WELCOME
TO THE HOMEPAGE OF THE
JIM REEVES FAN CLUB
THIS
WEB SITE WAS ENDORSED BY JIM'S LEAD GUITAR PLAYER THE LATE
LEO JACKSON
Our
objective is to promote the music of Jim Reeves and keep the memory of
him alive. Also, we supply the members with a quarterly fan club
magazine of 12
pages, full of interesting articles, album reviews, photos, etc.
The
fan club was founded as THE NEW DUTCH JIM REEVES FAN CLUB by Arie den
Dulk and Bert Bossink in 1975. For the first two years we catered only
to Dutch speaking fans, but since the closure of the British Jim Reeves
Fan Club in 1977, we have two editions of the club magazine, one in
Dutch, the other in English. Some years ago we changed to our present
name as for more than 25
years it
has been the only Jim Reeves fan club.
Our
approximately 250 members live all over the world, but 80% are
Europeans. We have members in the USA, Canada, South Africa,
Australasia, India and Japan.
On this
website we'll put various information such as discographies, newspaper
cuttings and photographs from my own and other collections. Any
material from visitors to this site is welcome.
If
you wish to join the fan club or would like to know more about
it, or have any questions, please write to: The
Jim Reeves Fan Club. Or
you may send
mail to our postal address, which
is:
Jim Reeves
Fan Club
Postbus 66
2280 AB Ryswyk
The Netherlands telephone
number 0031613844105
THE
'DID YOU KNOW?' SECTION HAS
BEEN UPDATED ON
15 MAY 2012
On
this day four years ago, we heard the sad news about the passing of
Leo Jackson. For ten years Leo played lead guitar for Jim
Reeves. There is little doubt that Leo's guitar
playing
contributed to the unique sound of many Jim Reeves recordings. Leo
will also be
remembered for
relentless promoting of Jim Reeves' music and history in radio programs
and interviews over the years . One of these, the British TVS
television documentary, "Gentleman Jim Reeves" is still on sale on DVD
at both sides of the Big Pond.
I
feel honored to have been his friend for many years, his friendship was
really a special one, as many of his friends will testify . Leo is gone, but will remembered by us when we hear his guitar play in many Jim Reeves' recordings.
Updated May 7, 2012
- Tom Perryman played the Jim Reeves track "Penny Candy" . I had
send him a request to play that song, the very first Jim Reeves'
studio recording in which Leo Jackson was featured, for all loyal Jim Reeves
fans. on his Friday, May 4 prgram. Unfortunately Tom had to leave the
studio right after finishing the first hour. Right after playing that song
he remembered Leo and mentioned also the fine steel guitar play by Jimmy
Latham on that record. Jim had bought that steel guitar for Jimmy.
After Jimmy had left the band, that instrument was used by Bobby
Garret at live shows and record sessions . The steel guitar was on
display at the Jim Reeves museum and is believed to be in the possession of
Ricky Garret.
20 APRIL 2012
BRITISH GUITAR GENIUS BERT WEEDON DIES AT 91
British
guitar genius Bert Weedon, who has inspired many British
guitarists such as Paul McCartney, Hank Marvin, Brian May , and Eric
Clapton has died at age 91. Bert Weedon was a versatile and
talented guitar player who could play all musical styles. He
played with the Mantovani Orchestra, on early British rock and roll
records, and accompanied famous American singers who toured the UK,
such as Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland. He was the
first British guitarist to get a solo record in the UK charts. His
album "Bert Weedon remembers Jim Reeves" sold over 250,000
copies and many British Jim Reeves fan treasures his probably worn out
LP album. I confident that I am not the only one who considers
this to be one of the finst instrumental Jim Reeves tribute albums.
