The Legend of George Jones: His Life and Death

by Peanutt Montgomery

  George had worked the honky-tonks and barrooms but barely made enough money to survive. He was ready for something bigger and better, and he certainly deserved it. He desperately needed a record under his belt, so that his music could be heard beyond the streets of Beaumont and bars. Without a record deal, he would never be more than a local singer entertaining a bunch of half-drunk people and barely making a living. George was a gifted professional and needed to be heard. He wanted more than anything in the world to spend the rest of his life making music. It was his obsession that drove him, and George honestly never cared about stardom or even the money attached to it. If he could make an honest living and be able to live out his passion, he would be a happy man.

  The big break George wanted so badly came when Pappy Daily and Bill Starnes founded STARDAY Records. Pappy heard George sing and loved his music, and George was exactly the singer he needed to bring into his new company. He signed George to his first record label that would begin a new career and way of life.

  Country Music was rising in popularity, but Rock and Roll was raging across the Nation like wildfire. It was selling like crazy and being played on nearly every radio station. George felt he would have a better chance at success in Rock and Roll, so he made the decision and cut a deal with Pappy Daily, who produced George’s first two songs.

  “The Rocket” and “Dad Gummit, How Come It” were cut and released under the name of Thumper Jones. George’s middle name is Glenn, and Patterson is his mother’s maiden name, so he also recorded under the pseudonym of Glen Patterson. There had been no success on his first releases, so he tried again but this time with a country song, “There Ain’t No Money In This Deal” which was virtually a flop that did nothing for him but make him miserable. After three failed songs, Pappy Daily did not give up his confidence in George, so he gambled again and released “Why Baby Why.” It was a hit!

  George’s next release was another flop and came about the time everybody thought he had finally made the big time. Many of George’s peers felt like he was trying to sound too much like Hank Williams, Sr., who was no doubt his idol. It was Pappy Daily who turned things around when he told George that there had already been a Hank Williams, and now we need a George Jones. Pappy encouraged George to sing like himself and to develop his own style.

  George took Pappy’s advice and began to sing with his own inward feelings and developed a voice and style unlike anyone had ever heard. He was doing exactly what Pappy wanted of him, and Pappy was pleased with the unique phrasing and the pure soul that poured from George’s vocal cords behind his clenched teeth. George had developed a method of singing that was far different from all the rest. This unique style was the tool George needed for real success and when George began to deliver the true George Jones with his voice, he began to succeed as an artist, who would eventually distinguish himself as the top singer in the world of Country Music.

  Pappy Daily did more for George than jumpstart his amazing career. He took the shyness from George and built up his self-confidence. No one knew for sure what was to come in the after years, but Pappy kept on producing hit after hit for George and allowed him to keep gaining the ground that would make him the Country Music legend he is today.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Shirley Corley–Wife Number Two

  * * *

  The hit, “Why Baby Why” created a demand for George Jones, so he formed a band and hit the road. While playing a gig in Houston, Texas, George met a pretty young lady by the name of Shirley Corley. She was working as a carhop at a little drive-in restaurant, and George immediately was attracted to her although she was only eighteen years old and newly graduated from high school. Shirley was as attracted to George as he was to her, so they dated for a short time and then George asked Shirley to marry him. Shirley had no intentions of marrying George and kept turning him down; even though, he kept coming back and asking her again and again. Shirley admitted that she loved George but refused to commit because she was uncomfortable with his drinking.

  Shirley was raised in church and had been taught to keep away from anyone who had the habit of drinking. Shirley loved George and desperately wanted to marry him, so she finally relented, tossed her beliefs aside, and the drinking didn’t stop her. She felt that she could influence George to stop drinking if she married him. George and Shirley married in 1954.

  George and Shirley were happily married until drinking became a problem. Shirley had been afraid this might happen because George never totally gave alcohol up no matter how much she encouraged him to do so. Shirley believed George was a really good man, and she so desperately wanted the marriage to work.

  George, like many successful music stars, was on the road touring and completing his show schedules. This started to become a problem with Shirley because there wasn’t enough time being spent together for them to develop a good family life and share their love for each other.

  George was conflicted between the love for his wife and home and the music business. George didn’t want to lose his marriage, and he understood the demands on an artist the business makes when a talented person has chosen that profession. To be successful, he had to make numerous appearances in order to satisfy the expectations of his record label and his fans, which in turn results in record sales. He knew what he had to do, and he would have to do it regardless of the pressures it put on his marriage.

  The time apart was especially hard on Shirley. The situation got complicated when Shirley discovered she was pregnant. George and Shirley were living with a member of George’s family, and she was struggling between her emotions of George being gone all the time and juggling the problems of living with somebody else’s relatives. The pressure on Shirley was heavy, and something had to give.

  George decided the best thing was to take Shirley on the road with him. Shirley enjoyed this arrangement because she got to spend a lot of time with her husband but not for long. Jeffrey Jones was born in 1955 just before George became a huge star in Country Music, and Shirley had to return home to take care of the baby.

  George was playing in honky-tonks, bars, and clubs, but the big stands had so far eluded him and so had the big paydays. Oddly, it was Shirley who encouraged George to do more professional shows. She recognized his talent could take him beyond the path he was pursuing. Shirley reasoned with George that if he was going to commit his life to his music, he needed a bigger stage to play. George realized Shirley was right.

  He landed a spot on the Louisiana Hay Ride. All the major artists were doing shows there. Shirley attended many of George’s shows but started becoming critical of how he was performing. Pappy Daily wanted to boost George’s self-confidence realizing that he would never become the entertainer he could be if he didn’t have the confidence he needed. Shirley was innocently undermining George’s confidence in his work, and the criticisms only hurt his feelings and made him withdraw even more.

  George was putting his career in front of his marriage, and this was causing some difficulties for Shirley to cope. At one time, she had thoughts that George was seeing other women and had no time for her; especially, when George got more and more involved with alcohol. Shirley realized she was not happy and in a bad situation, but she resolved to stick it out because of their son. Her decision to stay with her marriage ended up being a good one because soon after she found out she was pregnant. There were no more thoughts about ending the marriage, and their second son, Brian, was born in 1958.

  The birth of Brian brought closeness between George and Shirley that had been lacking for a long time. Things were genuinely changing between the two of them. They began to show a lot more love and concern for each other, and Shirley had new hopes that their marriage would survive. George seemed to be happier being at home than he’d ever been; he even laid off drinking and was settling into a peaceful family life.

  This happy arrangement didn’t last long. George’s desire to be on the road drew him away from his family once again, and he dragged the boozing
habits with him. He was staying away from home for long periods of time leaving Shirley to care for the boys and manage the business.

  George was making money and providing a good living for his family, but sometimes it is hard for the spouse of a successful entertainer to understand the rigors of dealing with promoters, the band, and a terrible load of hard work. Shirley couldn’t deal with the fact that George was fused to the only way he would make a living the rest of his life, and the love he had for his music wasn’t going to change.

  In 1956, George had another hit record, “What am I Worth?” After that release, he departed STARDAY and signed with Art Talmage of Mercury Records. He retained Pappy Daily as his producer and in 1957, Pappy produced another big hit, “Don’t Stop the Music.” It landed in the top twenty on the billboard charts. Shortly afterwards, he had another hit record, “Too Much Water.” In 1958, he had great success with three more releases, “Color of the Blues,” “Treasure of Love,” and “If I Don’t Love You.” George was on a roll of big hits that didn’t stop. In 1959, he shot the moon with his first number one hit record, “White Lightning.” The same year he released, “Who Shot Sam?” “Big Harlan Taylor,” and “Money to Burn.”

  In 1960, he released a wonderful song that he wrote himself, and it stayed on the charts for nine months, “Window Up Above.” In 1962, he released the timeless number one hit, “She Thinks I Still Care” along with six other releases that made the charts. He released three songs in 1963 and in 1964 “The Race Is On,” and five more. George released six songs in 1965 and three more in 1966. The endless flow of hits one after the other was proof that George Jones had finally become successful at what he loved to do more than anything else in the world.

  George had not forgotten the struggles he had experienced living in The Big Thicket, and how hard it was for him to get his first guitar. He had not forgotten how hard it had been painting houses for a few dollars to support a wife and child. He had not forgotten what it felt like to be thrown in jail for not being able to pay his child support, nor had he forgotten how hard it was to find odd jobs just to survive by the skin of his teeth. These are the reasons why he could not quit.

  George Jones’s career path found him first singing on the streets of Beaumont, shining shoes, singing in churches and revival meetings, singing in honky-tonks and bars, working as a disc jockey, painting houses, joining the Marines, back to singing with Eddie and Pearl at the Beaumont Playground, performing at the Louisiana Hay Ride, signing with STARDAY Records, touring on the road, signing with Mercury Records, leaving Mercury Records, signing with United Artists Record Label, and producing hit after hit after hit. He would truly become the King of Country Music. George Jones is a name that will be known throughout the world forever, and a major part of the credit belongs to a man who believed in him as a singer. The other part of the credit for George becoming a superstar stems from the encouragement and confidence his second wife, Shirley Corley Jones, instilled in him.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  A Man Can Be a Drunk,

  But a Drunk Can’t Be a Man

  * * *

  George had a serious drinking problem that he could not let go. He depended on alcohol to help him in many ways and used it for his own personal reasons. Alcohol gave him self-confidence and helped him overcome shyness. Many people who didn’t know George could not comprehend that he could be a shy person, but he was. Alcohol gave him the courage to feel and do whatever he wanted.

  Sometimes when George would be drinking, he was actually fun to be around. He would play his guitar and sing for hours on end. He loved to carry on with foolishness when he was in a jolly mood, and he’d do something crazy and just die laughing at himself. He’d laugh and talk about funny embarrassing things that he had experienced. He loved to tell tales about silly things that happened to other artists and got a lot of enjoyment sharing those experiences with the people around him.

