Grandpa Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grandpa Jones
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Louis Marshall Jones |
| Also known as | Grandpa Jones |
| Born | October 20, 1913 Niagara, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Origin | Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | February 19, 1998 (aged 84) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1932–1998 |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Louis Marshall Jones (born October 20, 1913 – died February 19, 1998) was an American musician. He was known as Grandpa Jones. He played the banjo and sang "old time" country and gospel music. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Contents
About Grandpa Jones
Louis Marshall Jones was born in Niagara, Kentucky. He was the youngest of 10 children. His family worked on a farm. His father played the fiddle, and his mother sang and played the concertina. Louis learned to play the guitar first.
He spent his teenage years in Akron, Ohio. There, he started singing country music on a radio show. In 1931, he joined a band called the Pine Ridge String Band. They played music for a popular radio show.
In 1935, Louis moved to Boston, Massachusetts, for his music career. He met musician Bradley Kincaid there. Bradley gave him the nickname "Grandpa Jones." Louis was only 22, but he was often grumpy in the mornings for radio shows. He liked the name and decided to use it as his stage name. Later, he lived in Mountain View, Arkansas. In the 1940s, he learned to play the banjo from a country radio star named Cousin Emmy.
Musical Journey
As Grandpa Jones, he played guitar or banjo and sang old-time songs. He also yodeled. In 1937, he learned a special banjo style called "clawhammer" from Cousin Emmy. This style gave his music a unique, old-fashioned sound.
Grandpa Jones first played music in public when he was about 11 years old. He was greatly influenced by the music of the WLS Barn Dance in Chicago. He also loved the records of Jimmie Rodgers.
In 1942, Jones joined radio station WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. There, he met Merle Travis. In 1943, they both made their first recordings for King Records. Grandpa Jones started making records under his own name in 1944. His first hit song was "It's Raining Here This Morning."
His music career paused when he joined the United States Army during World War II. After the war, in 1946, he started recording again for King Records. In March 1946, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He began performing on the famous Grand Ole Opry show.
On October 14, 1946, he married Ramona Riggins. Ramona was also a talented performer and often joined him on stage. Grandpa Jones was known for his funny, vaudeville-style humor. This helped him become popular on television. Some of his most famous songs include "T For Texas," "Are You From Dixie," "Night Train To Memphis," "Mountain Dew," and "Eight More Miles To Louisville."
In 1968, Grandpa Jones became a main cast member on the TV show Hee Haw. He was known for his catchphrase "Outrageous!" He often played the banjo by himself or with David "Stringbean" Akeman. One funny part of the show had him describe a delicious country meal. Sometimes, he would describe something not so good, like "thawed out TV dinners!"
Helping Others
Grandpa Jones lived in Ridgetop, Tennessee. He was a neighbor and friend of fellow musician David "Stringbean" Akeman. In November 1973, Jones found his friends, David and Estelle Akeman. He helped the authorities with their investigation. His help was important in solving the case.
Awards and Recognition
In 1978, Grandpa Jones was honored by being added to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1984, he wrote a book about his life called Everybody's Grandpa: Fifty Years Behind The Mike.
Later Life and Passing
In January 1998, Grandpa Jones had two strokes after performing at the Grand Ole Opry. He passed away on February 19, 1998, at the age of 84. He was buried in the Luton Memorial Methodist Church cemetery in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
Music Albums
Grandpa Jones recorded music for several record companies. These included RCA Victor, King Records, and Monument.
- Grandpa Jones Sings His Greatest Hits (1954)
- Country Music Hall of Fame Series (1992) MCA
- Grandpa Jones & The Brown's Ferry Four 16 Sacred Gospel Songs (King Records)
- Grandpa Jones Yodeling Hits (1963) Monument
- Grandpa Jones Remembers The Brown's Ferry Four (1966) Monument
- Grandpa Jones Live (1970) Monument
See also
In Spanish: Grandpa Jones para niños
