Jim Reeves: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|American singer (1923–1964)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}

{{Infobox musical artist

|Name name = Jim Reeves

|Img image = JimreevesorangeJim Reeves 1963.jpgJPG

|Img_capt caption = Promo picture, ca. 1962= Reeves in 1963

|Img_size image_size = (<!--Only use for images smaller than 220 pixels)-->

|Background background = lightgreensolo_singer

|Birth_name birth_name = James Travis Reeves

|Alias alias = Gentleman Jim

|Born birth_date = [[August{{Birth 23]], [[date|1923]]|8|20|mf=y}}

|Died birth_place = [[JulyGalloway, 31Texas]], [[1964]]U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1964|7|31|1923|8|20}}

|Origin = [[Galloway, Panola County, Texas]]

| death_place = [[Davidson County, Tennessee]], U.S.

|Genre = Country music/Countrypolitan

| genre = {{hlist|[[Country music|Country]]|[[Nashville sound]]|[[gospel music|gospel]]|[[blues]]|[[Western swing]]}}

|Occupation = Singer/Songwriter

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician|actor}}

|Years_active = 1949-1964

| years_active = 1948–1964

|Associated_acts = [[Chet Atkins]], [[Floyd Cramer]], [[Dottie West]]

| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Chet Atkins]]|[[Floyd Cramer]]|[[Dottie West]]|[[Jim Ed Brown]]|[[Stevie Moore]]}}

|Label = [[Macy]], [[Abbott]], [[Fabor]], [[RCA Records]]

| label = {{hlist|[[RCA Victor]]|[[London Records|London]]|[[Fabor Records|Fabor]]|[[Macy Records|Macy]]|[[Abbott Records|Abbott]]}}

|URL = [http://www.jim-reeves.com/ The Jim Reeves Way], unofficial site

| website =

}}

'''James Travis Reeves''' (August 20, 1923{{spaced ndash}}July 31, 1964) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. One of the earliest pioneers and practitioners of the [[Nashville Sound|Nashville sound]], he played a central role in the sonic development of [[country music]] in the 1960s. Known as "Gentleman Jim", his songs continued to chart for years after his death in a plane crash. He is a member of both the [[Country Music Hall of Fame|Country Music]] and [[Texas Country Music Hall of Fame|Texas Country Music]] Halls of Fame.

==Biography==

:''[[Jim Reeves (competitive eater)|Jim Reeves]] is also the name of a [[competitive eater]].''

===Early life and education===

'''Jim Reeves''' ([[August 20]] [[1923]] &ndash; [[July 31]] [[1964]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[country music|country]] [[singer]] and [[pop singer]].

Reeves was born at home in [[Galloway, Texas]], a small rural community near [[Carthage, Texas|Carthage]]. He was the youngest of eight children born to Thomas Middleton Reeves (1882-1924) and Mary Beulah Adams Reeves (1884-1980). He was known as Travis during his childhood years. Winning an athletic scholarship to the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]], he enrolled to study speech and drama but quit after only six weeks to work in the shipyards in [[Houston]]. Soon he resumed baseball, playing in the semi-professional leagues before contracting with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] "farm" team during 1944 as a right-handed pitcher. He played for the minor leagues for three years before severing his [[sciatic nerve]] while pitching, which ended his athletic career.<ref>Jordan, Larry, ''Jim Reeves: His Untold Story'', Page Turner Books International, 2011, pp. 58–59.</ref>

===Early Life & Rise to Famecareer===

Reeves' initial efforts to pursue a baseball career were sporadic, possibly due to his uncertainty as to whether he would be drafted into the military as [[World War II]] enveloped the United States. On March 9, 1943, he reported to the Army Induction Center in [[Tyler, Texas]] for his preliminary physical examination. However, he failed the exam (probably due to a heart irregularity), and on 4 August 1943 an official letter declared his 4-F draft status.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=G-OGHWrU4HMC&q=why+did+jim+reeves+not+serve+in+the+US+military+during+World+War+II%3F&pg=PA629 ''Jim Reeves - His Untold Story''] p. 41</ref>

Reeves was born '''James Travis Reeves''' in Galloway, a small rural community near [[Carthage, Texas|Carthage]] in southeastern [[Panola County, Texas]]<ref>[http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Jim%20Reeves:1927001490:page=biography Jim Reeves: Biography at Yahoo Music]</ref>; he became known as a [[crooner]] because of his warm, velvety voice. His songs were remarkable for their simple elegance highlighted by his rich light baritone voice. Songs such as "He'll Have to Go," "Adios Amigo," "Welcome To My World," and "Am I Losing You" demonstrated this approach. Jim Reeves' Christmas songs have been perennial favorites, including songs such as "[[Silver Bells]]," "Blue Christmas," and "An Old Christmas Card."

Reeves began to work as a radio announcer and sang live between songs. During the late 1940s, he was contracted with a couple of small Texas-based recording companies, but without success. Reeves at this point was influenced by early country and western swing artists including [[Jimmie Rodgers]] and [[Moon Mullican]], as well as popular singers [[Bing Crosby]], [[Eddy Arnold]] and [[Frank Sinatra]]. In the late 1940s, Reeves joined Moon Mullican's band, and as a solo artist, Reeves recorded Mullican-style songs including "Each Beat of my Heart" and "My Heart's Like a Welcome Mat" in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

AfterDuring anthese injuryyears, cutReeves shorttook hisa minor-leaguejob baseballas careeran withinannouncer thefor [[St. Louis CardinalsKWKH|KWKH-AM]] farmin system[[Shreveport, hisLouisiana]], musicalthen breakthe camehome whileof workingthe aspopular announcerradio on KWKH Radio inprogram ''[[Shreveport, Louisiana Hayride]]''. SingerAccording Sleepyto LaBeefformer could''Hayride'' notmaster makeof itceremonies on[[Frank timePage for(broadcaster)|Frank aPage]], performancewho had introduced [[Elvis Presley]] on the program in 1954,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theeagle/obituary.aspx?n=frank-page&pid=162291737#fbLoggedOut|title=Frank Page Obituary|newspaper=[[LouisianaThe HayrideTimes (Shreveport)|Shreveport Times]]|access-date=January 12, according2013}}</ref> tosinger former[[Sleepy HayrideLaBeef]] emceewas Franklate Pagefor a performance, and Reeves was asked to fill insubstitute. (Other accounts—including that of Reeves himself, in an interview later released on the [[RCA Victor]] album ''Yours Sincerely''—name [[Hank Williams]] as the absentee.) Reeves' singing career was launched.

===Initial Successsuccess in the 1950s===

Jim Reeves was a country music singer who had success early on in his career, first with the song "[[Mexican Joe (song)|Mexican Joe]]" in 1953 for Abbott Records.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-mary-reeves-1126808.html|title=Obituary: Mary Reeves|date=October 23, 2011|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref> Other hits followed, such as "I Love You" (a duet with [[Ginny Wright]]), and "[[Bimbo (song)|Bimbo]]" which reached number one on the U.S. country charts in 1954. In addition to those early hits, Reeves recorded many other songs for Fabor Records and [[Abbott Records]]. In 1954, Abbott Records released a 45 single with "Bimbo" on side-A which hit number one and featured Little Joe Hunt of the Arkansas Walk of Fame. Jim Reeves and Little Joe Hunt met at the Louisiana Hayride, which was Louisiana's equivalent to Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. After performing at the Hayride in Shreveport, Reeves and Hunt traveled and performed together for several years in the dance halls and clubs of East Texas and rural Arkansas. Reeves became the headliner with Hunt as the backup performer. Due to his growing popularity, Reeves went on to release his first album in November 1955, ''[[Jim Reeves Sings]]'' (Abbott 5001), which proved to be one of Abbott Records' few album releases. Reeves' star was on the rise because he had already been signed to a 10-year recording contract with [[RCA Victor]] by [[Steve Sholes]]. Sholes went on to produce some of Reeves' first recordings at RCA Victor. Sholes signed another performer from the Louisiana Hayride that same year (1955), [[Elvis Presley]]. Most of the talented performers of the 1950s such as Reeves, Presley, [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], [[Jim Ed Brown]], [[Maxine Brown (country singer)|Maxine Brown]], [[the Wilburn Brothers]], and Little Joe Hunt got their start at the Louisiana Hayride. In addition to the Hayride, Jim Reeves joined the [[Grand Ole Opry]], also in 1955.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vinopal|first=David|title=Jim Reeves' biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jim-reeves-p1784/biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=May 28, 2012}}</ref> Reeves also made his first appearance on ABC-TV's ''[[Ozark Jubilee]]'' in 1955. He was such a hit with the fans that he was invited to act as fill-in host from May thru July 1958 on the popular program, ''Ozark Jubilee''.

His first country hits included "I Love You" (a duet with [[Ginny Wright]]), "Mexican Joe", "Bimbo" and other songs on both Fabor Records and Abbott Records. Eventually, Reeves began to tire of the novelty bracket he had been forced into, and left for RCA Victor.

From his earliest recordings with RCA Victor, Reeves relied on the loud, East Texas style, which was considered standard for [[country and western]] performers of that time, but he developed a new style of singing over the course of his career. He said, "One of these days.....I'm gonna sing like I want to sing!" So, he decreased his volume and used the lower registers of his singing voice, with his lips nearly touching the microphone. Amid protests from RCA, but with the endorsement of his producer [[Chet Atkins]], Reeves used this new style in a 1957 recording, a demonstration song of lost love that had originally been intended for a female voice. It was titled "[[Four Walls (Jim Reeves song)|Four Walls]]", which not only scored number one on the country music charts, but also scored number 11 on the popular music charts, as well. This recording marked his transition from novelty songs to serious country-pop music, and according to one source, "established Reeves as a country balladeer".<ref name="auto"/> "Four Walls" and "[[He'll Have to Go]]" (1959) defined Reeves' style.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jim-reeves-mn0000903609/biography|title=Jim Reeves &#124; Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref>

Indeed, by 1955 it was becoming apparent that RCA was very willing to sign Jim, and offered him a 10-year recording contract. Reeves signed, and the Abbot label had released a singer who was due to become one of country music's biggest and brightest stars. (Incidentally. the man who clinched the deal for RCA, Stephen H. Sholes, produced some of Jim's first recordings at RCA, and later in 1955 he completed a memorable "double" when he signed a young Elvis Presley for the company. )

Reeves was instrumental in creating a new style of country music that used violins and lusher background arrangements that soon became known as the [[Nashville Sound]]. This new sound was able to cross genres, which made Reeves even more popular as a recording artist.

In his earliest RCA Victor recordings, Reeves was still singing in the loud style of his first recordings, a style considered standard for country-western performers at that time. He sought to soften his volume, using a lower pitch and singing with lips nearly touching the microphone, but ran into some resistance at RCA—until in [[1957]], with the support of his producer [[Chet Atkins]], he used this new style on his version of a demo song of lost love, written from a woman's perspective (and intended for a female singer). "Four Walls" not only took top position on the country charts, but went top-ten on the popular charts at the same time. Reeves had not only opened the door to wider acceptance for other country singers, but had also helped usher in a new style of country music, using violins and lusher background arrangements, soon called "The [[Nashville Sound]]."

Reeves became known as a crooner because of his light yet rich [[baritone]] voice. Because of his vocal style, he was also considered a talented artist because of his versatility in crossing the music charts. He appealed to audiences that were not necessarily country/western. His catalog of songs such as "[[Adios Amigo (Jim Reeves song)|Adios Amigo]]", "[[Welcome to My World (Jim Reeves song)|Welcome to My World]]", and "[[Am I Losing You?]]" demonstrated this appeal. Many of his Christmas songs have become perennial favorites, including "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S",<ref>First made famous nationally by [[Eddy Arnold]] in 1949.</ref> "[[Blue Christmas (song)|Blue Christmas]]", and "An Old Christmas Card".

==His Hits in the 1960s==

[[Image:JimReevesAlbum.jpg|frame|Jim Reeves on one of his albums]]

In 1959–60 Reeves scored his greatest hit with the [[Joe Allison]] composition "He'll Have to Go," which earned him a [[platinum record]]. In the early [[1960s]], Reeves was more popular than [[Elvis Presley]] in [[South Africa]]. During this period, he recorded several albums in [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]]. In [[1963]] he starred in a South African movie, ''[[Kimberley Jim]]'', which was the biggest South African production up to that date. He had a posthumous [[List of Number 1 singles from the 1960s (UK)|No.1]] hit on the [[United Kingdom]] pop charts in 1966 with "Distant Drums," a song written for him by [[Cindy Walker]]. Jim Reeves was one of the few Western singers, including music acts such as [[Boney M]] and [[ABBA]], who became widely known in the non-European world, including Africa, India and Southeast Asia. To this day he is affectionately referred to as "Gentleman Jim" in those parts. Reeves is particularly popular amongst the Zulu population in South Africa and is also known by the monikers "King Jim" and, because of his 6'1" frame, "Big Jim".

