Someone Should Write a Book on Jimmy Dickens
As Carrie Underwood readies herself to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, it’s time we paid some attention to its oldest member — Little Jimmy Dickens. He’s a virtually untapped treasury of country music lore, and he’s not going to be around to recount the old days forever. A member of the Opry since 1948, Dickens is 87.
Although there have been hundreds of articles written about him, I don’t believe he’s ever been the subject of a full-scale and scholarly biography. Yet here’s a man whose performing skills were so impressive that the mighty Roy Acuff got him into the Opry even before Dickens had his first hit record. The diminutive (4′11″) West Virginian was there to welcome Hank Williams to the Opry in 1949 and subsequently toured with him.
It was probably his small stature that drove Dickens toward the novelty songs by which he’s primarily known, pieces such as “Take an Old Cold Tater (And Wait),” “Out Behind the Barn” and “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.” But he’s also a first-rate ballad singer who can rivet an audience with something like “We Could” or bring it to tears with a recitation like “(You’ve Been a Good Doll) Raggedy Ann.” Younger Opry stars, notably Vince Gill and Brad Paisley, have recognized Dickens’ still formidable talents and featured him in some of their music videos. But more needs to be done.
Somebody at the Country Music Hall of Fame (of which Dickens has been a member since 1983) ought to sit down with him and record every story, joke and obscure lyric he can recall. There aren’t many memories of his era still around.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
David Nisbet says:
I’ve loved Jimmy since the first time I heard him on the Opry 3 or 4 years ago. His music is first rate Country and he’s one of the main reasons I listen to the Opry every week. He’s unbelievable underrated.
A Fashion Line of Kenny Chesney Jeans Is In Concept Stage — The 9513 says:
[...] Morris thinks someone should write a book on Little Jimmy Dickens, a sentiment I wholly agree with. Dickens is the oldest member of the Opry, joining in 1948 he was [...]
Red Creech says:
You are absolutely dead-on with your comments about Little Jimmy.
The foundation for “real” country music is slowly erroding away.
There are very very few stations playing the pure stuff anymore.
Folks like Jimmy Dickens are sort of shoved under the rug, in the name of big bucks.
Write the book.
There are many of those who are long gone and their music seems to have gone with them.
Folks like Ernest Tubb, Merle Travis,Roy Acuff, Grandpa Jones, Stringbean and so many others who pave the way and blazed the trail.
Those folks stuck with their “love” through the rock and roll era for us the fans.
Write the book about Jimmy now while the information is available. How about a movie?
BOBBY AND SANDEE DURHAM says:
PLEASE JOIN OUR PRAYER CHAIN AND SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR TATER AS HE IS IN THE HOSPITAL AND NOT DOING WELL. OUR PRAYERS AND BLESSING ARE WITH YOU ALWAYS. WR LOVE YOU BOBBY AND SANDEE DURHAM/ BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA