2008 George Jones

George Jones is considered one of the best country singers of all time. For over four decades, he has been a dominant figure in the country music industry, and his music is sometimes described as 'hardcore country.' He has approximately 140 top 40 hits on his shelf of trophies.

George was born in September of 1931, in Saratoga Texas. As a kid, due to his father's urging, he sang for tips on the streets in the city of Beaumont. He became an official member of the music industry in the 40s when he worked on Texas radio stations, but his career really took off after his first debut recording with Starday Records, 'Why Baby Why,' in 1955. It was said that George sang much like Lefty Frizell, Roy Acuff, and Hank Williams. In 1957 he decided to sign with Mercury Records and he produced his first number 1 hit record, White Lightening, in 1957. The album also sparked other hit singles including 'Tender Years,' which hit number one and 'Window Up Above,' which hit number one for six weeks and also won the Make Vocalist of the Year Award from CMA in 1962 and 1963.

Jones, after two previous marriages, married the famous country singer Tammy Wynette in 1969, but they too divorced in 1975. While they were together, they sang a number of duets, including 'Let's Build a World Together' and 'Golden Ring.' Over the years, George has also teamed up with Johnny Paycheck, Merle Haggard, Gene Pitney, Margie Singleton, and Melba Montgomery.

Billy Sherril, producer at Epic, found fresh talent in Jones' voice and together they made many successful records, including his 1980, He Stopped loving Her Today. The album was hit #1 on the charts and Jones won a Grammy and Song of the Year from CMA: this record is considered to be one of the best country albums of all time.

In 1993, MCA released I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair, recorded with hot country stars such as Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, and Garth Brooks. Jones was finally elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. The 1994 disc set of The Spirit Of Country: The Essential George Jones, has a variety of his songs from almost every label. Jones decided to write a book about his remarkable life, I Lived To Tell It All, which was published in 1996; it hit number 6 on The New York Times bestsellers list.

A few years later, in 1999, George released Cold Hard Truth, which celebrated his 164th charted record. Jones continued to prove himself through this album, showing everyone that he could make it in today's world of popular music. George Jones The Rock was his first release with BNA/Bandit Records in 2001. He continues to tour all over the United States, making several stops in the cities considered to be full of real country music fans.