18 APRIL 2012
DICK
CLARK DIED AT AGE 82
Dick
Clark had a heart attack this (Wednesday) morning at Saint
John's hospital in Santa Monica. He was admitted
there after he was admitted for an outpatient procedure the
day.
before. Dick Clark is best known to Jim Reeves fans for
the "American Band Stand" and "Saturday
Night Beech-Nut"
television shows. Jim performed 4 times in these shows in 1958 and
1960. He lip-synched to the released version of his songs.
Please click
here
to read more about Jim's appearences on that television show
series, and to view a copy of Jim's contract for
the
February 6, 1960 show
Please click
here
to read more about it in the "Nashville Tennessean" newspaper
10 APRIL 2012
WHAT'S
ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?
As
reported earlier, Country Music People printed both a " Letter to the
editor" and an essay by David Bussey in the April 2012 issue
of
that magazine. The essay was sent to Country Music People as support to
a letter Bussey had written to the editor, seeking a balanced
critique of the book. The author then took umbrage at what he
thought was being said in CMP and decided that the best form of defence
is attack. He created a blog and went for the jugular.
Luke
24:34 'and saying, "It's true, the Lord has risen.." '
We
wish all Jim Reeves fans a Blessed and Happy Easter.
6 APRIL 2012
TODAY
IS GOOD FRIDAY
On
Good Friday, Christians remember the crucifixion and death of
Jesus Christ. In many of parts of the world, and in especially in
Europe, it is a tradition that St Matthews Passion by Johann
Sebastian Bach is performed, and attracts a large audience.
Many
of you will remember the 1973 movie "Jesus Christ Superstar". It is not
widely known that a former Jim Reeves song writer wrote the
words
and composed the music of a contemporary musical dramatization of the
life of Jesus Christ.
In 1974 Alex Zanetis produced and directed the double LP album "The
Carpenter's Son" on the RCA label. The cast lists artists such as Alex
Zanetis as Jesus, Ray Walker as Judas, George Jones as Pilate, Elder,
and Old Man, and David Cobb as Scribe. Vocal accompaniment by The
Jordanaires and The Nashville Edition.
Recently I managed to obtain a copy of
this album and enjoyed listening to it. I am confident that if Jim
Reeves had lived in 1974, he would love to have played a part in
this musical drama.
5 APRIL 2012
FAN
CLUB MAGAZINE ISSUE #129 MAILED
We
have sent both the Dutch and English editions of issue #129 out to our
members and it should reach them before Easter.
In
this issue you'll find the correspondence between Canadian
deejay
Lorne Haresen and Jim Reeves from the first part of 1962. It's a
typical letter from a person of the music industry who wants to use Jim
Reeves for his own and Jim's good. Jim Reeves replies to the letters in
his usual courtious manner, going to great length not to
hurt someone else's feelings, and judging from letters sent
and
received by various individuals, always give the
impression
that the correspondent was very special to Jim Reeves. Jim,
who
had been a deejay himself, realised how important is the
contact
between an artist and deejays. He spent a lot of his own
money
sending out records to radio stations and deejays who were
not on
the RCA despatch list. Jim was indeed an expert on public
relations and knew one had to spent a dime to earn a nickel.
Mr. Harsen got
the impression that Jim selected
him, but very likely someone at the office of RCA probably had a
promotion campaign
of Jim's next country album in Canada in mind, and liked the idea of
a Canadian writing the liner notes.
You can also find the letters on the Scrapbook
section on this website.
31 MARCH 2012
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY DAVID BUSSEY!
We
wish Mr. David Bussey a Happy Birthday. He will celebrate his
69th
Birthday today. David used to run the British Official Jim Reeves fan
club till 1977. He has always been very active in promoting Jim Reeves
and his music since he started the British fan club. He has written a
large number of Jim Reeves articles in "Opry" , and its
successor Country Music People. David has been
guest on a
large number of British country music radio programs. was a co-script
writer, together with Don Ford, of the 7 part BBC radio
documentary "JIM REEVES AND HIS MUSIC". He played a role as advisor of
the TVS documentary "GENTLEMAN JIM REEVES'. Part of
the documentary was filmed at a fan meeting at his house, with
guests such as Joyce Jackson, Kurt Rokitta and yours truly. Despite
his age, or just because of it, he is still as active Jim Reeves wise
as he was in the 1970's and a recent letter by him will be published
in the April issue of "Country Music People".
