Posted on 01/02/2015 5:13:30 PM PST by John W
Little Jimmy Dickens, a diminutive singer-songwriter known for his sense of humor and as the oldest cast member of the Grand Ole Opry, has died. He was 94.
Dickens died Friday at a Nashville-area hospital of cardiac arrest after suffering a stroke on Christmas Day, Opry spokeswoman Jessie Schmidt said.
Dickens, who stood 4-foot-11, had performed on the Opry almost continuously since 1948. His last performance was Dec. 20 as part of his birthday celebration. He sang "Out Behind The Barn" and delivered his trademark comedy. He had turned 94 a day earlier.
"The Grand Ole Opry did not have a better friend than Little Jimmy Dickens," said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager. "He loved the audience and his Opry family, and all of us loved him back. He was a one-of-kind entertainer and a great soul whose spirit will live on for years to come."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Wow another one. Today we lost Donna Douglas (Ellie May) now Little Jimmy Dickens all in the same day. I pray that is it.
So that’s Donna Douglas,now Jimmy Dickens...who’ll be number three???
Orpah was Ruth's sister-in-law in the Book of Ruth.
Great story. Nashville is a great town in my book. Love to visit.
I saw him at the Oprey in 2008.
Ricky Skaggs was only about 6 yo the first time he sang and played on the Opry, with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, IIRC. They got his name wrong, calling him “Little Ricky Skraggs”.
Il ove that song. That’s the music I heard growing up.
‘May an elephant caress you with his toes
May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose
May the bird of paradise fly up your nose”
It was great - we got to meet some of the performers. One of my few clear memories of that trip is of seeing “cigarette girls” for the first (and only) time in my life.
I know. I really think it’s dead now. Ugh, “bro-country” and pc country.
Listening to him right now on Sirius Friday Night Opry, spoke a bit about Jimmy now singing Highway 40 Blues.
Opera is the plural of opus.
Stan Lee, comic hero creator, is 92
For some reason I thought he died many years ago.
Donna and Little Jimmy may have been numbers two and three respectively. The first celebrity death in this cluster was Edward Herrmann, the actor best remembered as one of the stars of The Gilmore Girls, and the narrator of countless documentaries and Dodge automobile commercials. He passed away on New Year’s Eve after a short battle with brain cancer.
http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-edward-herrmann-20150101-story.html
As George Jones sang, "Who's gonna fill their shoes?"
Little Jimmy Dickens - I’m Little But I’m Loud (1950’s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYTXyUdvYaM
At 46 seconds look at the guys playing guitar.
If they turned sideways they would disappear from view.
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