vol 1". It is excellent. Some of the recordings sound even better than the studio versions . I thought that "If Heartache Is the Fashion" was particularly good. I wonder if it would be possible for this version of the song to be released "commercially" as a single perhaps? Well done Bear Family -- you put RCA/BMG to shame!

--Wallace Thompson

From: "Carl-Göran Cederblad" <carl.cederblad@swipnet.se>
Subject: Sessions
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 18:08:11 +0100

(Editor's Note: Mr. Cederblad has previously written me to take issue with the assertion that when Jim recorded a Christmas song on July 5, 1963 ("Silver Bells"), RCA's Studio B had been bedecked with Christmas decorations for Elvis Presley, who was also said to be doing some Christmas songs around that time). Julie, I am pleased that you question my statement. I have been doing research on Jim Reeves and other artists who recorded at the RCA Studios for many years. A few years ago I even was at the place where the studio is located nowadays. Also visited the Country Music Hall Fame. Unfortunately we only had time for a short stop. Wish we could have been to the Jim Reeves Museum but that was out of the question at that time. I have been doing research since about the time when I first heard Jim Reeves sing and that was songs like "I Love You Because" and "Adios Amigo", both of them big hits over here. I have also been a member of his two Swedish fan clubs until they folded. So my interest in these particulars is a genuine one.

One thing I have learned from my years of research: Don´t take everything for granted that people tell you years after things happened. So many wrong things have been told and taken for granted concerning what artist did or did not do, among others the facts about what Jim Reeves did in the studio or did not do. I want no fight with you concerning these Christmas songs but I will give some information that I have that speaks for my point of view.

There is a man by the name of Ernst Jorgenson who has for many years done research and published session information about the recordings of Elvis Presley. He eventually became a big man with the BMG company and in later years he has produced several boxes with the material recorded by Elvis. Jorgensen has researched and gone through everything in the RCA vaults concerning recordings made by Presley with a fine tooth comb. These results have been published in various books. As for the year 1963, Elvis Presley did record in the studio in Nashville, as far as we know today, and that was on May 26 and 27. That was his only studio session that year as far as is known for the time being. Then in July Presley recorded the soundtrack for the movie "Love in Las Vegas". The recordings are said to have started on July 7 and were made at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. I don´t find any reason for Elvis Presley to record in Nashville one night and fly to Hollywood for other sessions. I will be back on this subject as soon as I can. I have found one reliable source that may be able to tell if Elvis Presley recorded in Nashville on the 4th of July in 1963 which must have been the date for him as he always recorded during the night at that time in order to avoid people trying to get in and ruin the sessions.

As for the Bill Porter thing I will have to see if this is the same interview that I have got.

I find it pretty hard to believe that people who have been on more than 20,000 sessions can remember a specific day when a recording is said to have been done.

Best,
Carl

Editor's Note: Louis Nunley of the Anita Kerr singers said that the studio was not decorated for Jim, but rather for Elvis. Confirmation comes from others who were on the session, and this has been reported over the years. HOWEVER -- I just dug out my copy of the interview engineer Bill Porter gave about this matter. He refers to CHET ATKINS recording a Christmas album in July and says that since it was so hot, and "there wasn't much of a Christmas atmosphere...I went home that night and found a bunch of Christmas decorations, came to the studio next morning, and decorated everything Christmas. Then everybody got more into the mood after that. You think of anything that you can do to enhance the mood and the attitude..." Porter says nothing about Elvis. So Carl, it would appear there is a lot of confusion on this point, and you make a good case. I'm so glad you brought forth this information. I also agree that people's memories are fallable. However, one thing I have tried to stress is that even the paperwork that was kept on songs was not always trustworthy. Leo Jackson, for instance, Jim's longtime guitarist, has a vivid recollection of the FIRST song he ever recorded with Jim. Yet his name doesn't appear on the list of musicians used that day. Could it have been because he wasn't officially a member of the union as yet? I'd trust Leo's eyewitness account more than I would the paperwork that was made out by some secretary after the fact. Another example: there are two songs in the Bear Family 16-CD set which are definitely NOT Jim Reeves (as even the casual listener can determine). This also shows people can make mistakes. Bear says they found the tapes in boxes labeled "Jim Reeves" when they perused the RCA vault in Indiana where masters are kept, so they included them in the set. But take heart. A lot of this confusion might be cleared up soon. Larry Jordan, who is working on THE definitive biography on Jim which will be published this year, has been working from a copy of Mary's personal listings of Jim's repertoire, which was compiled from the internal documents which Jim himself kept at Jim Reeves Enterprises (such as session sheets, union paperwork, copyright/publishing data, Jim's personal appointment book, handwritten notes, song lyrics, acetates, etc.) Larry even knows the dates of Jim's demos -- one area where Reeves fans have had no information up to this point. If anyone would know the truth about what Jim recorded and when, it would be Jim himself and the documentation he kept at his office. This breakthrough information -- including details of unreleased material (even an alternate version of "He'll Have To Go") will be in Larry's new book. -- Julie

Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 23:08:01 -0500
From: Roy Rentrop <rrr55@home.com>
Subject: Jim Reeves

Just found your website and wanted to share this story with you. Years ago -- 1970-1971, I think it was -- I spent a goodly amount of time driving the highways between Shreveport, La. and Rusk, Tx. to visit friends who lived in Rusk. One afternoon for no apparent reason I stopped at some little church in Carthage and walked around the back just to see what was there. WOW. There was this "monument," much too big to be called a headstone with the name of "Gentleman Jim Reeves" and his dog on it. Now I must admit that at the time I had no clue who Jim Reeves was but I was impressed enough with what I saw to do a little investigating. Didn't take long before I found out.

It has been almost 30 years since that experience but I have never forgotten those few moments on a glorious Spring afternoon behind some little church in Carthage.

Regards,
--Roy Rentrop

From: "Edmcneil" <edmcneil@fox.nstn.ca>
Subject: Jim overlooked again:
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 22:24:42 -0400

I just caught the last half of the "Life and Times of Bill Anderson". At the conclusion of the show, it said great artists like Roy Acuff, Eddy Arnold etc. recorded Bill's songs. EXCUSE ME?? Didn't Jim Reeves sing, "I Missed Me", "When Two Worlds Collide", and "Losing Your Love"? Is the time ever going to come when Jim gets the recognition he truly deserves? If so it can't come soon enough for me!! I hope the people who are in the right places, will finally straighten this mess out!!

Sincerely,
--Ed McNeil.
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada

From: Patsyfan1@aol.com
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 12:09:06 EST
Subject: Mandy Barnett does Jim Reeves song

Julie, the great work on the website keeps showing.

Hopefully Jim Reeves fans will be delighted to hear that Mandy Barnett is covering Jim's "I'm Gonna Change Everything" in her new CD, which will be out April 13. It has that Nashville Sound, Jazz, pop, a variety of music genres.

Last time I was in Nashville which was in Dec. I noticed Ernest Tubb Record Shop did have the "Kimberly Jim" movie. They do overseas shipping as well. Great place to refer people.

In regards to Betty Bendig's entry, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said Nashville is full of young "know-nothings." I do think TNN and A & E should have remembered Jim this past week. With the exception of the Tammy Wynette Tribute everything on both channels was repeats! Nothing new.

--Always
Jimmy Walker
(A Mandy fan as well as a Jim Reeves fan)

Editor's Note: Our readers may or may not know that Mandy Barnett is that wonderful singer who has been performing in a Patsy Cline stage production to rave reviews over the last few years. She was working on her new CD with Owen Bradley when he died last year, and Owen's brother Harold Bradley has assisted in further production. It should really be a good CD! -- Julie

From: VelmaJr@aol.com
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 03:11:28 EST
Subject: "Danny Boy"

Thank you Julie for sharing this with me it has given me great pleasure seeing all of this as I have told you that Jim was my favorite. I had named my oldest son Danny and so when Jim came out with that song "Danny Boy," naturally it was my favorite song and to this day I still love to hear it when possible.

Thank you again.
--Velma

Editor's Note: No, Jim did not serve in the U.S. military due to a mild heart problem which disqualified him. However, he was eager to do his part during the war years, so in 1942 got a job working as a welder helping to build the U.S. Liberty warship. In 1943 he worked at Lockheed Aircraft in Dallas, installing machine guns on B-17 bombers. And of course, throughout his singing career, he played many free shows at military bases both stateside and abroad, as well as made scores of transcriptions for Armed Forces radio. -- Julie

Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 23:28:42 -0500
From: Paul Bertils <paul.bertils@sympatico.ca>
Subject: A THANK YOU

Greetings and salutations from the land of the Maple Leaf. As a longtime J.R. fan (forty five years) I salute your work on this site. Outstanding! The support of James Newberry is ackowledged and appreciated.When the number one collector in the world is in your corner, how can you go wrong? Keep up the great work! With personal regards.