Between 1957 and 1958, Reeves was the host of a radio show on the ABC network. Debuting on October 7, 1957, the program was broadcast weekdays from 1 to 2 p.m. from Nashville, Tennessee. It featured the [[Anita Kerr|Anita Kerr Singers]] and [[Owen Bradley|Owen Bradley's]] orchestra.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepard |first1=Richard F. |title=Lowell Thomas Bound for Arctic: 4 Seasoned Explorers Will Aid Film for TV Series-- New Weekday Program |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/08/31/archives/lowell-thomas-bound-for-arctic-4-seasoned-explorers-will-aid-film.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=August 25, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=August 31, 1957 |page=33|url-access=subscription}}</ref> This was also when he began shifting from cowboy outfits to sports jackets.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=untabCgOVkgC&dq=Jim+Reeves++&pg=PA578|title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music|first1=Michael|last1=McCall|first2=John|last2=Rumble|first3=Paul|last3=Kingsbury|date=December 16, 2004|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=978-0-19-977055-7|access-date=August 9, 2021|via=Google Books}}</ref>

==Death==

Reeves tragically died when the small aircraft he was piloting crashed during a thunderstorm near [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. His business partner and manager Dean Manuel (who was also the pianist in Reeves' backing group) was also killed in the crash. On July 31st 1964 Reeves and Manuel left Batesville, Arkansas en route to Nashville, Tennessee having just secured a deal on some property. Whilst flying over Brentwood, Tennessee they encountered a violent thunderstorm which proved more than a match for the tiny, single-engined Beechcraft 'Debonair' aircraft. The plane faded from the radar screens at around 5:02 pm on July 31st and all radio contact with the craft was lost.

Reeves is also responsible for popularizing many gospel songs, including "We Thank Thee", "[[Take My Hand, Precious Lord]]", "Across the Bridge", and "Where We'll Never Grow Old". He was given the nickname Gentleman Jim, an apt description of his character both on stage and off.

One of the major causes of the crash was deemed to have been that the small airplane had become caught in the centre of the thunderstorm and that Reeves had become disorientated by "pilot's vertigo", which would have resulted in him not realising in which direction the plane was travelling, be it up, down, left or right.

===Early 1960s and international fame===

==Controversy Over His Death==

Reeves scored his greatest success with the [[Joe Allison]] composition "[[He'll Have to Go]]",<ref name=pc10>{{Gilliland|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19758/m1/|title=Show 10 – Tennessee Firebird: American country music before and after Elvis. [Part 2] }}</ref> a success on both the popular and country music charts, which earned him a [[platinum record]]. Released during late 1959, it scored number one on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s [[Hot Country Songs]] chart on February 8, 1960, which it scored for 14 consecutive weeks. Country music historian Bill Malone noted that while it was in many ways a conventional country song, its arrangement and the vocal chorus "put this recording in the country-pop vein". In addition, Malone lauded Reeves' vocal styling—lowered to "its natural resonant level" to project the "caressing style that became famous"—as to why "many people refer to him as the singer with the velvet voice."<ref>Malone, Bill, ''Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection'' (booklet included with ''[[Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection]]'' 4-disc set). Smithsonian Institution, 1990, p. 51.</ref> In 1963, he released his ''[[Twelve Songs of Christmas]]'' album, which had the well-known songs "C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S" and "An Old Christmas Card".

It is now believed that Reeves was, in fact, flying the plane upside down and believed he was ''raising'' the craft some distance in an attempt to clear the path of the storm. Of course, this disastrously (and fatally) resulted in his taking the airplane ''downward'' and straight to the ground. This would have explained why, when the wreckage was eventually found some 42 hours later, the engine and nose of the plane were buried in the ground.

During 1975, RCA Victor producer Chet Atkins told interviewer Wayne Forsythe, "Jim wanted to be a tenor, but I wanted him to be a baritone... I was right, of course. After he changed his voice to that smooth, deeper sound, he was immensely popular."<ref>"Gentleman Jim" by Wayne Forsythe, Country Song Roundup, August 1975</ref>

Reeves' international popularity during the 1960s, surpassing his popularity in the United States at times, helped to give country music a worldwide market for the first time. According to ''Billboard'', "Reeves’ star shone equally bright overseas in the United Kingdom, India, Germany, and even South Africa.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6205510/a-tribute-to-country-crooner-jim-reeves-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-his-death|title=A Tribute to Country Crooner Jim Reeves on the 50th Anniversary of His Death|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref> Jim Reeves was hugely popular in Sri Lanka in the 1960s and 1970s<ref>{{cite web | url=https://vernoncorea.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/jim-reeves-on-radio-ceylon | title=Jim Reeves on Radio Ceylon | date=June 21, 2014 }}</ref> and presently he is the most popular English language singer in Sri Lanka.

On the morning of August 2nd 1964, after an agonising and intense search (aided by such people as Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, Stonewall Jackson and Ernest Tubb) the bodies of Jim Reeves and Dean Manuel were found amongst the wreckage of the shattered plane. At 1 pm that afternoon, radio stations across the United States announced to their shocked and stunned audiences that Jim Reeves had been killed in a plane crash. In what can only be described as a sad irony, riding high in the UK charts at the time was "I Won't Forget You". The song later became a number one hit in the United States.

====South Africa====

Many thousands of people turned out to pay their last respects to Jim Reeves at his funeral, which took place on August 4, 1964. The coffin, draped in flowers from respectful fans, was driven through the silent streets of Nashville and to Jim's final resting place near his home town Carthage, Texas.

During the early 1960s, Reeves was more popular in South Africa than Elvis Presley, and recorded several albums in the [[Afrikaans language]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AUAnDwAAQBAJ&dq=film+kimberley+jim+set+in+diamond+rush&pg=PA258|title=Changing Times: Music and Politics in 1964|first=Steve|last=Millward|date=June 12, 2017|publisher=Troubador Publishing Limited|isbn=9781788030588|access-date=August 9, 2021|via=Google Books}}</ref> In 1963, he toured and starred in a South African film, ''[[Kimberley Jim]]''. In the film, he sang part of one song in Afrikaans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mimosafilms.co.za/Archive/Film/65/kimberley-jim|title=Kimberley Jim - Mimosa Film Group|website=Mimosafilms.co.za|access-date=August 9, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105064055/http://www.mimosafilms.co.za/Archive/Film/65/kimberley-jim|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was released with a special prologue and epilogue in South African cinemas after Reeves' death, praising him as a true friend of the country. The film was produced, directed, and written by [[Emil Nofal]]. Reeves later said that he enjoyed the film-making experience and would consider devoting more of his career to this medium.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jordan |first=Larry |date=December 24, 2018 |title=Jim Reeves: His Untold Story |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-OGHWrU4HMC&q=jim+reeves+beechcraft+crash&pg=PA617 |publisher=Page Turner Books International |page=467 |isbn=978-0615524306}}</ref> The film was released in South Africa (and also in the US) in 1965 after Reeves's death.

