George Jones: In His Own Words

George Jones may have left us last Friday, but he had a long and illustrious career, covering over 50 years.  During that time, we had the chance to speak with the legend several times. 

In 2007, he celebrated his 75th birthday at the Grand Ole Opry.  Before the show, he was asked about his childhood, and performing for tips on the bus in Beaumont TX:  “I was about nine years old when my dad took me into Beaumont, he took me in on a Saturday, bought me a Gene Autry guitar, Sister taught me the chords, I was pickin’ the guitar before I was recording because the notes were in my ears.  I used to play hooky, I’d hide my guitar outside the school, I got to riding the buses, because I wanted to sing to people, after they got to know me, I’d ride from one end of the line to the other, it was great, I had a gathering once by a penny arcade, most money I ever had was $24 that people leaving church stopped by and listened and move on.  I thought I was a rich little boy that day.”

So how would you sum up your career? ” I think I’ve had a wonderful career, I didn’t handle it the best in the world, people are forgiving, my fans forgave me, they’ve stayed with me all these years, we communicate real close, I think that’s one of the main reasons for my success, the stories that fit the lives of these people.”

In 2012, Jones received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards.  He looked back at his long career:  It’s just a big puzzle to look back and remember artists you heard on the radio, and Lord knows you never expected to meet them, much less, get to be here in Nashville all these years and meet all of them.  It’s been the greatest life, I can say, especially the last 15 years since I changed my ways.  But I really learned in the last 15 years what life is all about.  I really enjoy it now.  But I had a good time they said back then, but we have a much more wonderful time now.

 

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