For many years I have been involved in the promotion of the music of Gentleman Jim.

Back in 1984 both myself and David Bussey (who ran the UK Official Jim Reeves Fan club from 1966 to 1977) spent two weeks in Nashville interviewing many country music personalities associated with Jim Reeves including, the great guitar legend Chet Atkins who produced most of Jim’s recordings of course.

With the help of Joyce Jackson ( Jim’s Secretary) and Mary Reeves we video taped hours of interviews  and looking back as the years have rolled on and we have lost so many, Chet Atkins, Owen Bradley, Harlan Howard, Jim’s Blue Boys Bobby Dyson and Bunky Keels and of course Mary Reeves in late 1999.

These video tapes are available for all to see.

We returned with a TVS film crew and Director David Hutt in 1989 to make what appears to have been the only television biography about Jim ever made, and although at the planning stage Joyce came to my home in Walsall, England and we typed out what we thought would be the story line, it soon became apparent that the Director and Producer were fascinated at the commitment and loyalty of the fans and dare I say perhaps some “over the top” enthusiasm of some also.

The program took a different feel.

The program was made and was shown twice on channel 4 in the UK and sold all over the world. It is available on DVD and is called “Gentleman Jim” story of a legend.

I’m the one at the opening of the programme with the camera alongside David Bussey and world renowned Jim Reeves memorabilia collector from San Francisco, James Newberry.

Jim Died when I was 11 years old, my early memory is of dad coming home one day in early 1960 with the single “He’ll Have To Go” or “Put your sweet Lips a Little closer to the phone” as we called it. I loved the voice and how clear it sounded.

Later I remember “You’re the only good thing”, I Love You Because, Welcome to my World and I Won’t Forget You.

It was in 1966 when Distant Drums was high in the charts, I was in Grange Over Sands on holiday with a school trip when one evening after dinner four teachers started playing guitars, finger picking style, the song “This World Is Not My Home” and I decided there and then that on my return I would pester mom and dad to buy me a guitar to learn to play.

I will always be grateful for that holiday and to my late parents for the opportunity that was to influence my whole life.

I love music and the freedom to sing and entertain, I have always sang Jim Reeves songs,

as well as folk and country. I grew up on Jim Reeves and Tom Paxton.

Please listen to the audio samples, there is only one Jim Reeves, I have always respected that…so I sing in the Jim Reeves “Style” and that is how I like to be accepted.

Sincerely,

Tony Wall