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Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 17, 2015, 4:08 pm

Here is something you don't see every day: a mention of Jim Reeves in the famous Rolling Stone rock 'n' roll magazine. The article is on Ronnie Milsap, who recorded a tribute to Reeves years ago, and he talks about his respect for Jim.

The anecdote he tells, quoting Chet, is a bit off regarding how Jim came to record in a lower register and sing more softly, but it's still nice that our favorite singer got mentioned.

Click the link below to read the article.

Link: RONNIE MILSAP ON JIM REEVES

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Gary Swanson <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Gary+Swanson' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 18, 2015, 1:40 am, in reply to "Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

Thanks for sharing that article Larry. Ronnie Milsap has always been a class act. I've enjoyed his music over the years, especially in the 80's. I Remember when his tribute album to Jim came out. I still have my copy of it on vinyl, but haven't listened to it in about 30 years. So I went and listened to it on line. I had forgotten how good a record it was.

Its great to see Jim get some attention especially in Rolling Stone. I don't think he ever gets the attention he so richly deserves. Case in point, Tonight on Jeopardy Patsy Cline was answer to a question. That's about the 3rd time I can remember she has been an answer. Jim never has been an answer on the show, or for that matter any show I can remember. Young people know who she is, but rarely if ever do they know who Jim is. It takes us real fans to spread Jims name around. My friends that are younger know who Jim is because I have introduced him to them and now listen to his music. One young fella said after listening to a few CD's of mine "this guy has the best voice I've ever heard" And of course we all agree with that!!!!!!

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Gary Bryson <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Gary+Bryson' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 18, 2015, 7:55 pm, in reply to "Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

I remember hearing Milsap sing "Am I Losing You" on the radio, but I did not know he did a tribute album to Jim until a couple of years ago, I met a guy who lives in the next town over from me who used to work with Ronnie Milsap. We were talking about Milsap and I mentioned that my favorite singer was Jim Reeves. He told me that Ronnie Milsap loved Jim Reeves singing. He gave me a copy of the tribute album and I played it in the car on the way home. Good album. I was pleased to know that Jim was admired by Mr. Milsap. And good to see Jim mentioned in the article.

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Ron McBride <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Ron+McBride' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 20, 2015, 6:18 am, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

Gary, I remember one time Jim Reeves was the answer to a game show question. If I remember correctly, the show was Fandango and Bill Anderson was the host, so maybe not a big surprise that some of the questions were related to Country Music.

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Paul <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Paul+Bertils' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 20, 2015, 1:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

If I am not mistaken Ronnie's cover version of "Am I Losing You" was one of Mr. Milsap's many number 1 songs on the country charts.A fantastic album IMO and a great artist.

Cheers

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 20, 2015, 2:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

Yes, and that's why Mary Reeves was so desperate to get the song back from Bea Terry, even though Mary knew full well that Jim had given the song to Bea, in appreciation for all she had done to help his career. At a point when Ms. Terry was ill, and had had several heart attacks, Mary went for the jugular. She hired a top attorney in Texas where Bea then lived, and demanded the return of "Am I Losing You" -- which, bluntly stated, was a reprehensible thing for Mary to do.

In my book I describe how Jim wrote the song for Bea, and recorded it in a manner that she coached him to do -- singing more softly and closer to the mic. This gave birth to his whole new singing style and was a turning point in his career.

Furthermore, when the song won awards, Jim asked Bea to accept his on his behalf, NOT Mary -- who also attended the November 1957 awards ceremony (while Jim was tied up doing his network radio show).

To add insult to injury, Mary not only wrested the song away from Bea, she even managed to grab another song that had nothing whatsoever to do with this matter -- a Ned Miller tune that Bea had in her song publishing company.

As highly as I regarded Mary's friendship, I always knew her to be a "steel magnolia." What she did to Bea was wrong and she KNEW it, but she did it anyway.

People close to Mary will tell you that in some respects, she sewed the seeds of her own destruction. Yes, she was a victim of unscrupulous people, but Mary also had her dark side when it came to money. Sad to say.

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Manendra Pedris <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Manendra+Pedris' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 20, 2015, 4:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

Larry,

What was the name of the Ned Miller song that Mary grabbed from Bea?

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Larry Jordan on February 20, 2015, 5:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

"Snowflake." If you'd like to hear Ned's version, click the link below.

Ned and Bea Terry were close friends, and Ned was with Bea and Jim in the car on the way to the airport one day when Jim had a premonition about how he would die. Among the pictures I have of Ms. Terry are ones that show Jim and Ned and others in her apartment.

Ned wrote "Dark Moon," and a great song that he co-wrote with his wife, Sue, called "Invisible Tears." His version was released in 1964 and if you go to YouTube you can hear it. I think it's a song Jim could have sung and had a hit with. I wouldn't be surprised if Bea gave the song to Reeves (depending on when during 1964 Ned composed it). It's regrettable Jim never got to cut it.

Link: Ned Miller

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Ron McBride <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Ron+McBride' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 20, 2015, 6:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

Wow, I only listened to enough of Ned Miller's version to know Jim Reeves' version is vastly superior!

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Rodney James <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 21, 2015, 9:28 am, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

Yes, when jr sings a song all other versions fade out.

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Manendra Pedris <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Manendra+Pedris' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 21, 2015, 2:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

Thanks, Larry.

I can't say I knew that Ned and Jim knew each other so well. Very interesting.

I've been a big fan of Ned Miller's for many years now. I often lament that his Capitol recordings are still not available on CD. Chances are, they'll never be.

But I do have a couple of LPs, but the one I like the most is "The Best of Ned Miller." I like every song in it. That album has both "Dark Moon" and "Invisible Tears." I think Ned is a great singer/songwriter.

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Ron McBride <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Ron+McBride' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 22, 2015, 8:41 am, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

"Invisible Tears" would have sounded fantastic if recorded by Jim Reeves. I think the best version of that song is by Sonny James. Connie Smith recorded a very nice version as well.

Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine

Posted by Manendra Pedris <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Manendra+Pedris' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 22, 2015, 11:01 am, in reply to "Re: Ronnie Milsap Talks About Jim In Rolling Stone magazine"

Incidentally, I happen to like Ned's version the best.

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