Perhaps one of the most colourful and enduring country singers of all time has to be George Jones - but is he the best country singer ever? A recent poll carried out within the country music industry named George Jones as the greatest living country singer, and it would be hard to ignore the fact - whatever your own opinion may be.
Everyone who listens to country music has their own favourite artist, so it becomes very difficult to single out one particular singer from any of the others as opinions vary so much and each opinion has to be respected.
Whatever your views of George Jones are, you have to admire his longevity in a business notorious for 'here today gone tomorrow' artists and bands. Since the early days of 'Rockabilly', in which he sang under the name of 'Thumper' Jones in 1956, George has become one of the very few artists to have had a chart hit in every decade since he began recording!
For all his number one hits, and there were 14 in total from 1959 to 1983, he is perhaps best known for a record he didn't want to record. In 1980 he was given the chance to record a song that he said was 'too morbid' and 'nobody will ever buy it'. The song was called 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' and became his greatest hit of all!
Infamous for his drinking and drug habits during the 70's, 80's and 90's Jones almost destroyed himself, and most certainly destroyed some of his marriages. His wedding to country legend Tammy Wynette ended in divorce in 1975, but salvation was around the corner and in 1983 he married Nancy Sepulvado who eventually managed to get him off drinking and drug taking for good. A serious car crash in 1999, believed to have been caused by drink, was the final straw and Jones never drank again.
From the early raw Rockabilly sound and then moving on to the Honky Tonk music in the style of his hero Hank Williams, George eventually developed his own particular ballad style, but always stayed very close to the roots of country music.
With some 66 Albums to his name, not to mention over 140 singles and 25 collaboration albums too, it's fair to say that George Jones deserves a place in country music history.
Is George Jones the best country singer ever? You decide.
Everyone who listens to country music has their own favourite artist, so it becomes very difficult to single out one particular singer from any of the others as opinions vary so much and each opinion has to be respected.
Whatever your views of George Jones are, you have to admire his longevity in a business notorious for 'here today gone tomorrow' artists and bands. Since the early days of 'Rockabilly', in which he sang under the name of 'Thumper' Jones in 1956, George has become one of the very few artists to have had a chart hit in every decade since he began recording!
For all his number one hits, and there were 14 in total from 1959 to 1983, he is perhaps best known for a record he didn't want to record. In 1980 he was given the chance to record a song that he said was 'too morbid' and 'nobody will ever buy it'. The song was called 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' and became his greatest hit of all!
Infamous for his drinking and drug habits during the 70's, 80's and 90's Jones almost destroyed himself, and most certainly destroyed some of his marriages. His wedding to country legend Tammy Wynette ended in divorce in 1975, but salvation was around the corner and in 1983 he married Nancy Sepulvado who eventually managed to get him off drinking and drug taking for good. A serious car crash in 1999, believed to have been caused by drink, was the final straw and Jones never drank again.
From the early raw Rockabilly sound and then moving on to the Honky Tonk music in the style of his hero Hank Williams, George eventually developed his own particular ballad style, but always stayed very close to the roots of country music.
With some 66 Albums to his name, not to mention over 140 singles and 25 collaboration albums too, it's fair to say that George Jones deserves a place in country music history.
Is George Jones the best country singer ever? You decide.
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