-- Paul Bertils

From: "Peter Atkinson" <peter@stilton.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: DISCOGRAPHIES
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 17:06:48 -0000

Just read the page regarding these so-called "experts" on Jim's discographies. (See "What's News") Why not name the guilty to protect the innocent -- THE FANS! For too long we have had to rely on these "experts" and have been given false information. Now we have a reliable source through this website. I feel we should name names and discredit the guilty parties.

Kind regards,
--PETER ATKINSON

Editor's Note: There surely has been a lot of misinformation disseminated about Jim Reeves over the years, and it used to drive his widow Mary up a wall. She grew exasperated with some of the so-called fans who presented themselves to the world as "experts" on her late husband, but who were so often wrong about the things they said about Jim. A review of some of the old fan club materials from overseas shows lots of zany and off-beat assertions which collapse upon closer examination. An example: Charlie Louvin gave an interview in which he claimed his brother Ira used to accompany Reeves when he would fly out of town to do a TV show, because Jim supposedly didn't like to travel alone. Charlie even claims Jim paid for his brother's airfare and hotel accommodations. When Joyce Jackson heard this she found it vastly amusing, and couldn't stop laughing. She said it simply wasn't true. People make up a lot of stories about any celebrity, and unfortunately those fans who are not as discerning -- or in some cases downright gullable -- believe anything and everything they're told without question. Then they perpetuate these myths by repeating them and after awhile it's hard to tell the truth from the falsity. When it comes to Jim's discographies, one well-known foreign fan has been telling people there is a song that Jim recorded which was written by Jim and Mitchell Torok. Only trouble is, Mitch told us personally this was not true. Yes, he and Jim were collaborating on a tune just a week before Jim died, but he was nowhere near to recording it. See what I mean? -- Julie

From: "Edmcneil" <edmcneil@fox.nstn.ca>
Subject: Jim Reeve's Overlooked
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 22:59:10 -0400

I come from a large family of seven girls and three boys. My father being a coal miner, we had a lot of hard times but there was always lots of love in our home. I'm 6'4", 260 lbs. and people have called me a sentimentalist, and if so I am unashamed one. I remember my parents playing "Anna Marie" on the old "78's" or "I Won't Forget You". I [have] heard people imitate greats, like Elvis, Orbison, and Robbins, and you would have to listen very close to tell the difference. Not so with Jim Reeves. I have never heard that voice duplicated. Not only is it unique, but addictive. I think you are correct by saying people have trouble coping with this man. I can't understand why this great artist is constantly overlooked. Do I sense a bit of jealousy here???? My only regret is that Jim did not live a normal lifespan. Imagine Jim singing "A Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "The Wind Beneath My Wings". I am sure no other artist would record a song after Jim sang it. I am thankful that God gave us this great voice to have recorded for all times. Jim's music shows the true character of the man to the world and forever.

--Sincerely, Ed McNeil

Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 09:23:25 -0600
To: JEH925@webtv.net (JACK HARDEN)
Subject: Joyce Chat

Will the chat transcript of Joyce Jackson answering questions be posted on the Jim Reeves web page? Having a webtv system I was unable to chat with her, but I would love to read the transcript if you have it. Thanks.

--Jack E. Harden

Editor's Note: Unfortunately, we do not have a complete transcript. We have fragments. I tried to save it but to no avail. It was a fast-paced chat lasting TWO HOURS! The first person we heard from was from South Africa -- a radio announcer who stayed up until 3 a.m. his time so he could participate. We also received questions from people in Nova Scotia, Scotland and all over the U.S. These were all very knowledgeable Reeves fans and they asked some great questions. Joyce told me over and over how much she enjoyed the live chat. --Julie

Do you realize that both TNN and A&E will have one-hour biographies of country music stars for five nights next week? Ten stars, and Jim is not included! And he's better than any of them.

My husband thinks it's because he wasn't here long enough to become well known. Could that be it? There has to be a reason, but I can't think of one that makes any sense.

I'm so sorry I had to miss the visit with Joyce. If you can tell me anything about her visit I'd love to read about
it.

