Al Grant celebrates the music of Jim Reeves

No American country singer had a bigger impact on Ireland than Jim Reeves. Five decades after his death in a plane crash near Brentwood in Tennessee, the legacy of Reeves still lives on. He was the first superstar of country music outside America, the man who rolled back the borders and brought country to the world.

The Irish have always had a love affair with the songs of Jim Reeves. In 1963, Jim Reeves undertook his first and only tour of Ireland. Among those waiting to welcome him to Ireland were popular Irish country stars of that era, Dermot O’Brien from Louth and Maisie McDaniel (mother of Lisa Stanley) from Sligo.

Reeves was Hollywood material back then. From Drumkeen in Co Limerick, where he performed his first date to a whole series of shows across the country, ranging from Tramore to Derry and Ballymena, Reeves was the talk of the country. When news came through of his death on 31 July, 1964, it was like a death in the family for the many who had fallen in love with his remarkable songbook. Reeves was piloting the small aircraft when it crashed in a storm en route from Arkansas to Nashville.

Al Grant was raised on the songs of Jim Reeves. Ahead of his upcoming Welcome To My World Tour – A celebration of the life and music of Jim Reeves, I spoke to Al about his fascination with the Jim Reeves story.

“I’ve been singing Jim Reeves since I was 15-years-old. I loved his voice and his songs and sang them in the local clubs. The relay of news was far different back then than it is today.

“We had no local radio in the UK and it was just before the pirates began to make an impact. I picked up a newspaper and spotted what was a small write-up saying he had died in a plane crash,” recalls Al.

When Al starting started touring in Ireland 16 years ago with his wife Isla, he realised the extraordinary fondness there was for Jim Reeves’ songs.

“I would do a small guest spot on the shows and when I started singing Jim Reeves songs, the audience just joined in with me. It was amazing, the songs of Reeves lend themselves so well to sing-alongs and immediately draw the audience into the intimacy of the show.”

What can audiences expect at the Jim Reeves Story concerts?

“We can promise two hours of some of the best-loved classics from the Jim Reeves repertoire.

“Isla is narrating the story from his birth in Galloway, Texas, in the early 1920s right up to that fateful July day in 1964.

“We have also acquired some vintage footage and photographs that we will have on a big screen as well as some memorabilia from his Irish tour, including tickets for the dance in Sligo and other places.

“One of his favourite singers was Patsy Cline (who also died in a place crash) and that gives us the link to bring Isla on to sing a few of the Patsy Cline standards. We will also include a duet or two during the show.

“Among the songs I will be featuring are He’ll Have to Go, Adios Amigos, Moonlight and Roses, I Won’t Forget You, Danny Boy, This World Is Not My Home and many more. There are also others, including Waiting For A Train, a song Jim recorded in honour of one of his idols, the great Jimmy Rogers. We are also delighted to have talented musicians such as Glen Flynn, Eugene McMullen and Johnny Gleeson with us on the tour. We hope patrons will love this show.”

Most of Jim’s early songs were sung at a much higher pitch than the ones that eventually saw him become one of the most successful country-pop crossover artists in the world.

It was songs like He’ll Have To Go and Four Walls that saw Reeves lower his voice to the mellow velvet tones that made him one of the biggest superstars in country music history.

Chet Atkins, of course, was instrumental in guiding the massive success of Jim Reeves. It was Chet who talked Jim into lowering the voice and who added the beautiful piano sounds of Floyd Cramer and the lush strings that heralded the arrival of the Nashville sound. The rest is history.

Al Grant has recorded four albums for CMR in Dublin, three very much orientated to the Jim reeves style.

“CMR Records are releasing a package of 50 songs to coincide with the tour and to mark the golden jubilee of Jim's death. We have never been to Nashville or his grave in Texas, but we are promising ourselves that we will get over there sometime soon.”

If they do, they will stand in reverence like so many thousands have over the years and read the following inscription at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage: “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 country music’s most important performers.”