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Was Jim vain about his looks

Posted by Duke <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Duke' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 21, 2026, 12:13 pm

The original cover to the Album He'll have to go was black and white and the reissue was in color and his toupe was totally differant! Jim's toupees were much better than Johnny Horton's or Hank Snows!

Re: Was Jim vain about his looks

Posted by Robert Wagner <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Robert+Wagner' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 23, 2026, 7:24 am, in reply to "Was Jim vain about his looks"

I'm sure that an artist in the public eye was very concerned about their looks just as a matter of fact. Just how concerned Jim was I do not know.

I learned that the toupee was a sensitive subject, when I called the museum and naively inquired if it was an exhibit there, and got a negative response.

I was always curious about hair loss replacement and when I noticed the tell tale signs of Jim's toupee on "The Jim Reeves Way" album I took note of other photos and other artists hair replacement systems.

In high school I even parted my hair in a similar fashion used in Jim's and other artists best toupees about a quarter way up and combed toward each side.

One thing that makes me believe the Jim was not totally obsessed with his toupee, is the album cover of "Distant Drums".

You can see that the toupee was positioned way too high on the forehead, yet the photo made it to a widely distributed album cover.

I'm sure there are others here more knowledgeable about how deeply Jim was actually concerned about his image, other than the fact that he wore a toupee.

Re: Was Jim vain about his looks

Posted by Roy Zinck <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Roy+Zinck' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 23, 2026, 7:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Was Jim vain about his looks"

From what I remember Jim was a bit hesitant at first about wearing a toupee (also called a Bouffant) but with this new thing called Television, singers including Jim reasoned that appearance DID make a difference. Polished stage persona was in vogue, even in the 50's

I think one of Jim's managers at that time, Charlie Lamb also convinced Jim that a full head of hair would make him more appealing and live up to the image of a "Gentleman Jim".

Jim did keep this a closely guarded secret where even his closest family and band members treated it as an unspoken topic.

Interesting to note as Bob alluded to, that Jim's hair appearance did vary quite a bit over the years. Sometimes too much forehead showing but other published pics, displayed as perfect. Well, I guess everyone has had a bad hair day now and then, including Jim...Goes to show we are only mere mortals after all.

Re: Was Jim vain about his looks

Posted by Robert Wagner <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Robert+Wagner' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 24, 2026, 8:21 am, in reply to "Re: Was Jim vain about his looks"

So True! Being follicly challenged myself, I have been really curious about hair pieces and hair augmentation. Especially on some famous actors. Tom Selleck and Mathew McConaughey for example. Exceptionally well done, though denied.

Jim's piece has always fascinated me. I mean the real good one with the clear base and real hair as in "The Jim Reeves Way" album cover.

Being in law enforcement for 30 years I suppose you could say I was a "trained observer".

I remember coming in contact with a very rich local factory owner one time who had the exact same toupee. Only saw one once in real life. Had to be very expensive. The half inch clear part below the hairline is the give a way.

On a humorous note, I was just discovered a "Jim Reeves Hair brush" in the form of a guitar that I must have bought some time ago for my JR collectables. Probably sold at the museum, but I probably got it on eBay.

Re: Was Jim vain about his looks

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 27, 2026, 8:33 am, in reply to "Re: Was Jim vain about his looks"

I remember a story Larry told in his book about how Jim's toupee fell in the toilet once. Can't remember though how it happened...

Re: Was Jim vain about his looks

Posted by Robert Wagner <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Robert+Wagner' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 27, 2026, 11:53 am, in reply to "Re: Was Jim vain about his looks"

If I recall right his toupee came off on his way to the stage in the Norway Show. This required the band to play repeating riffs waiting for him to arrive on stage.

This is noticeable in the video of the concert.

I think there is another spot in the book about a hair dyeing malfunction.

You have to commend whoever made and fitted the toupee for excellent work. In the video of the concert you can see where Jim's hair was thin along the sides as well.

I think the best comparison is with Bing Crosby's hair piece and voice. Like Jim, both superb.

I have often wondered if God gave "male pattern baldness sufferers" great voices.

Quite a few out there.

Re: Was Jim vain about his looks

Posted by Roy Zinck <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Roy+Zinck' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 27, 2026, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Was Jim vain about his looks"

From what I recall from Larry's book, there was an incident of colour malfunction the same day as a concert Jim was to perform. Once again my learned friend Bob twigged this recollection.

Hairpieces had a tendency to fade from the hot stage lights over time. Jim was known to use shoe polish or hair dye to maintain the colour it was meant to be. However one story relates to, and I think it was Joyce Jackson helping Jim 'touch up' some colouring for an evening performance. Well the story goes too much of something was used and the result was fire engine red hair. Quite the scramble the rest of the afternoon to re-colorize their mistake. But they did it and got the toupee back to the right hue. The show must go on and so it did.

And again, all this toupee business for Jim was a very closely guarded secret. After Jim's death, Mary actually sued a magazine for reporting that he wore a hairpiece. Wow, they really did take this quite seriously for reasons in todays world would garner a chuckle or a slight shrug of the shoulder.

Re: Was Jim vain about his looks

Posted by Robert Wagner <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Robert+Wagner' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 28, 2026, 4:37 am, in reply to "Re: Was Jim vain about his looks"

Spot on analysis again from Roy.

Forgot to mention Elvis augmented his locks as well.

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