JIM REEVES FAN FORUM

Homer and Jethro

Posted by KF Raizor on July 2, 2009, 6:11 pm
66.32.101.111

Hi, everyone! I'm currently writing a biography of Homer and Jethro, titled We Can't Sing and We Ain't Funny: The World of Homer and Jethro. Hopefully you know that Homer & Jethro massacred two Jim Reeves songs: "He'll Have to Go" and "Mexican Joe No. 6 7/8." They did other songs that Jim had also recorded (e.g., "You Belong to Me"). They also mentioned that Jim was sitting in the audience on Homer and Jethro at the Country Club.

I talked to Jethro's daughter earlier tonight, and she told me that both Jethro and his wife (who was a singer before they got married) were big Jim Reeves fans.

BTW, I'm new here. :-) I've been a Jim fan all my life. In fact, the first day in my life I can explicitly remember was when news came over WSM that they had found the wreckage of Jim's plane. I was 4.

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by Bill Larson on July 2, 2009, 7:08 pm, in reply to "Homer and Jethro"
67.42.34.43

Hi, Karen:
Hope one of the items in your book is from, I believe, the Ill State Fair in '62, or '63 when those two guys literally ran a heckler out of the auditorium and had the rest of the audience in stitches. If I remember correctly, Ray Price, Roy Clark, Sara Cannon, (Minnie Pearl) and Grandpa Jones were also on that show. Check it out.

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by KF Raizor on July 2, 2009, 7:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Homer and Jethro"
66.32.101.111

I haven't gotten that far yet, but I know they were masters of destroying hecklers. My favorite heckler story that I've found was some woman giving them all kinds of grief. Jethro, very seriously and quietly, said, "Ma'am, please understand that we're trying to work here. This is what pays our mortgages and buys food for our children." Then Homer, after a couple of chews on his gum, said, "Yeah, we don't come over where you work and turn the red lights out!"

The Homer and Jethro stuff is wonderful, but I think people will be amazed at meeting Henry and Kenneth. I had no clue what I was getting into, but every day as I find more about them I'm grateful to every biographer who passed them up as subjects and left 'em for me!!

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by Bill Larson on July 2, 2009, 8:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Homer and Jethro"
67.42.34.43

Not very often will a dressing room empty to watch another act, but that one did, everyone wanted to watch and were not disappointed. Springfield, Ill but I really don't remember what year, I think '62 or '63 but might have been later. Interestingly enough, those guys were fantastic musicians, when Roy Clark and H (you spell) started playing jazz, feeding off each other, dueling banjos had nowhere to go. (That was before 'dueling banjos')

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by Terry Carr on July 4, 2009, 12:43 pm, in reply to "Homer and Jethro"
205.188.117.73

Karen,
Welcome to the forum. All Jim Reeves fans are welcome. I had heard that Jim Reeves said when Homer and Jethro had rewritten one of your songs you had arrived. Also, weren't one of them a brother in law to Chet Atkins. I look forward to your book.

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by Lee Nelson on July 4, 2009, 6:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Homer and Jethro"
69.144.190.223

I was living in Chicago in the middle 50s. One night we went to Star Night at Soldier Field where the Bears played. I dont remember who all was there but I remember Sarah Vaughn and Homer and Jethro sang , the memorable thing was one of them wore a bright red suit and the other one wore yellow. I know that we really enjoyed the night but it's been a long time so I don't renenber any other details.

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by Mike Slater on July 5, 2009, 2:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Homer and Jethro"
205.188.117.73

Karen, I would also like to welcome you to the forum! I've always liked Homer and Jethro and I'm looking foward to your book! My oldest brother and his wife (now ex-wife) were lucky enough to be invited to Nashville by Chet Atkins in 1967 to attend a Homer and Jethro session at studio B. The songs recorded at this session became the LP "Something Stupid". My brother also got to meet Ray Stevens and Jerry Reed at this session as well. This was just before Jerry had recorded his first LP for RCA. My favorite song by Homer and Jethro has always been "I'm My Own Grandpa", a really funny tune! Do you know if it's available on CD anywhere? I'm having trouble finding it. In answer to Terry's question, Jethro Burns was a brother-in-law to Chet. Once again, Karen, welcome to the forum! You're amongst friends here!

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by Frank Baker on July 5, 2009, 8:14 pm, in reply to "Homer and Jethro"
69.72.37.119

Note I have a relevant post under the thread regarding "The Browns," below. It relates both to the CMHF and Homer and Jethro.
Frank

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by KF Raizor on July 6, 2009, 10:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Homer and Jethro"
66.32.101.111

Dear Terry,

Yes, Jethro and Chet were brothers-in-law. They married twin sisters, the Johnson Twins, who were performers at WLW when H&J and Chet worked there. Jethro married first (May 5, 1946), then Chet (July 3, 1946). Before Jethro and Chet got married ("not to each other," as H&J frequently replied when asked if they were married), they shared a room at the Y in Cincinnati.

Thanks for the welcome (to this world)!

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by KF Raizor on July 6, 2009, 10:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Homer and Jethro"
66.32.101.111

Dear Mike,

"I'm My Own Grandpa" is on an import from BACM Records in England called Homer & Jethro Volume 3.

One of the photos Homer's younger son gave me is a very telling shot taken backstage before a performance: it's the Louvin Brothers, Jethro, and a very young Jerry Reed, all watching Homer play guitar. Homer's son is working on a documentary, and he got to interview Jerry shortly before Jerry passed away last year. (Jerry was also on the Live At Vanderbilt U. album and the subject of one of the jokes: "I buy his records. If he gives 'em to me, I'm obligated.")

Thanks for the welcome!

PS - speaking of the Louvins, today (July 7th) is Charlie's 82nd birthday! Happy birthday Charlie!

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Re: Homer and Jethro

Posted by Mike Slater on July 7, 2009, 7:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Homer and Jethro"
205.188.117.73

Thanks for the info on that CD with "I'm My Own Grandpa"! I will certainly look for it! Thanks for story too about Jerry Reed. Very enjoyable! Can't wait for your book!

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