Posted by Hanne and Mogens on October 22, 2015, 7:51 am
Dear Fan of Gentleman Jim, everyone's favorite singer. Today our good friend Leo could have celebrated his 81 birthday, but we send our birthday greetings to you, dear Leo in the sky. That on a day like that one takes a walk down memory lane and be happy and honored to have known this wonderful man. Hanne and I will tonight put a CD with Jim Reeves and sit and listen to Jim's lovely voice and hear Leo's perfect guitar playing, and we are fortunate that we have a video recorded from Denmark, where Leo plays guitar for one of our good friend Arne Benoni, one of the world's best country singer. So sit and remember dear Leo, and all the good hours and the conversations we had with him when he was among us. Our thoughts are such a day also to his entire family, we miss him all, but good that we recordings and the many good memories. Congratulations dear Leo birthday in heaven. Do all you fan a super nice weekend, the same for Julie and Larry With the best greetings Hanne and Mogens Copenhagen
Hanne and Mogens, that was a very nice tribute to Leo on this, his 81st Birthday. I loved his guitar playing too, and he was always very much an important part of the Jim Reeves sound. I wish he was still with us today...
It's strange. Leo has been on my mind all day, for some reason, and I didn't know why. I was even looking at a picture of the Martin D-18 he played during his studio session work in Nashville. Now that I see your post I am reminded it is his birthday.
I have a collection of many, many hours of conversations I recorded with him over the years, starting even before he talked me into writing a book on Jim Reeves! Recently I listened to part of one and was reminded how special he was; a unique conversationalist, always fascinating, a good story teller, full of colorful language and vivid detail. I realized then how much I miss the guy, as I'm sure everyone does who knew him.
After reading my book, one of Leo's sisters in law suggested to Leo's widow, Nell, that when she missed him, all she had to do is pick up my book and read parts of it, because, she said, "you can hear Leo's voice in it." That's because I quoted Leo verbatim (as I did others I interviewed), so you get a sense of personality and speech.
Leo himself read the chapter I wrote on him (as well as other chapters) and was hands-on in helping right up to the end. I will always be grateful to him because without Leo Jackson, there would have been no book.