Posted by Larry Jordan on January 8, 2014, 12:39 pm
My first time online in a number of days and I see that Arie den Dulk has a red headline on his pseudo Reeves "fan site" stating "DID YOU KNOW A REPORT IN NASHVILLE'S 'MUSIC REPORTER' OF 23rd NOVEMBER 1963 REVEALED JIM REEVES WAS 'IN AN ADVANCED COURSE ON HOW TO FLY AN AIRPLANE.'" (Not sure why there wasn't a question mark after this sentence, but then, punctuation has never been Den Dulk's forte).
Along with posting a copy of the article from the laughably proclaimed "David Bussey scrapbooks," Den Dulk (or was it Bussey himself with his British spellings?), goes on to claim "This report is amazing when one considers that neither of the 2 Reeves biographies made any mention of this fact. The 'Untold Story' quoted chapter & verse in over 350 references in the book to stories on Jim's piloting, flying, licensing and training, AND YET IGNORED THIS REVELATION."
Fans, this is AN OUTRIGHT LIE. It's another truly pathetic attempt to smear my book and me. It just shows you the utter desperation that Den Dulk and David Bussey feel toward trying to discredit my 672 page book, "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story."
For those of you who have the book, simply turn to page 525. You will see that I wrote:
"The last week in November, a report appeared in Music Reporter magazine quoting Jim as explaining 'why he is in an advanced course on how to fly an airplane.' He told the publication 'I frequently hire a commercial plane to get from one place to another, and generally it is piloted by someone whom I have never seen before or know nothing about. I just want to be prepared to land the plane in case something should happen to the pilot while we're airborne.' It concluded 'Reeves believes by early 1964, he'll be experienced enough at the controls, etc. to make it feasible and practical to buy a plane. During the interim he's been soloing here and yon.'"
I then go on to report in my book that "One of Jim's charter pilots, Bill Larson, explained that Reeves took instructions so that he could fly the more complex Cessna 206, which had a variable pitch propellor and cowl flaps, which meant the plane was sleeker, flew at a higher speed and had a longer range. In fact, color slides taken of Jim and Mary over the Christmas holiday at the airport a few weeks later showed them with a 206. Once he had mastered the more sophisticated plane (which Jim was renting from Colemill Flying Service), a salesman for a rival company, Fred Bunyan, began trying to interest him in buying a Beechcraft Debonair. In fact, Fred even ordered a new Beech for Nashville just so he could put Jim in it, and the plane was completed December 30th. Bill Larson laughed, 'Fred would never order a plane unless he had a customer in mind; that was to be Jim's plane, although he may not have known it.' Reeves was familiar with the Beech because he had flown aboard the Beechcraft Bonanza that Minnie Pearl's husband, Henry Cannon, had piloted. Mary, however, later denied her spouse had any serious intention of buying an airplane."
So there you have it. Not only did I NOT ignore the story in the Music Reporter magazine, I cited it in my book and then explained the context. Case closed.
I really wish on more than one level these two bozos hadn't posted an attack that could so easily be discredited because I laughed so hard it hurt after my recent surgery.
I suppose the nonsense will continue throughout 2014 with more ridiculous and FALSE claims, but as I've noted before, Den Dulk NEVER, EVER amends his misstatements and lies. He leaves them on his site for unsuspecting fans to see in the future. You can scroll down his page and see scores of false stories that have previously been discredited. For him to continue to leave them online is irresponsible in the extreme and should convince fans everywhere that neither his site nor he as webmaster are trustworthy in any sense. Den Dulk and Bussey simply make stuff up. They are truly astonishing in their brazenness. They are counting on swaying uninformed fans and those who have only a casual understanding of Jim's life.
Once again David Bussey has demonstrated that he has not even thoroughly read my book, yet he is unrelenting in his attacks on it. He was smearing it in public print before it even came off press. His continued recklessness and dishonesty certainly undermine whatever remnants of credibility he had left as a former Reeves fan club head whom Mary Reeves abandoned.
If you haven't bought my book as yet, click the link below. You may be surprised by the thoroughness with which I write about Jim Reeves' life on virtually a day by day basis, with massive documentation in the form of interviews and even Jim's private diaries.
Hi Larry: Welcome back! It's good to have you back again but sorry you have to face these attacks that are unnecessary and unneeded and unwanted. Always for Jim, Doris
Re: Will they be honest enough to print a retraction?