Reeves was one of an exclusive trio of performers to have released an album there that played at the little-used {{frac|16|2|3}} rpm speed. This unusual format was more suited to the spoken word and was quickly discontinued for music. The only other artists known to have released such albums in South Africa were [[Elvis Presley]] and [[Slim Whitman]].

====Britain and Ireland====

Reeves toured [[Great Britain|Britain]] and [[Ireland]] during 1963, between his tours of South Africa and continental Europe. Reeves and the Blue Boys were in Ireland from May 30 to June 19, 1963, with a tour of US military bases from June 10 to 15, when they returned to Ireland. They performed in most counties in Ireland, though Reeves occasionally abbreviated performances because he was unhappy with the available pianos at concert venues. In a June 6, 1963 interview with ''Spotlight'' magazine, Reeves expressed his concerns about the tour schedule and the condition of the pianos, but said he was pleased with the audiences.

A press reception for him at the Shannon Shamrock Inn was organized by Tom Monaghan of [[Bunratty Castle]], [[County Clare]]. Showband singers Maisie McDaniel and Dermot O'Brien welcomed him on May 29, 1963. A photograph appeared in the ''Limerick Leader'' on June 1, 1963. Press coverage continued from May until Reeves' arrival with a photograph of the press reception in ''The Irish Press''. ''Billboard'' magazine in the US also reported the tour before and after. The single "[[Welcome to My World (Jim Reeves song)|Welcome to My World]]" with the B/W side "Juanita" was released by RCA Victor during June 1963 and bought by the distributors Irish Records Factors Ltd. This scored the record number one while Reeves was there during June.

A number of accounts of his dances were given in the local newspapers, with a good one in ''The Kilkenny People'' of his dance in the Mayfair Ballroom, where 1,700 people were present. A photograph in ''The Donegal Democrat'' had Reeves' singing in the Pavesi Ball Room on June 7, 1963, and an account of his nonappearance on stage in ''The Diamond'', [[Kiltimagh]], [[County Mayo]] in ''The Western People'' representing how the tour went in different areas.

He planned to record an album of popular Irish songs, and had three number-one songs in Ireland during 1963 and 1964: "Welcome to My World", "[[I Love You Because (song)|I Love You Because]]", and "[[I Won't Forget You (Jim Reeves song)|I Won't Forget You]]". The last two are estimated to have sold 860,000 and 750,000, respectively, in Britain alone, excluding Ireland. Reeves had 11 songs in the Irish charts from 1962 to 1967. He recorded two ballads, "[[Danny Boy]]" and "Maureen". "He'll Have to Go" was his most popular song there and was at number one and on the charts for months<!-- during 1960 -->. He was one of the most popular recording artists in Ireland, in the first 10 after [[the Beatles]], Elvis Presley, and [[Cliff Richard]].

He was permitted to perform in Ireland by the Irish Federation of Musicians on the condition that he share the bill with [[Irish show band]]s, becoming popular by 1963. The British Musicians' Union would not permit him to perform there, because no agreement existed for British show bands to travel to America, in exchange for the Blue Boys playing in Britain. Reeves did, however, perform for British radio and TV programmes.

During the 1960s, at the early stage of his career, [[Elton John]] performed at various pubs in England, frequently playing songs by Reeves.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/elton-john-rocketman-best-country-songs-842933/|title=Elton John: His 10 Best Country Songs|first=Stephen L.|last=Betts|website=Rollingstone.com|date=June 1, 2019|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref>

====Norway====

Reeves played at the sports arena [[Njårdhallen]], Oslo, on April 15, 1964, with [[Bobby Bare]], [[Chet Atkins]], the Blue Boys, and the [[Anita Kerr|Anita Kerr Singers]]. They performed two concerts; the second was televised and recorded by Norwegian network [[NRK]] (Norsk Rikskringkasting, the only one in [[Norway]] at the time). The complete concert, however, was not recorded, including some of Reeves' last songs. He reportedly performed "You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened to Me)" in this section. The program has been repeated on NRK several times over the years.

His first success in Norway, "He'll Have to Go", scored number one in the top 10 and scored the chart for 29 weeks. "I Love You Because" was his greatest success in Norway, scoring number one during 1964 and on the list for 39 weeks. His albums spent 696 weeks in the Norwegian top-20 chart, making him one of the most popular music artists in the history of Norway.

===Last recording session===

Reeves' last two recording sessions for RCA Victor were held July 2, 1964; they produced the songs "[[Make the World Go Away]]", "[[Missing You (Red Sovine song)|Missing You]]", and "[[Is It Really Over?]]" When the session ended with some time remaining on the schedule, Reeves suggested that he should record one more song. He taped "[[I Can't Stop Loving You]]", in what was to be his final RCA recording.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kboeradio.com/this-day-in-1964-jim-reeves-final-rca-sessions/|title=This day in 1964: Jim Reeves' final RCA Victor sessions &#124; KBOE 104.9FM Hot Country|website=Kboeradio.com|date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Jordan |first=Larry |date=December 24, 2018 |title=Jim Reeves: His Untold Story |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-OGHWrU4HMC&q=jim+reeves+beechcraft+crash&pg=PA617 |publisher=Page Turner Books International |page=574 |isbn=978-0615524306}}</ref>

Reeves made one later recording, however, at the little studio in his home. In late July 1964, a few days before his death in an airplane crash, Reeves recorded "I'm a Hit Again", using just an acoustic guitar as accompaniment. That recording was never officially released by RCA Victor (because it was a home recording not owned by the label), but appeared during 2003 as part of a collection of previously unissued Reeves songs released on the VoiceMasters label.

===Personal life===

Jim Reeves married Mary White on September 3, 1947. They never had any children, as Jim Reeves was believed to be [[Sterility (physiology)|sterile]], (though not 100% proven) due to complications from a [[mumps]] infection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-mary-reeves-1126808.html|title=Obituary: Mary Reeves|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=November 18, 1999|access-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref>

===Death===

{{multiple issues|

{{more refs|section|date=February 2024}}

{{original research|section|date=February 2024}}

}}

On July 31, 1964, Reeves and his business partner and manager Dean Manuel (also the pianist of Reeves's backing group, the Blue Boys) left [[Batesville, Arkansas]], en route to Nashville in a single-engine [[Beechcraft]] [[Beechcraft Bonanza#Model 33 Debonair/Bonanza|Debonair]] aircraft, N8972M,<ref name=NTSB>{{cite web |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=79493&key=0 |title=M8972M |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> with Reeves at the controls. The two had secured a deal on some real estate.

