Died On This Date (July 31, 1964) Jim Reeves / Country Music Icon
themusicsover Jim Reeves
August 20, 1923 – July 31, 1964
When Jim Reeves graduated from college, he played semi-pro baseball until he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1944. An ankle injury put the brakes on his baseball career while still in the farm system. Reeves soon turned his sights on music and by the late ’40s was making records and was part of Moon Mulican’s band. Reeves later made his solo radio debut on the highly influential program, Louisiana Hayride, reportedly as a last-minute replacement for Hank Williams. He eventually signed with RCA Records where, with the help of producer, Chet Atkins he released a string of hits including “Four Walls” and “He’ll Have To Go.” His smooth voice and style came to exemplify the “Nashville Sound.” Jim Reeves died when the small plane he was piloting crashed in bad weather over Tennessee. He was 40 years old.
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