The Voice That Drove Country: The Life and Legacy of George Jones
Story by Mitchell Smith
George Glenn Jones was born on September 12, 1931, in Saratoga, Texas. Raised in poverty and surrounded by music, Jones grew up listening to gospel and country records, learning guitar by age nine. By the time he was a teenager, he was singing on the streets of Beaumont, Texas, and performing on local radio shows.
His big break came in the mid-1950s when his single “Why Baby Why” became a hit. Jones quickly became known for his emotionally charged vocals and honky-tonk style. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1956 and became a fixture in the Nashville scene. Although Jones struggled with alcoholism in the seventies he was able to bounce back and become a country music legend. He is referred to as “The Rolls-Royce of Country Music”, and had more than 160 chart singles to his name from 1955 until his death in 2013. Jones was a pioneer and influenced many artists such as Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, and Alan Jackson.
He was a powerful singer and his voice is chiseled into the music industry forever.