While flying over [[Brentwood, Tennessee]], they approached a violent thunderstorm. A subsequent investigation showed that once the small airplane became caught in the storm Reeves suffered [[spatial disorientation]]. The singer's widow, Mary Reeves (1929–1999), probably unwittingly started the rumor that he was flying the airplane upside down and assumed he was increasing altitude to clear the storm. However, according to Larry Jordan, author of the 2011 biography, ''Jim Reeves: His Untold Story'', this scenario is rebutted by eyewitnesses known to crash investigators, who saw the plane overhead immediately before the mishap and confirmed that Reeves was not upside down.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jordan |first=Larry |date=December 24, 2018 |title=Jim Reeves: His Untold Story |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-OGHWrU4HMC&pg=PA617 |publisher=Page Turner Books International |page=617 |isbn=978-0615524306}}</ref>

Reeves' friend, musician [[Marty Robbins]], recalled hearing the wreck happen and alerting authorities to which direction he heard the impact. Jordan writes extensively about forensic evidence (including from the long-elusive tower tape and accident report), which suggests that instead of making a right turn to avoid the storm (as he had been advised by the approach controller to do), Reeves turned left in an attempt to follow Franklin Road to the airport. In so doing, he flew further into the rain. While preoccupied with trying to re-establish his ground references, Reeves let his airspeed get too low and stalled the aircraft. Relying on his instincts more than his training, evidence suggests he applied full power and pulled back on the yoke before leveling his wings—a fatal, but not uncommon, mistake that induced a stall/spin from which he was too low to recover. Jordan writes that according to the tower tape, Reeves ran into the heavy rain at 4:51&nbsp;pm and crashed only a minute later.

When the wreckage was found some 42 hours later, the airplane's engine and nose was discovered buried in the ground due to the impact of the crash. The crash site was in a wooded area north-northeast of Brentwood, roughly at the junction of Baxter Lane and Franklin Pike Circle, just east of [[Interstate 65 in Tennessee|Interstate 65]], and southwest of [[Nashville International Airport]] where Reeves had planned to land.

On the morning of August 2, 1964, after an intense search by several parties (which included several personal friends of Reeves, among them [[Ernest Tubb]] and Marty Robbins), the bodies of the singer and Dean Manuel were found in the wreckage of the aircraft, and at 1:00&nbsp;pm local time, radio stations across the United States began to announce Reeves' death formally. Thousands of people traveled to pay their last respects at his funeral two days later. The coffin, draped in flowers from fans, was driven through the streets of Nashville and then to Reeves' final resting place near Carthage, Texas.

==Legacy==

[[Image:Jim Reeves Drive in Carthage, TX IMG 2955.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Jim Reeves Drive at the [[Texas Country Music Hall of Fame]] in [[Carthage, Texas]]]] Reeves was elected posthumously to the [[Country Music Hall of Fame]] during 1967, which honored him by saying, "The velvet style of 'Gentleman Jim Reeves' was an international influence. His rich voice brought millions of new fans to country music from every corner of the world. Although the crash of his private airplane took his life, posterity will keep his name alive because they will remember him as one of the most important performers in Country music."

Reeves's records continued with good sales for both the old albums and a series of new ones. His widow, Mary, combined unreleased tracks with rerecorded previous releases (placing updated instrumentals alongside Reeves' original vocals) to produce a regular series of "new" albums after her husband's death. She also operated The Jim Reeves Museum in [[Nashville, Tennessee]] from the early 1980's until 1996.

In 1998 Reeves was inducted into the [[Texas Country Music Hall of Fame]] in Carthage, Texas, where the Jim Reeves Memorial is located. The inscription on the memorial reads, "If I, a lowly singer, dry one tear, or soothe one humble human heart in pain, then my homely verse to God is dear, and not one stanza has been sung in vain."

Indeed, Jim scored a major success when, in 1966, his record "Distant Drums" went to number one in the British singles chart and remained in pole position for a remarkable six weeks - beating off stiff competition from such acts as The Beatles with "Yellow Submarine" and "Elanor Rigby" (a double-sided release) and the Beach Boys "All Or Nothing". In addition, "Distant Drums" also held off many other songs from living artists who were in the UK charts at that time. In all, "Distant Drums" remained in the UK charts for a staggering forty-five weeks as well as topping the US country music charts. Not bad going for a song which had only been recorded by Jim for its composer Cindy Walker under the impression it was for her personal use only and had been deemed "unsuitable" for general release by Chet Atkins and the RCA record company. "Distant Drums" was named 'Song of the Year' in the UK in 1966 and Jim had the distinction of being the first American artist to receive that particular accolade.

Each year, the [[Academy of Country Music]] awards the Jim Reeves International Award to an artist who has made an "outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.done the most to promote the genre worldwide".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acmcountry.com/news?n_id=1574|title=News &#124; Academy Of Country Music Awards|website=Acmcountry.com|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref>

He was elected posthumously to the [[Country Music Hall of Fame]] in [[1967]], and in [[1998]] he was inducted into the [[Texas Country Music Hall of Fame]] in [[Carthage, Texas]], where the Jim Reeves Memorial is located.

===Posthumous releases===

Reeves' inscription at the Country Music Hall of Fame reads -

Reeves' records continued to sell well, both earlier and new albums issued after his death. According to ''Billboard'' magazine, "Reeves' career continued to thrive with hit records on the ''Billboard'' charts throughout the next two decades". The last Reeves song on the chart was "The Image Of Me", in 1984.<ref name="auto1"/>

His widow, Mary, was instrumental in the ongoing success of the songs. She combined unreleased tracks with previous releases (placing updated instrumentals alongside Reeves' original vocals) to produce a regular series of "new" albums after her husband's death. She also operated the Jim Reeves Museum in Nashville from the mid-1970s until 1996. On the 15th anniversary of Reeves death, Mary told a country music magazine interviewer, "Jim Reeves my husband is gone; Jim Reeves the artist lives on."<ref>''Country Song Roundup'', July 1975</ref> Since 2006 the museum is in Voxna, [[Edsbyn]], [[Sweden]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jim Reeves museum, Sweden |url=http://www.jimreeves.se/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.jimreeves.se}}</ref>

"The velvet style of 'Gentleman Jim Reeves' was an international influence. His rich voice bought millions of new fans to country music from every corner of the world.

During 1966, Reeves' record "[[Distant Drums (song)|Distant Drums]]" hit number one on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and remained there for five weeks. The song stayed in the UK chart for 25 weeks, and took number one on the US country music chart. Originally, "Distant Drums" had been recorded merely as a "demo" for its composer, [[Cindy Walker]], believing it was for her personal use and had been deemed "unsuitable" for general release by Chet Atkins and RCA Victor. During 1966, however, RCA determined a market for the song existed because of the [[Vietnam War|war in Vietnam]]. It was named Song of the Year in the UK during 1966 by the [[BBC]], and Reeves became the first American artist to receive the accolade. That same year, singer [[Del Reeves]] (no relation) recorded an album paying tribute to him.