25 MARCH 2012
LATEST
UPDATE IN THE 'SCRAPBOOK' SECTION
Mr. Frank C. Anderson supplied us with copies of
correspondence between Mr. Lorne Harasen, a Canadian radio personality
and Jim Reeves, regarding Mr. Harasen's request to write the liner
notes of a future Jim Reeves album. The letters date from January and
June 1962.
'JIM
REEVES - HIS UNTOLD STORY' TO FEATURE AGAIN IN APRIL ISSUE OF
'COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE'
The book will be
featuring again in the April issue of the top U.K. country music
magazine 'Country Music People'. Noted publicist, journalist
and
former editor of the magazine, Tony Byworth has written a review of the
book. Also
included will be a letter to the current editor Duncan Warwick from
David Bussey which includes excerpts from an essay he wrote, and which
will appear in full in the latest issue of the Jim Reeves Fan Club
magazine which has been sent out to members.
22 MARCH 2012
ALAN
JACKSON HAS BEEN CHOOSEN TO RECEIVE THE JIM REEVES
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
ENCINO,
CA (March 21, 2012) The Academy of
Country Music has announced that Alan Jackson has been chosen to
receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an
individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country
music throughout the world.
Alan
Jackson’s down-home music and laid back personality has translated well
internationally. He played for eager audiences in Sweden and Norway in
August 2011, brought back by popular demand following his 2009 shows.
Jackson’s album, Good Time, has also earned platinum sales in Norway.
Jackson also toured Australia for the first time in March 2011. He’ll
play four arena shows in Canada in April 2012, as well as a summer
concert at the Craven Country Jamboree in Saskatchewan. Jackson won his
first ACM Award as 1990’s Top New Male Vocalist, an honor that
coincided with career-building tour dates in the UK and Germany.
Past
recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Garth Brooks,
Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Merv Griffin, Charlie Nagatani, Buck Owens,
Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, among others.
The
Academy of
Country Music is announcing the winners of awards that will not be
televised
during the live telecast of the 47th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC
AWARDS,
telecast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday,
April 1,
2012 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network, due
to time
constraints. Special Awards, Industry Awards, MBI (Musician,
Bandleader,
Instrumentalist) and Songwriter of the Year honorees will be feted at
the 6th
Annual ACM Honors event on September 24, 2012 in Nashville.
The Academy of Country Music Special Awards are voted on
by the ACM Board of Directors and are awarded during years where the
Board of
Directors feels there are clear and deserving candidates. Industry
Awards are
voted on by professional members of the Academy.
The 47th Academy of Country Music Awards is
dedicated to
honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the
country
music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark
productions
and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
Sunday,
April 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television
Network. For more information, please visit www.acmcountry.com<http://www.acmcountry.com/>.
'MUSIC ROW' reported the death of Nashville music
stalwart Charlie Lamb yesterday. He was 90 and suffering from an
illness.
Charlie Lamb is remembered mainly as a celebrated journalist, but he
had
been active as a manager and entertainer too.
Charlie was a close friend of Jim and Mary Reeves. His memories on Jim
Reeves were captured on video on the Channel 4 documentary
'GENTLEMAN JIM REEVES' in 1989.
WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?
Those longterm Jim Reeves fans in the UK who
remember David Bussey, are gobsmacked at the fact that he has
suddenly gained absolute notoriety because
he has dared to express his own opinion on a book on his hero Jim
Reeves. Surely to God, everyone has a right to an honest
opinion about anything. Surely, the author of the book must
have realised that at some point, someone was not going to
like some of the content, and dare to say so.
His essay was printed in full in the Jim
Reeves Fan Club magazine and makes reasonable and valid
comment. At NO point does he attack the author. The
essay was sent to Country Music People as support to a letter Bussey
had written to the editor, seeking a balanced critique of the
book. It is very interesting to note that at this moment in
time, there has been no comment at all from the female of the
species.
The author then took umbrage at what he thought was
being said in CMP and decided that the best form of defence is attack.
He created a blog and went for the jugular. He thought it
would add weight if he included some incriminating
audio. Unfortunately, he
broke UK law by using secret tape
recordings he had made during 2 long conversations with Bussey who had
no idea he was being recorded.
In order to right any wrong, Bussey will be taking
legal action. He has already been in contact with a London
solicitor, and has to decided whether spending so much money is
worthwhile to remove a wart that could reappear in 6 months
time.
Please
click
here
to read more about it in MUSIC ROW
7 MARCH 2012
HARGUS
'PIG' ROBBINS INDUCTED IN TO COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME
Session musician Hargus 'Pig' Robbins has been
elected as one of the new members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Hargus 'Pig'Robbins
played piano on a few Jim Reeves recording sessions in 1961,
1963, 1964 and an overdub session in 1975, He can be heard
playing the piano on albums such as 'Tall Tales And Short Tempers', '
Moonlight And Roses' , 'Jim Reeves And Some Friends' , and 'Songs Of
Love'.
MAXINE
BROWN OF 'THE BROWNS' FAME TO RECEIVE THE PRESTIGIOUS 2012 ELLA DICKY
LITERACY AWARD HONEREE
Marty Martel reported that Maxine is one six
honorees to receive this prestigious 2012 Literary Award for
her book, 'Looking Back To See'. This honor
is presented annually in honor of the city's first librarian, Ella
Dickey, who served in that position for over 50 years.
Maxine will receive her award, April 26th at 4:15
P.M. during the festival in Marshfield, MO located
approximately 30 miles from Springfield, MO . Maxine is a
member of one of country music elite vocal groups of all
time, 'The Browns.' Their success will surely see them in the
Country Music Hall of Fame for all of their achievements. And now
Maxine has accomplished more awards for herself to go along with her
song writing talents. Her best-selling book 'Looking Back to
See' www.uapress.com is that with 30 years
in publishing (over 500 titles, including those of President Carter,
Daisy Bates, Billy Collins, etc.), Maxine ranks right up at the top,
20th on the all-time bestsellers list of University of Arkansas Press
(and still selling).
The Browns and Jim
Reeves recorded and performed in Shreveport and later in
Nashville at about the same period and in the book you'll find many
references to Jim Reeves.
16 FEBRUARY 2012
JOHNNY
CASH MUSEUM TO BE OPENED IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE
Bill Miller who is a Johnny Cash fan, plans to open
a Johnny Cash museum in a warehouse in downtown Nashville in June. A
large part of the exhibits are from the former Johnny Cash
museum. 'The House of Cash' in Henderson, Tx. which closed in 1999. The
museum will also display personal items of Johnny Cash, some of which
have been donated by the Cash family.
James Newberry would have been the only Jim Reeves collector who could
have set up a proper Jim Reeves museum. Indeed
there have been
plans for one in Carthage, but it never materialised. Mr.
Newberry sold his collection to Mike Curb, who has a record for
preserving Nashville's musical heritage, among them the
historic RCA Studio B, Columbia studio A, and the
Quonset Hut studio ( Owen Bradley's studio). At the time it was
announced that part of the collection would be on display
after the Quonset Hut would be renovated, but that has not
happened yet.
Perhaps, when the Johnny Cash museum has become a significant tourist
attraction, the
conditions to open a Jim Reeves museum in downtown Nashville, a major
tourist spot, may be favourable. Until then, we can only view
the
collection in a virtual
musuem .
12 FEBRUARY 2012
ANOTHER
UPDATE
TO MARY
REEVES COURT CASE
The
'NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN' has reported on the court
ruling in today's newspaper. Terry Davis is not entitled to
any more money from his wife's estate beside the money specified in
Mary's will.
Both Lani Arnold, Jim's niece, and one of the
heirs, and Joyce Jackson, commented in the newspaper article
about the
ruling which ends a legal battle that lasted over 12 years.