-- Betty Bendig

Editor's Note: No, Betty, I do not believe that Jim is overlooked because he wasn't here that long. His first recording that achieved major success was in 1952, and of course he died in 1964. That's 14 years. Plus he had 17 Number One records and 17 songs that came close to the Top Ten -- a total of 34 hits AFTER his death, his most recent scoring in the early 1980s.

By comparison, Patsy Cline had her biggest success in just two years (1961-63) and recorded a mere 102 songs. She stayed in the U.S. whereas Jim travelled the world.

So I don't think longevity has anything to do with it. The trouble is, Hank was the pioneer, Patsy the tragic female star, and those two are who people think of first. This is not to take anything away from their talent.

The fact that minor stars -- some of whom only had one or two hits -- get all the publicity reflects, in my opinion, the vast ignorance that exists in Nashville today. Many of the people running the music industry are young know-nothings. How else to explain that they have completely missed the Jim Reeves phenomenon in their midst? How many of these other artists, whom TNN loves to spotlight, have achieved a fraction of Jim's 180 million sales around the world, or even have recordings still available today like he does?

Even when the media write something nice about Jim, they fail to credit him with the most unique voice in all of country music. It wasn't just his perfect pitch and impeccable diction. The man had an incomparably thick and rich voice. THAT is what made him great. Plus, of course, his ability to choose great songs -- and even write them -- and a clear career path, plus high principles.

I think maybe people have trouble coping with this man because he was larger-than-life even when he was still alive. It's easier to make things up -- to fill in the blanks -- about people who are NOT well-known, than to cope with the reality that was Jim. I'd love to hear my readers' thoughts... - Julie

Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 20:34:56 -0800
From: Robbie McCurdy <amelia@pcola.gulf.net>
Subject: "Welcome To My World"

The song "Welcome To My World" -- was it written as a religious song? Is there a story behind it?

--Robbie McCurdy

Editor's Note: It was not written as a religious song per se, although some of the lines are derivative of the Bible: "Knock and the door will open, seek and you will find, ask and you will be given..." A friend of Jim's, Ray Winkler from Texas, co-wrote the song with John Hathcock. It was released overseas before it was issued in America, and Jim had a big wrangle over RCA's refusal to release it as a single here. Eventually, of course, they did. -- Julie

From: PLHBNE@aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 23:01:22 EST
Subject: A GREAT READ

Thanks for the great read that I've just completed on the updated Jim Reeves web site that you keep so fully informational. I love Jim Reeves and all of his music and to read some "new" stuff on him is really nice. I have a great empathy for Mary Reeves and the lousy end results that have surrounded her in the twilight of one's years. Too many people are just plain "ratbags." BUT....for me, I'll just play his music and dwell on all the good things of a wonderful singer and personality and one who gives me so much joy. And yes....I did pull out my 12 song of Christmas again this past season and as always...pure Jim Reeves magic. Keep up the good work and I look forward to the book coming out later this year. I haven't seen the Bear set in the stores yet in my neck of the woods, which is San Diego California.

Bye for now,
--Peter Harding

From: JJESRMills@aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 11:08:26 EST
Subject: Jim Reeves Site

Delighted to have found your site honoring the great Jim Reeves. I became a Jim Reeves fan as a young boy when I heard his version of "Mary's Boy Child" on a Christmas album my dad had (I still think it's by far the best version of that song I've ever heard). I have several old albums as well as CD collections of Jim's work and now my kids are hooked, too.

I agree that Jim gets slighted by what is Nashville today. It's cool to know Hank and Patsy, Haggard and Jones, but not much else. I was a big David Houston fan in the 1960s and can hardly find any of his work anywhere. Several other artists and a lot of great music are being forgotten and lost, but Jim was certainly a giant among them all. Country radio today--especially the one and only station in San Diego--is awful. I can't even listen to it. My tapes of Jim Reeves, David Houston, Carl Belew, Porter Wagoner, Charlie Pride, Hank Snow, and some of the other true "country" artists keep me entertained.

I will be back to this site often!

Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 18:46:59 -0500
From: Ken and Betty Bendig <BetKen@Worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Help With a Lyric?

There's a line in one of Jim's early songs that I've listened to over and over and over, under headphones, and I can't make any sense out of it. The song is "My Rambling Heart," and the line goes something like this: "But if blue eyes my ramblin' heart since my wanderin' life began." And a little farther on he sings, "For if blue eyes my ramblin' heart now the open road's my home." Am I missing a word or two? Can you help?