Although the crash of his private aeroplane took his life, posterity will keep his name alive because they will remember him as one of country music's most important performers."

In 1980, Reeves was credited with two more top-10 posthumous duet hits, "[[Have You Ever Been Lonely?]]" and "[[I Fall to Pieces]]", which combined separate vocal tracks of both he and the late country star [[Patsy Cline]], who had also passed away in an airplane crash mid-career. Although the two had never recorded together, producers Chet Atkins and [[Owen Bradley]] lifted their isolated vocal performances off original three-track stereo master session tapes, resynchronized them, and combined them with digitally re-recorded backing tracks. The duets first appeared on the ''[[Remembering Patsy Cline & Jim Reeves]]'' LP.

The inscription on the Jim Reeves Memorial has the poignant words -

Reeves' compilation albums containing well-known standards continue to sell well. ''The Definitive Collection'' scored number 21 in the UK album charts during July 2003, and ''Memories are Made of This'' reached number 35 during July 2004.

"If I, a lowly singer, dry one tear, or soothe one humble human heart in pain, then my homely verse to God is dear, and not one stanza has been sung in vain."

Since 2003, US-based VoiceMasters has issued more than 80 previously unreleased Reeves recordings, including new songs, as well as newly overdubbed material. Among them was "I'm a Hit Again", the last song he recorded in his basement studio just a few days before his death. VoiceMasters overdubbed this track in the same studio in Reeves' former home (then owned{{when|date=February 2024}} by a Nashville record producer{{cn|date=February 2024}}). The song was released in 2008 by H&H Music (UK) and became number one in a survey of radio stations in the UK.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jordan |first=Larry |date=December 24, 2018 |title=Jim Reeves: His Untold Story |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-OGHWrU4HMC&q=jim+reeves+beechcraft+crash&pg=PA617 |publisher=Page Turner Books International |page=3 |isbn=978-0615524306}}</ref> Reeves' fans repeatedly urged RCA or Bear Family to re-release some of the songs overdubbed during the years after his death which have never appeared on CD.

==Discography==

===Selected Hit Singles===

A compilation CD, ''The Very Best of Jim Reeves'', scored number eight on initial release in the [[UK Albums Chart]] during May 2009, to later score its maximum of number seven during late June, his first top-10 album in the UK since 1992. In 1994, the German [[Bear Family Records]] label released a 16-CD compilation titled ''Welcome to my World'', including more than 75 unissued titles,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bear-family.com/reeves-jim-welcome-to-my-world-16-cd-deluxe-box-set.html|title=Jim Reeves Box set: Welcome To My World (16-CD Deluxe Box Set)|website=Bear-family.com|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref> and many demo recordings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/welcome-to-my-world-bear-family-mw0000180388|title=Welcome to My World [Bear Family] - Jim Reeves &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jim-Reeves-Welcome-To-My-World/release/7348887|title=Jim Reeves – Welcome To My World (1996, CD)|access-date=August 9, 2021|website=Discogs.com|date=November 29, 1996 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"

|-

| '''Year''' || '''Single''' || '''Album''' || <small> U.S. Country </small> || <small> U.S. Pop </small> || <small> Norway Top 10 </small> ||

|-

| [[1955]] || "Drinking Tequila" || ''Bimbo'' || '''#9''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1955]] || "Penny Candy" || ''Bimbo'' || '''#5''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1956]] || "According to My Heart" || ''According to My Heart'' || '''#4''' || - || -||

|-

| [[1956]] || "My Lips Are Sealed" || ''According to My Heart'' || '''#8''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1956]] || "The Mother of a Honky Tonk Girl" || ''Jim Reeves and Some Friends'' || '''#4''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1957]] || "Am I Losing You?" || - || '''#3''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1957]] || "Four Walls" || ''The Best'' || '''#1''' || '''#11''' || - ||

|-

| [[1957]] || "Two Shadows On Your Window" || ''Up Through the Years'' || '''#9''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1957]] || "Waitin' For a Train" || ''Country Side'' || '''#3''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1957]] || "Young Hearts" || ''Up Through the Years'' || '''#12''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1958]] || "Anna Marie" || ''Girls I Have Known'' || '''#3''' || '''#93''' || - ||

|-

| [[1958]] || "Blue Boy" || ''The Best'' || '''#2''' || '''#45''' || - ||

|-

| [[1958]] || "Billy Bayou" || ''He'll Have to Go'' || '''#1''' || '''#95''' || - ||

|-

| [[1959]] || "Home" || ''He'll Have to Go'' || '''#2''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1959]] || "Partners" || ''He'll Have to Go'' || '''#5''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1960]] || "Am I Losing You?" || ''The Best'' || '''#8''' || '''#31''' || - ||

|-

| [[1960]] || "He'll Have to Go" || ''He'll Have to Go'' || '''#1''' || '''#2''' || '''#1''' ||

|-

| [[1960]] || "I Know One" || ''Up Through the Years'' || '''#6''' || '''#82''' || - ||

|-

| [[1960]] || "I Missed Me" || ''Distant Drums'' || '''#3''' || '''#44''' || - ||

|-

| [[1960]] || "I'm Gettin' Better" || ''He'll Have to Go'' || '''#3''' || '''#37''' || - ||

|-

| [[1961]] || "Stand At Your Window" || ''The Best'' || '''#16''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1961]] || "What Would You Do?" || ''The Best'' || '''#15''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1961]] || "The Blizzard" || ''Tall Tales and Short Tempers'' || '''#4''' || '''#62''' || - ||

|-

| [[1962]] || "Adios Amigo" || ''The Best'' || '''#2''' || '''#90''' || '''#2''' ||

|-

| [[1962]] || "I'm Gonna Change Everthing" || ''Have I Told You Lately'' || '''#2''' || '''#95''' ||

|-

| [[1962]] || "Losing Your Love" || ''Distant Drums'' || '''#2''' || '''#89''' || - ||

|-

| [[1962]] || "Pride Goes Before a Fall" || ''Up Through the Years'' || '''#18''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1962]] || "You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened to Me)" || ''The Intimate'' || - || - || '''#2''' ||

|-

| [[1963]] || "Guilty" || ''International'' || '''#3''' || '''#91''' || - ||

|-

| [[1963]] || "Is This Me?" || ''The Best 2'' || '''#3''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1964]] || "I Guess I'm Crazy" || ''The Best 2'' || '''#1''' || '''#82''' || '''#2''' ||

|-

| [[1964]] || "Not Until the Next Time" || ''Distant Drums'' || - || - || '''#6''' ||

