Died On This Date (June 13, 2010) Jimmy Dean / Country Singer, Actor, and Sausage Merchant

Jimmy Dean
August 10, 1928 – June 13, 2010

Jimmy Dean was a country music legend, television personality, and part-time actor who used his fame to pitch his own successful Jimmy Dean sausage products for many years.  After dropping out of high school in the mid ’40s, Dean chose his path as an entertainer while serving in the United States Air Force.  He eventually became host of his own local radio program where future stars like Roy Clark and Patsy Cline got their starts.  In 1961, Dean had a country hit of his own, the wildly popular and influential “Big Bad John” which earned him a Best Country Recording Grammy and sold over a million copies.  He followed that with several more hits, the biggest being 1976’s “I.O.U.,” another million seller.   During the ’60s, Dean became a familiar face on television, often filling in as host of The Tonight Show and later hosting his own prime time variety show, one of the few national programs during that time to regularly feature country acts.  Around this period, Dean took up acting, with his most memorable roles being on television’s Daniel Boone and in the James Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever.    Throughout the ’70s, Dean again became a familiar face to a new generation, this time however, as the down home pitchman of the pure pork sausage that wore his name.  He eventually furthered his fortune by selling the company to what would become Sara Lee.  He remained the face of the products up until his passing.  Jimmy Dean was 81 when he died of natural causes on June 13, 2010.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

What You Should Own