  George’s drinking could also put him in a melancholy mood, and he would soothe himself by singing sad songs. Many times when George was singing those sad songs, he would cry. Those times made me think that even though George was a big star, he hurt inside just like everybody does, and he needed to be loved and not criticized. Drunk or sober, I could sit and listen to George sing for hours.

  George found a crutch in alcohol. It helped him to toss all his worries and troubles aside and let his hair down. George was sensitive when he felt someone was “picking” on him and criticizing him for no good reason. He did not have a hard time setting someone straight if he felt this way; especially, if he thought the person was being cocky and smart with him. He could even become really angry and even a little vicious if you pushed him far enough. I didn’t experience this side of George very often when he was drinking, but the few times I did was enough to let me know it was best to not tease him or pick on him when he was under the influence. He would never start an argument or get testy with anyone as long as he was left alone. If not, he would let someone know quickly to back off, or he would have nothing else to do with the person.

  The worst time to be around George was when he was drunk and hacked off at someone. That’s when you’d just better let him have his way, let him say whatever he wanted, listen well, and agree with him until he was finished letting off his steam. George was always right. If a person understood this about him, he could wind up in George’s good graces and become his friend.

  A person needed to know George well if he was going to be with him when he was drunk; otherwise, he could be very difficult to handle. He would do whatever popped in his head, and it was best to let him do exactly that, or you might find yourself facing some serious consequences.

  Drinking made George prone to do outrageous things and get himself in hot water. He would often find himself the subject of a sensational story in a tabloid, magazine, or newspaper, and sometimes he’d wind up in jail.

  An example of this behavior was a time when George’s father became very sick, was admitted to the hospital, and not expected to live. George went to Texas to be with him in case his condition got worse. During the time his dad was sick, George got drunk. He began to recall some bad memories of his dad. He talked about times when the elder Jones had not treated his mom the way he should have. He recalled the times his dad would wake him up at night and make him sing to him. He became angry and spouted off these repressed feelings to his sick father. Some of the family members were very upset at George for acting the way he did at such a difficult time. George couldn’t handle the stress of the circumstances, and his family didn’t know George well enough to understand this. His reaction was the only way he knew to relieve the suffering he was experiencing. George had found himself faced with yet another situation he barely knew how to handle. Again, he turned to the bottle for help.

  George had his own way of expressing his concern, his love, and his compassion. George’s dad was also a heavy drinker, and that no doubt played a big role in the fact that George and his dad were not very close. George really loved his mother, and sometimes Mr. Jones had mistreated her. George had not forgotten it.

  A drunken person can do a lot of damage to the feelings of someone else, and repairing the damage is very hard to fix. It’s like the song, “A Man Can be a Drunk, but a Drunk Can’t be a Man.” In other words, don’t expect a drunken man to do what a sober man would do. George was a person who didn’t always display his true feelings. He might give you a real chewing out but love you to pieces at the same time. So, George got drunk sometimes. Whoop! What would you do if you were wearing his shoes?

  Some of George’s major frustrations happened during times when he’d record a certain song he loved and would want it for a single release. That song wouldn’t get released because someone liked another song better. The chosen song wouldn’t become a hit for George, and that would frustrate him to his core.

  A good example of something George got upset about was when Tammy Wynette and he would record a number one hit record. It woul
d stay number one on the billboard charts for weeks. The radio stations would play the fire out of it; it would be the talk of the town all over Nashville, and everyone just knew it would be “Song of the Year.” George and Tammy would attend the Country Music Awards believing they would receive an award, but the honor would elude them. George would be extremely angry and disappointed.

  George was always happy for the person who would win a Country Music Award, but it wasn’t a time when George would want to go home and play a game of checkers. Most likely, there would be another night of pure misery for those around him.

  Most things George did when he was drinking wouldn’t have been done if he were sober, but not all of the things he did while drinking were wrong. There are a number of deeds he did while under the influence that were actually good. Sometimes, he’d give money away to someone he felt needed it. When you have a heart to help someone out, you can hardly call that a stupid thing although some people did call George’s generosity stupid. It’s a good thing. To be fair, George would give money to people in need when he was sober as well. He was good to everyone who would let him. He would do anything he could to help people whether he knew them or not. George was a generous man.

  One of the best examples of George’s generosity was when he built his mother and father a house. He passionately wanted them to own a house of their own, and so before they died, he built them a new home. George’s parents were so proud of their new house, and Mr. Jones was so touched by what George had done that he nearly quit drinking. George’s mom and dad mended their differences with their famous son, and became closer to each other than they had been in years.

  Mr. Jones had always loved Gospel Music. A year or so before Mr. Jones died he had begun attending church and confessed to becoming a Christian. On September 7, 1967, just five days before George’s thirty-sixth birthday, Mr. Jones passed away. I firmly believe that George building a house for his dad and mom had an impact on Mr. Jones making a change for the better in his life. God works in mysterious ways.