--Betty Bendig (Ohio)

From: t15@webtv.net (Allen Chandler)
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999 11:55:12 -0600 (CST)
Subject: JIM REEVES

I remember seeing a film clip of Jim made during a recording session, and I was wondering what was the purpose of filming recording sessions, and was it done all the time?

--Allen Chandler

Editor's Note: The film clip to which you are referring was made by a Nashville TV station, which did a story on Jim for the local news. Ironically, after the piece aired the film was thrown out. Fortunately for posterity, someone salvaged it from a wastebasket -- part of it, that is. One part ended up in the hands of the Country Music Foundation, which shows it on a monitor in the gift shop at the CMF-operated Studio B to this day. The other portion of the clip was shown by Mary at the museum when she operated it. We often thought someone should combine both portions to make a longer segment. And no, it was NOT standard practice to film a session. In fact, this was the only clip known to exist of Jim actually in the studio. Incidentally, he was recording "Golden Memories and Silver Tears".

Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999 01:37:01 -0600
From: JOHNNY WALLACE <jwallace@arlington.net>
Subject: jim reeves recitation

Some relatives insist that they heard Jim Reeves (beautifully) read a Robert Service poem about Alaska. I have searched all over for it without success, but would dearly love to have a tape or? Do you know if such a recitation exists or was ever done? Do you know where I could obtain it to go with my Jim Reeves music? Thanks for a reply.

--Johnny Wallace

Editor's Note: Could it be "Spell of the Yukon"? Jim, of course, made an entire album of recitations called "Talkin' To Your Heart" -- a brazen thing to do in those days. Recently when TNN did a story about Allen Jackson's spoken record, they went back and told the names of other performers who had done the same thing. NATURALLY Jim wasn't mentioned. In a recent interview, Anita Kerr said that she couldn't get over how beautifully Jim spoke on this album. Even when he wasn't singing his voice was hypnotic. Perhaps someone out there can help Johnny find a copy?

From: bellinghambill@webtv.net (william atkinson)
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 00:10:43 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Jim Reeves' Estate, Etc.

I have loved music my entire life. When I was five or six years old my grandmother babysat for my parents. My grandmother asked me to play some "good" music so I found a record I had never listened to. It was "Distant Drums" by Jim Reeves. Since that night I have been obsessed with Jim Reeves. When I was old enough to drive I scoured the new and used record shops for any recording by Jim. I would spend all my energy and time researching any and all informaton I could find, and of course buying more records. I'm also responsible for converting many p eople to Jim Reeves fans.

You might find it interesting to know that Chris Cornell, the leadsinger for the huge Seattle-based grundge rock group "Soundgarden" was defending Tony Bennett as a better singer than Frank Sinatra when I voiced my opinion about Jim. His response was "well nobody will ever be as good as he was."

Sorry for the rambling. It does feel good to know people do appreciate Jim's genius. My question is this: Does anyone know what is to become of all the estate? It seems like after all Jim did for RCA they should help make sure his estate doesn't just disappear. I would like to have a picture of Jim and Mary's house in Madison; are any available, where is the house located, and is there anyway to write to Leo Jackson? Sorry, I guess I had more Questions than I thought.

Best regards,
--Bill Atkinson

Editor's Note: Indeed, Jim's music is appreciated by all sorts of music lovers -- even rock fans! As for your questions: BMG, the German company which bought RCA some years ago, retains the rights to Jim's recorded voice, owns all his masters produced expressly for them, any demos Mary may have sold them, and are the final arbiters of how his product is licensed/used and by whom. Mary sold Jim's song publishing companies and demos to Buddy Killen of Tree in the early 1980s, and Tree was later acquired by Sony.

