I’m pretty critical when it comes to music.  I like what I like and if I don’t like it, I don’t want to hear it.  And I think most of us, if we’re being honest, are just that critical.  Most of what passes for country music today just is not country to me.  George Jones was every bit a country musician.  He had the twang, the emotion, the flair.  George played in Wichita Falls for the last time just this past October.  I did not go.  I wish now that I had.  Today, The Possum passed on at age 81.

George Jones life, like most celebrities, was marked by both praise and controversy.  His marriage to Tammy Wynette (my wife’s all-time favorite artist) was both fairy tale and nightmare.  He had a history of alcoholism, which more than likely led to his other nickname, No Show Jones.  He missed a show back in the late 70’s here in Wichita Falls for that very reason.    But that addiction probably lent as much to his talent as it took away from the character of the man.  I’ll take a Jones tune over 95% of today’s artists any day of the week. Jone's credited his fourth (and final) wife Nancy with helping him get off the booze and drugs and to get his financial life in order.

“He Stopped Loving Her Today”,” The Race Is On”, “The Grand Tour”; the list goes on and on.  The two videos below are among my personal favorites.  Enjoy.

RIP Possum.

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