Jim Reeves
Created | Updated Jan 13, 2003
Jim Reeves was born in Panola County, Texas, on August 20, 1923, Jim Reeves grew up listening to recordings by Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family., he worked various jobs and played minor league baseball until a leg injury ended his sports career. Then, he became a radio announcer on East Texas stations and on Shreveport, .
He started recorded for the tiny Macy's label and then for the better-known Abbott label. His breakthrough came in 1953 with "Mexican Joe." This No1 country hit helped him secure a Hayride slot as a featured singer and, in 1955, an RCA recording contract and a place in the Grand Ole Opry lineup. Working with RCA producers Steve Sholes and Chet Atkins, Reeves began recording hits like "Yonder Comes a Sucker" and "According to My Heart."
Jim Reeves was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967.
"Gentleman" Jim Reeves, famous for velvet voice, died in a plane crash on July 31, 1964. A life-sized sculpture of the famous singer marks his grave on a one-acre, tree-covered plot of ground three miles east of Carthage on U.S. Highway 79. Thousands of visitors from every state and many foreign countries have visited the site.
In 1967, Cheyenne, his favorite dog, was buried inside the concrete circle surrounding the grave of his former master just a few feet to one side and to the rear, in just about the same position Cheyenne would have assumed in following his master.