What the controversial Mr. Ed Gregory, a carnival promoter, did was buy Jim and Mary's personal effects, memorabilia and real estate -- along with the rights to any royalties or other income which would have otherwise acrued to the singer and/or his wife in the future. For a shocking explanation of how control of the estate slipped from Mary's hands with the assistance of her second husband Terry Davis -- who got HALF of the money generated by the sale of JIM'S items -- see the "About Mary" section of this website. There I have posted articles from the Nashville newspapers as to how the probate judge, Frank Clement, Jr. permitted the sale to proceed, despite a lawsuit filed by the Reeves family. Incidentally, while Mary languishes in a nursing home, the key players involved in this dispute are apparently a cozy group. Terry Davis, Bill White (Mary's "neutral" conservator appointed by Clement), Judge Clement himself and even the Reeves family's first attorney, R. Horton Frank III of Nashville, all recently attended the annual big Christmas bash at Gregory's mansion. And I do mean "mansion." Are we the only ones bothered by this spectacle: Adversaries in litigation AND A SUPPOSEDLY IMPARTIAL JUDGE all hobknobbing after hours while the final disposition of the case has still not been made? What does this tell Reeves fans worldwide about the parties involved?

With regard to your wanting a picture of the Reeves home -- see Gallery 3. As to how to write to Leo Jackson, we'll have to check first with Leo to get permission before giving out his personal information. -- Julie

From: "Arne Benoni" <arne.benoni@vf.telia.no>
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 21:20:53 +0100
Subject: Web pages

It's both fun and interesting to see these pages about Jim. I saw the picture of him with the twelve-string guitar, probably taken in Oslo in '64, as I've seen similar pictures in the magazines here years ago. The twelve string is played the same way as a regular guitar, although Jim did not play this one on stage. I think it belonged to Bobby Bare, since I saw him playing it on the show they did here in Norway. Jim played his "Martin D 28" -- a regular six-string that he gave to Leo Jackson right before he died, and we have used it on several of my recordings (especially ballads). I've also used the guitar on several of my personal appearances in the USA; last time was on a concert in Pennsylvania last February. The guitar is still playing good and sounds wonderful.

It's nice to see you got my good friend Joyce [Jackson] to answer questions, and I wish you luck with the pages and will take the opportunity to wish all of you involved A Happy New Year!

Sincerely
--Arne Benoni

Editor's Note: Thanks, Arne, for the interesting comments about the guitars! Visitors to this website may know that Arne is one of Norway's top-selling recording artists, who in recent months released a CD in tribute to Jim. It includes appearances by some of the Blue Boys, including Leo Jackson -- who is a real guitar virtuoso still active on the Nashville recording scene.

If any of you would like further information about how to order Arne's beautiful tribute to Jim, just drop him a note at the above email address, and tell him you heard about it through this website! -- Julie

From: JIMMY FORSGREN <jimmy.forsgren@swipnet.se>
Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 01:00:37 +0100
Subject: jim reeves

Hello! My name is Jimmy Forsgren and I am a 21 year old fan of Jim Reeves. I would like to have list of the songs in the new "Radio Days" album. I live in Sweden so it is very difficult to get information on Jim and his albums, so I would be very happy if you could mail it to me on jimbo225@hotmail.

Editor's Note: Will someone out there be kind enough to send Jimmy an email with this information? Welcome, Jimmy and please write me again!

Editor's Note: Contrary to what he claims in the "Legend" video documentary on Jim's life, Charlie Lamb had NOTHING whatsoever to do with Jim's image change. Even before he moved to Nashville, Jim was performing pop tunes and ballads at his various concerts around East Texas and Louisiana. His first record producer, Fabor Robison, is the one who insisted Jim sing in the high-pitched hillbilly style which earned him Number One hits with songs like "Mexican Joe". But Jim did not like this, nor did he like being asked to dress like a cowboy. Only after he was signed by RCA did Jim get a producer, Chet Atkins, who would allow him to experiment musically. Along with the change in music style to the smooth ballads, of course, came the physical makeover -- which included a hairpiece. (The later ones came from Hollywood). As Mary commented, "Jim wanted to be able to go anywhere and be accepted by all audiences." Reeves was an inner-directed person, with a clear idea of his career goals. Neither Lamb nor anyone else had to chart a course for him.

Incidentally, Charlie Lamb, who is still alive, also took credit for teaching Jim how to sing "He'll Have to Go" in a slow style. This amuses Joyce Jackson, because she remembers the day Jim came downstairs to the office (in the basement of the Reeves home) still dressed in his pajamas and bathrobe, singing "He'll Have to Go" in exactly the same way as he later recorded it. In fact, it was almost identical to the way Billy Brown did it (who had the first release on it).

As for whether or not Jim and Charlie had a "falling out", we do know that Lamb was one of the pallbearers at Jim's funeral.