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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZJONES, Grandpa(b Louis Marshall Jones, 20 Oct. '13, Niagra KY; d 19 Feb. '98) Country singer, comedian, banjo player. Began on guitar, won talent contest at 16; put on old man disguise at 22 because he sounded older on radio, working with Bradley Kincaid band; also switched to banjo in Uncle Dave Macon style, told stories and tall tales about mountain folk. Formed Grandpa Jones and his Grandchildren '37, disbanded during WWII; became regular on Grand Ole Opry, later on TV's Hee-Haw. Recorded for King, LPs incl. 16 Sacred Gospel Songs (with Merle Travis and the Delmore Bros as the Brown's Ferry 4), The Other Side Of Grandpa Jones, 24 Great Country Songs. His only C&W chart hits were 'The All-American Boy' '59 on Decca, 'T For Texas' '62 (Jimmie Rodgers song) on Monument; but famous for up-tempo 'Old Rattler' and 'Mountain Dew', extremely well-recorded on Decca '50s with fine banjo picking and hilarious lyrics. More LPs: Sixteen Greatest Hits on Starday, Gospel According To Grandpa Jones on Skylite, The Man From Kentucky on Bulldog, 20 Of The Best on RCA International, Live on Monument CD, two-LP sets on CMH: The Grandpa Jones Story, Old Time Country Music, Family Album, Family Gathering. Elected to Country Music Hall of Fame '78. Five-CD Everybody's Grandpa on Bear Family compiles the Monument recordings. |