Jim Ed Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Ed Brown
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Brown in 1993
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Edward Brown |
| Also known as | Jim Ed Brown |
| Born | April 1, 1934 Sparkman, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 2015 (aged 81) Franklin, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1954–2015 |
| Labels | RCA Victor |
| Associated acts | The Browns Helen Cornelius Jerry Clower |
Jim Ed Brown (born April 1, 1934 – died June 11, 2015) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He became famous in the 1950s as part of a group called The Browns with his two sisters. Later, he had a successful solo career. He also sang many popular songs with another country singer, Helen Cornelius. Jim Ed Brown was also known for hosting a radio show called Country Music Greats Radio Show.
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About Jim Ed Brown
Jim Ed Brown was born on April 1, 1934, in Sparkman, Arkansas. His parents, Floyd and Birdie Brown, owned a farm. His father also worked at a sawmill. When Jim Ed and his sisters, Maxine and Bonnie, were young, their family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. As they grew up, the three siblings enjoyed singing.
In 1954, Jim Ed and Maxine signed a music contract as a duo. They became well-known across the country. Their funny song "Looking Back To See" became a top ten hit. It even earned them a spot on Ernest Tubb's radio show.
The Browns Group
In 1955, Jim Ed and Maxine's younger sister, Bonnie, who was 18, joined them. This is when they officially became "The Browns." They started performing on the Louisiana Hayride radio show. By the end of 1955, they had another top ten hit called "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow." Their appearances on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee helped make the song even more popular.
In 1956, The Browns signed with RCA Victor. Soon after, they had two big hits: "I Take the Chance" and "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing." In 1957, Jim Ed was drafted into the military. While he was serving, the group still recorded music when he was on leave. His sister Norma sometimes filled in for him during tours.
In 1959, The Browns had their biggest hit ever with "The Three Bells." This folk-pop song reached number one on both the pop and country music charts. It also made it to the top ten on the Rhythm and Blues chart. They continued to have hits with remakes of popular songs like "Scarlet Ribbons" and "The Old Lamplighter." These songs reached the top 15 on pop and country charts. The trio continued to have moderate success in country music for seven more years. In 1963, they became members of the famous Grand Ole Opry. The group officially stopped performing together in 1967.
Jim Ed's Solo Career
After The Browns disbanded, Jim Ed Brown continued to record music for RCA Victor. He had many country hits on his own. His first solo top ten hit was "Pop a Top" in 1967. This song became his signature tune.
Starting in 1969, Jim Ed also had his own TV show called "The Country Place." This show became famous for introducing the singer Crystal Gayle. The show ended in 1971. In 1970, his song "Morning" became a hit on both country and pop charts. Other popular songs included "Angel's Sunday" (1971), "Southern Loving" (1973), and "Sometime Sunshine" (1974).
In 1976, Jim Ed Brown started singing duets with Helen Cornelius. Their first song together, "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You," became a number one hit. They had many other popular songs, including "Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye" (1977), "Born Believer" (1977), and "I'll Never Be Free" (1978). They also covered Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand's hit "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" in 1979.
Jim Ed Brown also hosted a country television show called Nashville on the Road. He hosted it with Jerry Clower, Helen Cornelius, and Wendy Holcombe. Later, he hosted shows on The Nashville Network, like You Can Be A Star, a talent show. He also hosted Going Our Way, which showed him and his wife traveling across the U.S. in an RV. Jim Ed Brown lived in Brentwood, Tennessee, with his wife, Becky.
Radio Host
Jim Ed Brown hosted two country music radio shows that were played across the country. One was a weekly two-hour show called Country Music Greats Radio Show. The other was a shorter daily show called Country Music Greats Radio Minute. Over 300 radio stations broadcast these shows to millions of listeners each week. They were also available online. On the Country Music Greats Radio Show, Jim Ed played music from the 1940s to the 1990s. He also shared interviews with country stars and told stories about his life in country music.
Dollar General Stores Spokesperson
Starting in 1975, Jim Ed Brown became a national spokesperson for Dollar General Stores. This is a discount store chain. He appeared in many TV commercials for them. His famous slogan was, "Every day is dollar day at your Dollar General Store." You could often find his autographed photo behind the cash register in many stores.
Grand Ole Opry Member
Jim Ed Brown was a very active and popular member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1963. He remained a member until he passed away. He would sometimes reunite with Helen Cornelius there to perform their hit duet songs together.
Country Music Hall of Fame
In March 2015, it was announced that The Browns group would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is a very high honor in country music. Because Jim Ed's health was getting worse, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame early, in June 2015.
Illness and Death
In September 2014, Jim Ed Brown shared that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. He took a break from his radio shows to get treatment. By early 2015, he was feeling better and returned to hosting his shows. However, on June 3, 2015, he announced that the cancer had returned. Jim Ed Brown passed away a week later, on June 11, 2015, at the age of 81.
Discography
