NASHVILLE, TN. (Bandit Records) - Country music legend, GEORGE JONES, celebrates his 50th anniversary as a recording artist with the Bandit Records release: GEORGE JONES – 50 YEARS OF HITS a 3-CD set to hit stores November 9. The compilation features one song from each year of his career for a total of 50 songs. Although Jones released a few singles in 1954, the collection kicks off with 1955's self-penned hit "Why Baby Why."
The set includes original recordings from the various record labels that Jones has been signed to beginning with Starday and including Mercury, United Artists, Epic, MCA, Asylum and Bandit. The only label that refused to participate was Musicor/Gusto, whom Jones' was signed to from 1965 to 1970. For some of those years, rerecords had to be used which Billy Sherrill produced in the early 70s and a 1991 version of "Good Year For The Roses" which was done as a duet with Alan Jackson.
The collection marks one of the most comprehensive packages ever assembled on Jones. 50 YEARS OF HITS crosses corporate barriers and features songs from all eras of Jones' extraordinary career.
Also, highlighting Jones' anniversary is the Thanksgiving night (11/25/04) telecast on PBS of a star-studded television salute. Artists paying tribute to Jones include: Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, Harry Connick, Jr., Joe Diffie, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, Sammy Kershaw, Uncle Kracker, Kris Kristofferson, Shelby Lynne, Martina McBride, Lorrie Morgan, Aaron Neville, Connie Smith, Trick Pony, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker and Wynonna. Each artist interprets one of Jones' country classics. The artist called "the greatest living country singer" also performs solo and in duet with several of the guests.
In reflecting on his monumental career, Jones said: "It's hard to believe that it's been 50 years. I have to admit I'm a bit shocked by it all. In compiling this collection I was reminded how great some of those songs are. Then, to hear them performed by so many wonderful artists on the TV show, just thrilled me. It seems like only yesterday but the years have obviously passed when I look at myself in the mirror."
"This collection reminds you of what is great about country music," says Evelyn Shriver, president of Bandit Records. "As much as I live and breathe George Jones, I was overwhelmed by his body of work. You tend to forget so much of his career because each era is so good. It really reinforces why he is called �the greatest living country singer.' As much as I have been credited with being the �keeper of the George Jones flame,' I am humbled and awed to be a small part of his extraordinary career."
Whether the times have favored honky-tonk songs or lushly produced "pop" records, Jones has continued to produce his brand of hard-core country music. According to Billboard Magazine, Jones is credited for charting more singles than any other artist in any format of popular music.
George Glenn Jones was born in Saratoga, Texas. As a kid, he sang for tips on the streets of nearby Beaumont. By the age of 24, he had been married twice, served in the Marines and was a veteran of the Texas honky-tonk circuit. He signed his first recording contract with Starday Records in 1953, released a few singles in 1954 and had his first hit with "Why Baby Why" in 1955.
In 1957, Jones moved to Mercury Records, where he led a double life as country artist George Jones and rockabilly singer Thumper Jones. His hits there included "White Lightning" and "Window Up Above." In 1962 he moved to United Artists where his classic singles included "She Thinks I Still Care" and "The Race Is On." He was voted CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1962 and 1963. He moved to Musicor in 1965 until his contract was bought out by Epic Records in 1971.
At Epic he began a 20-year association with producer Billy Sherrill. Highlights of that period include 10 albums and more than a dozen hit singles with his then wife, Tammy Wynette; duets with partners ranging from rocker Elvis Costello to Merle Haggard; more CMA Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year for "He Stopped Loving Her Today" in 1980 and again in 1981 as well as a Grammy Award in 1980 and a CMA Award for Video of the Year in 1986 for "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes."
In 1991 Jones moved to MCA Records. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame that year and in 1993 he received the ACM's Pioneer Award. In 1993 he received the CMA Vocal Event of the Year for "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair." In 1996, Jones told his story in the best-selling autobiography, "I Lived To Tell It All."
Jones moved over to Asylum Records in 1998. His 1999 gold-selling "Cold Hard Truth" album earned him the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Male County Vocalist. In 2000, Asylum was consolidated into Warner Bros. Records. Jones opted to leave and join some friends in starting Bandit Records. In 2001 he released "The Rock: Stone Cold Country 2001." In 2003, Jones released his first Gospel Collection. Previous Gospel releases were isolated tracks that had been recorded over a period of years and eventually compiled into albums.
In 2003, Jones received the 2002 Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush at a White House ceremony. The Medal "honors these individuals for the singular distinction of their artistic careers." The National Medal of Arts is the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence.
Jones, at 73, continues to headline more than one hundred concerts a year. He is already working on his next studio album, which will be "songs I wished I had recorded."
GEORGE JONES 50 YEARS OF HITS:
1955 – Why Baby Why
1956 – Just One More
1957 – Tall Tall Trees
1958 – Color of the Blues
1959 – White Lightning
1960 – Window Up Above
1961 – Tender Years
1962 – She Thinks I Still Care
1963 – You Comb Her Hair
1964 – The Race Is On
1965 – We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds(with Melba Montgomery)
1966 – Still Doin' Time
1967 – Walk Through This World With Me
1968 – She's Mine
1969 – I'll Share My World With You
1970 – Good Year For the Roses (with Alan Jackson)
1971 – Take Me (with Tammy Wynette)
1972 – A Picture of Me Without You
1973 – Once You've Had The Best
1974 – The Grand Tour
1975 – These Days I Barely Get By
1976 – Her Name Is
1977 – Near You
1978 – Bartender's Blues
1979 – Nightlife (with Waylon Jennings)
1980 – He Stopped Loving Her Today
1981 – Yesterday's Wine (with Merle Haggard)
1982 – Same Ole Me
1983 – I Always Get Lucky With You
1984 – She's My Rock
1985 – Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes
1986 – The One I Loved Back Then
(The Corvette Song)
1987 – The Right Left Hand
1988 – Radio Lover
1989 – I'm A One Woman Man
1990 – A Few Ole Country Boys (with Randy Travis)
1991 – You Couldn't Get The Picture
1992 – Finally Friday
1993 – I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair
1994 – High Tech Redneck
1995 – One (with Tammy Wynette)
1996 – I Must Have Done Something Wrong
1997 – When Did You Stop Loving Me
1998 – Wild Irish Rose
1999 – Choices
2000 – Cold Hard Truth
2001 – Beer Run (with Garth Brooks)
2002 – 50,000 Names
2003 – I Got Everything
2004 – Amazing Grace