Larry, it's so good to hear from you again, and I hope you're feeling a lot better! These attacks from Arie and Davis Bussey are just making the two of them look rediculous. Like you said, why on Earth would they dare to claim you left something out of your book that was clearly explained in detail. I read the book from cover to cover and remember it well! It's not only an attack on you, but it's rather insulting to all of Jim's fans. Do these two really think the fans are so stupid that they wouldn't think to check this out for themselves?! It baffles the mind what they are trying to acheive by making accusations that can easily be proven wrong. Anyway, I wish you a speedy recovery!
Re: Will they be honest enough to print a retraction?
Wonderful to see you back on the forum Larry. Nevertheless, please take it easy and recover fully before you even attempt to answer these ridiculous attacks!! Prayers for your quick recovery and good health.
Re: Will they be honest enough to print a retraction?
Blatant lies are hard to ignore. These two guys remind me of some of the politicians we see in America who shamelessly lie, knowing that a certain percentage of people — so-called "low information voters" — will believe them. These tend to be people who are not particularly intelligent or have the time to become fully informed. So they are vulnerable to manipulation. That's how bad candidates get elected to office — through disingenuous media campaigns smearing opponents and boldly spreading untruths.
I think that Bussey and Den Dulk realize that the vast majority of Jim Reeves fans care enough to know a lot about him, and are not capable of being conned. But that's not who they're aiming at. They're trying to ensnare the casual fan who Googles "Jim Reeves fan club" and ends up on Arie's site. Woe be unto them because anyone who goes there is very much misled and has been for many years.
Remember -- Den Dulk continues to display Leo Jackson's photo in a banner at the top of his page, bragging Leo endorsed him, even though Leo's widow, Nell has repeatedly requested Arie remove her late husband's photo. If you ask Mrs. Jackson, she will tell you how Leo detested Arie, dreaded his too-frequent calls, and tried to appease him so he'd leave him alone. But then, this is the same creep who sent Nell a horrible letter berating her after Leo committed suicide, and claimed to know in advance that Jim's guitarist was going to take his own life.
It is a shame that there are such toxic people on the Reeves fan scene, especially when they manage to insinuate themselves into situations where they can mislead fans and do real harm to Jim's legacy.
This website will continue to be a bulwark against these sick individuals and their lies.
What we should all be concentrating on is the 50th anniversary of Jim's passing and the fabulous new releases that will be forthcoming this year to celebrate this great artist. FANS ARE GOING TO BE THRILLED. And Den Dulk/Bussey are clueless about any of these projects. More about that later...
Re: Will they be honest enough to print a retraction?
Well i have to say it's good to know that you're felling well enough to get back at those who are attempting to cause more trouble for you, but please do not stress yourself out over them it's just not worth it. Please take your time and concentrate on getting better.it will take some time but you will get there eventually.
John.
Re: Will they be honest enough to print a retraction?
Don't misinterpret my reaction. I am not stressed by this because in order to be offended I'd have to first respect their opinions and I do not.
I just feel sorry for the fans who fall victim to this disinformation campaign.
Bussey was shamed into admitting he lied about this particular matter in my book but then went onto write about himself in the third person again by saying "Mr. Bussey awaits and very much looks forward to similar reciprocation on confirmation of the truth of the many errors he has already pointed out in the book from the American fact checkers."
So he's lying AGAIN. I have systematically disassembled his numerous allegations as to my having made "MANY ERRORS" but this is his face-saving statement. And Den Dulk hasn't taken down the false allegations of the past even though they have been proven wrong. It really is a sickness we're dealing with here but in the internet age, anybody can launch a website and spread lies and false information.
Re: Will they be honest enough to print a retraction?
I would describe Larry's typical reaction to the attacks as one of bewilderment and sadness. We think we are witnessing the disintegration of mental acuity because the attacks are so poorly thought through and easily disproven. They just seem hellbent on trying to convince people not to read "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story." But that's not going to happen. That book is going to be in print and in eBook format for many years to come and there is absolutely nothing they can do about it.
I would like to pose a challenge to Mr. Bussey and Mr. Den Dulk to come up with something constructive that they could do in light of this being the 50th anniversary year since Jim Reeves' loss. How about sharing with the fans some of the music that Den Dulk and his Knoxville friend have locked up and hoarded?
Remember how they promised for years they were going to do that as soon as Larry's book was published? We're still waiting... -- JULIE