The NASHVILLE
POST has an exclusive article to its
subscribers, "Circuit Court denied spouse's claim to country
star's assets" and it reported that Terry Davis won't receive
long-persued funds from executor of deseased's wife's
estate.
The
'NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN' has not reported on the court ruling
yet,
but nodoubt it will when the judge's order has
been
filed.
In a couple of weeks we'll learn wether or not Terry Davis
will fight the outcome of the ruling.
30 JANUARY
2012
THE
RYMAN AUDITORIUM WILL GET A NEW STAGE
The 60 year old stage of the Ryman Auditorium,
where Jim Reeves performed on the WSM Grand Ole Opry, will be replaced
with a new one. Just like its prececessor replaced in 1951,
the new one will made it compliant to future production's
needs. Part of the original stage will be saved and
incorperated in the new one. Artists will be able to stand on
a historic spot.
The last performance on the old stage will be this Friday, February 3.
and the first one on the new one will be on February 20.
There
was no report about yesterday's court session in today's newspaper.
When there is an update I'will post it as soon as possible.
25 JANUARY
2012
UPDATE
TO MARY
REEVES COURT CASE
Nashville Tennesean reporter Anita
Wadhawani posted an update
on Twitter at tnmusicbiz
yesterday
afternoon and in today's issue of the newspaper.
The trial over country singer Jim Reeves royalties
couldn't be wrapped up on Tuesday and wil continue on Wednesday. The
proceedings went slow with disputed testimony over
the
mental state of Mary Reeves at the time of the sale of the Jim Reeves
estate. Although the court case was scheduled to finish today, it is
likely to finish in February.
Please
click
here
to read her article in the Nashville Tennessean of
today, January 25, 2012
You'll find the latest news on
the court proceedings on Ms. Wadhawani's Twitter at tnmusicbiz
.
24 JANUARY
2012
CHESTER STUDDARD'S WIFE EFFIE DIED
We are sad to learn about the death of Effie, the
wife of Chester Studdard, who died at the age of 83 last Saturday.
Chester and Effie were married for 60 years.
Chester and Jim Reeves were friends for many years, they attended
school
and highschool and played together in Carthage High School Baseball
team.
Please
click
here
to read Effie Studdard's orbituary
NEW UPDATE TO MARY
REEVES COURT CASE
The Nashvile Tennessean published a report on the
first of the two days of the court session
in today's newspaper. The reporter Anita Wadhawani will post an update
on Twitter at tnmusicbiz
this afternoon, when it's supposed to
wrap up.
UPDATE TO MARY
REEVES COURT CASE NEARS THE END OF A 12 YEAR LEGAL DESPUTE
The
trial about who gets what share of the Jim Reeves's royalties began at
10 am in Nashville this morning. Fans who are on TWITTER can
also
follow the story
at tnmusicbiz
. If there are interesting developments/updates
during the trial, NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN's reporter Anita Wadhwani who is at the
trial, will post them there first.
18 JANUARY
2012
MARY
REEVES COURT CASE NEARS THE END OF A 12 YEAR LEGAL DESPUTE
Next week may see the end of a 12 year of
legal dispute over how much Terry Davis, the widower of Mary Reeves
Davis is entitled too. The Nashvile Tennessean has an article about it
in today's newspaper.
DUTCH
RADIO 5 STATION FEATURES JIM REEVES AS 'ARTIST OF THE WEEK '
Dutch Nostalgia radio station RADIO5
features Jim Reeves as 'Artist of the week' this week. Every
hour a Jim Reeves record will be played on the station.
'DISTANT
DRUMS' BY JIM REEVES IN BELGIUM TOP 1000 CLASSIC
RECORDS CHART 2011
'Distant drums' by Jim Reeves entered
the Belgium radio 2 Top 1000 'classic' record chart of 2011 at the 653rd position.
The record in that chart had been broadcasted on Belgium
radio between December 26th and New Year's Eve.