|-

| [[1964]] || "Love Is No Excuse" (with [[Dottie West]]) || ''Jim Reeves and Some Friends'' || '''#7''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1964]] || "Welcome to My World" || ''A Touch of Velvet'' || '''#2''' || - || '''#3''' ||

|-

| [[1964]] || "I Love You Because" || ''Gentleman Jim'' || - || - || '''#1''' ||

|-

| [[1964]] || "There's a Heartache Following Me" || ''Good 'N' Country'' || - || - || '''#3''' ||

|-

| [[1965]] || "I Won't Forget You" || ''The Country Side'' || '''#3''' || - || '''#1''' ||

|-

| [[1965]] || "Is It Really Over?" || ''Distant Drums'' || '''#1''' || '''#79''' || - ||

|-

| [[1965]] || "This Is It" || ''Distant Drums'' || '''#1''' || '''#88''' || '''#9''' ||

|-

| [[1965]] || "Rosa Rio" || ''Moonlight and Roses'' || - || - || '''#3''' ||

|-

| [[1965]] || "It Hurts So Much" || ''The Jim Reeves Way'' || - || - || '''#4''' ||

|-

| [[1965]] || "How Long Has It Been" || ''God Be With You'' || - || - || '''#9''' ||

|-

| [[1966]] || "Blue Side of Lonesome" || ''The Blue Side of Lonesome'' || '''#1''' || '''#59''' || - ||

|-

| [[1966]] || "Snowflake" || ''Distant Drums'' || - || - || '''#2''' ||

|-

| [[1966]] || "Distant Drums" || ''Distant Drums'' || - || - || '''#2''' ||

|-

| [[1967]] || "I Won't Come In While He's There" || ''The Blue Side of Lonesome'' || '''#1''' || - || '''#7''' ||

|-

| [[1967]] || "The Storm" || ''The Best of Jim Reeves'' || '''#16''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1968]] || "I Heard a Heart Break Last Night" || ''The Best of Jim Reeves'' || '''#9''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1968]] || "When You Are Gone" || ''A Touch of Sadness'' || '''#7''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1969]] || "When Two Worlds Collide" || ''Jim Reeves Writes You a Record'' || '''#6''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1970]] || "Angels Don't Lie" || ''Jim Reeves Writes You a Record'' || '''#4''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1970]] || "Nobody's Fool" || ''Jim Reeves Writes You a Record'' || '''#10''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1971]] || "Gypsy Feet" || ''My Friend'' || '''#16''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1972]] || "Missing You" || ''Missing You'' || '''#8''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1972]] || "The Writing's On the Wall" || ''My Friend'' || '''#15''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1973]] || "Am I That Easy to Forget?" || ''Jim Reeves' Golden Records'' || '''#12''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1974]] || "I'd Fight the World" || ''I'd Fight the World'' || '''#19''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1979]] || "Don't Let Me Cross Over" (with [[Deborah Allen]]) || ''Don't Let Me Cross Over'' || '''#10''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1979]] || "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight" (with [[Deborah Allen]]) || ''Don't Let Me Cross Over'' || '''#6''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1980]] || "Take Me In Your Arms and Hold Me" (with [[Deborah Allen]]) || ''Don't Let Me Cross Over'' || '''#10''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1982]] || "Have You Ever Been Lonely?" (with [[Patsy Cline]]) || ''Greatest Hits'' || '''#5''' || - || - ||

|}

In 2014, a set of eight CDs was released by Intermusic S.A., titled ''The Great Jim Reeves'', containing 170 tracks, remastered and remixed.<ref name="auto1"/>

==Selected Albums==

===Tributes===

{| class="wikitable"

Tributes to Reeves were composed in the [[British Isles]] after his death. The song "A Tribute to Jim Reeves" was written by Eddie Masterson, and recorded by [[Larry Cunningham]] and the Mighty Avons; during January 1965, it scored on the UK charts and top 10 in Ireland. It scored the UK charts on December 10, 1964, and was there for 11 weeks and sold 250,000 copies. The Dixielanders Show Band also recorded "Tribute to Jim Reeves" written by Steve Lynch and recorded during September 1964; it scored on the [[Northern Ireland]] charts during September 1964. The Masterson song was translated later into [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and recorded.

|-

| '''Year''' || '''Album''' || <small> U.S. Country </small> || <small> U.S. Pop </small> || <small> Norway Top 20 </small> ||

In the UK, "We'll Remember You" was written by Geoff Goddard, but not released until 2008 on the ''Now & Then: From Joe Meek to New Zealand'' double album by Houston Wells.

|-

| [[1956]] || ''Bimbo'' || - || - || - ||

[[Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra]], a Canadian alternative rock band whose musical style blends elements of surf music, gospel music, rockabilly, garage, and punk, released the song entitled "Jimmy Reeves" on their 1992 album ''Don't Mind If I Do''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jerryjerry.ca/bio.htm|title=Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra – Bio|website=Jerryjerry.ca|access-date=April 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064339/http://www.jerryjerry.ca/bio.htm|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

|-

| [[1957]] || ''Jim Reeves'' || - || - || - ||

Reeves remains a popular artist in Ireland, and many Irish singers have recorded tribute albums. A play by author Dermot Devitt, ''Put Your Sweet Lips,'' was based on Reeves' appearance in Ireland at the Pavesi Ballroom in [[Donegal (town)|Donegal]] town on June 7, 1963, and reminiscences of people who attended.

|-

| [[1958]] || ''Girls I Have Known'' || - || - || '''#20''' ||

Blind [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] and [[blues]] music artist Robert Bradley (of the band [[Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise]]) paid tribute to Reeves in the album description of his release, ''Out of the Wilderness''. He said, "This record brings me back to the time when I started out wanting to be a singer-songwriter, where the music did not need the [[New York Philharmonic]] to make it real...I wanted to do a record and just be Robert and sing straight like Jim Reeves on 'Put Your Sweet Lips a Little Closer to the Phone'."

|-

| [[1958]] || ''God Be With You'' || - || - || '''#4''' ||

British comedian [[Vic Reeves]] adopted his stage name from Reeves and [[Vic Damone]], two of his favorite singers.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

|-

| [[1959]] || ''Songs to Warm the Heart'' || - || - || '''#18''' ||

In the United States, [[Del Reeves]] (no relation) recorded and released a 1966 album entitled ''Del Reeves Sings Jim Reeves''.

