Join me at 11 a.m.  on Sunday, April 27th for the Sunday Morning Country Classic Spotlight featuring George Jones.  This Sunday is a country classic extra.   The Country Classic Show kicks off at 9 a.m. on air, online or in the palm of your hand on RadioPup.

George Jones is the undisputed successor of earlier singers like Hank Williams, Sr. and Lefty Frizzell whohad a great deal of influence in his career.

George was born on September 12, 1931 in Saratoga, Texas.  He began recording country music in the 1950's, with his first hit being Why Baby Why? which he recorded in 1955.

He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1957 and continued to write hit songs into the 1980's.  After divorcing his first wife, Dorthy Bonvillion, George joined the U.S. Marines and served during the Korean War, but never went overseas.

In the late 1960's, he met and fell in love with fellow country singer, Tammy Wynette.  They married in 1969 and divorced in 1975.  After calling it quits they continued to work together recording hits like Golden Ring.  His years of drinking and cocaine abuse took its toll.  His fourth wife, Nancy, helped him end his destructive ways.

On April 26, 2013 George Jones passed away at age 81.  A quote from Jones' obituary is as follows:

George Jones, the hard living country singer who recorded dozens of hits about good times and regrets and peaked with the heart melting classic, 'He Stopped Loving Her Today.'

George died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

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