|-

| [[1960]] || ''According to My Heart'' || - || - || '''#16''' ||

Reeves' nephew, singer-songwriter '''John Rex Reeves''' (March 4, 1936 – November 15, 2022),<ref name="obiJRR">{{cite web |url=https://www.rosewood.cc/book-of-memories/5076717/Reeves-John/obituary.php|title=In Memory of John Rex Reeves 1936 - 2022|date=|accessdate=May 1, 2023|website=Rosewood Funeral Home}}</ref> appeared occasionally on [[RFD-TV]]'s ''Midwest Country,'' singing Reeves' songs, as well as other popular country songs. John Rex, a recording artist in his own right, had two songs on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Singles]] chart in 1981 ("What Would You Do" #93; and "You're the Reason" #90).<ref name="JW">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2|page=346}}</ref> John Rex died after a long illness in [[Kingwood, Texas]], at age 86.<ref name="obiJRR"/>

|-

| [[1960]] || ''He'll Have to Go'' || - || '''#18''' || '''#15''' ||

In 2023, "He'll Have To Go", an [[Independent film|independent short film]] named after [[He'll Have to Go|Reeves' song of the same name]] was released and won the Finalist Award at the SWIFF International Film Festival for "Best Short Film".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CuAadkpsSMI/?igsh=NGh3eTZhcGpoaWlt |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=He'll Have to Go (Short 2023) {{!}} Short, Horror |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27041223/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

|-

| [[1961]] || ''Tall Tales and Short Tempers'' || - || - || - ||

==Discography==

|-

{{main|Jim Reeves discography}}

| [[1961]] || ''Talkin' to Your Heart'' || - || - || - ||

|-

| [[1962]] || ''Country Side'' || - || - || '''#8''' ||

|-

| [[1962]] || ''A Touch of Velvet'' || - || '''#97''' || '''#8''' ||

|-

| [[1962]] || ''We Thank Thee'' || - || - || '''#12''' ||

|-

| [[1963]] || ''Gentleman Jim'' || - || - || '''#2''' ||

|-

| [[1963]] || ''International'' || - || - || '''#5''' ||

|-

| [[1963]] || ''Good 'n' Country'' || '''#13''' || - || '''#7''' ||

|-

| [[1963]] || ''Twelve Songs of Christmas'' || - || '''#15''' || '''#3''' ||

|-

| [[1964]] || ''Kimberley Jim'' || - || - || '''#11''' ||

|-

| [[1964]] || ''Moonlight and Roses'' || '''#1''' || '''#30''' || '''#2''' ||

|-

| [[1964]] || ''The Best'' || '''#1''' || '''#9''' || '''#1''' ||

|-

| [[1964]] || ''Have I Told You Lately'' || '''#5''' || - || '''#8''' ||

|-

| [[1965]] || ''The Jim Reeves Way'' || '''#2''' || '''#45''' || '''#5''' ||

|-

| [[1965]] || ''Up Through the Years'' || '''#1''' || - || '''#10''' ||

|-

| [[1965]] || ''The Best 2'' || '''#4''' || '''#100''' || '''#7''' ||

|-

| [[1966]] || ''Distant Drums'' || '''#1''' || '''#21''' || '''#2''' ||

|-

| [[1966]] || ''Yours Sincerely || '''#3''' || - || '''#15''' ||

|-

| [[1967]] || ''Blue Side of Lonesome'' || '''#3''' || '''#185''' || '''#15''' ||

|-

| [[1969]] || ''Jim Reeves and Some Friends'' || '''#18''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1969]] || ''The Best 3'' || '''#12''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1971]] || ''Jim Reeves Writes You a Record'' || '''#34''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1971]] || ''Something Special'' || '''#13''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1973]] || ''Am I That Easy to Forget?'' || '''#11''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1974]] || ''I'd Fight the World'' || '''#13''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1975]] || ''Songs of Love'' || '''#34''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1979]] || ''The Best 4'' || - || - || - ||

|-

| [[1979]] || ''Don't Let Me Cross Over'' || '''#23''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1980]] || ''There's Always Me'' || '''#56''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1981]] || ''Greatest Hits (with [[Patsy Cline]]) || '''#8''' || - || - ||

|-

| [[1985]] || ''Collector's Series'' || - || - || - ||

|-

| [[1995]] || ''The Essential Jim Reeves'' || - || - || - ||

|-

| [[1997]] || ''Golden Memories'' || - || - || - ||

|-

| [[1998]] || ''All Time Gospel Favorites'' || - || - || - ||

|-

| [[1999]] || ''Super Hits'' || - || - || - ||

|-

| [[1999]] || ''Radio Days'' || - || - || - ||

|}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

* All Music Guide

==Further reading==

* Bergan, Jon Vidar (2006). "Store Rock- Og Pop- Leksikon". ''Big Rock and Pop Encyclopedia''. Kunnskapsforlaget, Oslo. (UK charted singles)

* Gilde, Tore (1994). "Den Store Norske Hitboka". ''The Big Norwegian Hit Book''. Exlex Forlag A/S, Oslo. (Norway charted singles and albums)

* Rumble, John (1998). "Jim Reeves". – ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, editor. New York: Oxford University Press, pp.&nbsp;435–6. {{ISBN|978-0-19-517608-7}}

* Stanton, Scott (2003). "Jim Reeves". ''The Tombstone Tourist: Musicians''. New York: Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|0-7434-6330-7}}

Miracle okpror ft jim reeves (2024)

==External links==

{{Commons category}}

*[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0m8zeflkhgf6 All Music Guide] Biography and discography at The All Music Guide [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=30: AMG]

*[httphttps://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/jim-reeves.com The Jim Reeves Way],at athe pageCountry dedicatedMusic to the memoryHall of Jim ReevesFame]

*{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1784}}

*[http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=159# Jim Reeves] at the Country Music Hall of Fame

*{{discogs artist}}

*[http://www.jim-reeves.nl Dutch language Jim Reeves site.] Large collection of Jim Reeves information

*[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=reeves005jam Jim Reeves minor league stats]

*[http://www.jimreevesforum.cjb.net Jim Reeves Forum], a fan forum dedicated to Jim Reeves

*[http://www.jimreevesfanclub.com website of the Jim Reeves fan club.] The fan club issues the fan club magazine in two editions: Dutch and English. It was founded in 1975 and is the longest running Jim Reeves fan club/ organisation.

*[http://www.carthagetexas.com/tcmhof/memorial.htm Jim Reeves Memorial site] Jim Reeves' Memorial

*[http://www.luma-electronic.cz/lp/elpe.htm Discography] to the left: scroll down to 'R' and 'REEVES Jim' (this discography is quite complete w/ original picture sleeves, chart positions and lyrics)

*[http://www.quasimodobell.com/default.aspx/tabid/130/groupid/897/gingroup/REEVES+JIM/discography/1 Jim Reeves] A, incomplete, Discography featuring pictures of, mostly, original british album sleeves

{{Jim Reeves}}

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