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Hank Williams has always been my idol, but i have great love for all the traditional "hillbilly" singers. I have appeared on several TV shows. In Lawton, Oklahoma, a show called "The Southwest Jamboree" and also on a TV show called "The Dixie Boy Jordan Show" in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of 14.
I proudly enlisted at the age of 17 in the Navy January, 1955. The first half of my military tour was spent in Pensacola, Florida which as it turns out I met my bride of over 50 years and still counting. The second half active was in Atsugi, Japan. I was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1963, after 3 1/2 years of active duty and 4 years in the reserves.
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In 1958 after completing my active duty and going into the reserves things were not so good for us returning from active duty. So I worked many a day pickin cotton or working in the oils of Oklahoma, doing whatever I had to do to make ends meet for me and my growing family.
I guess when I was not picking cotton I was pickin a guitar. With my lifelong love of music I formed a small band, and we began playing at "The Davis Barn Dance" in Davis, Oklahoma. The band played for a cut of the door and let me tell you when you split it 5 ways it was not much money and needless to say many times we had to put our money back together for gas to get home.
I moved with my wife jenny to Fort Worth, Texas in 1960.
I immediately started working at the Cowtown Hoe Down a country music show in Fort Worth, Texas. I attended school during the weeknights and worked at a steel mill during the daytime. I eventually started a job as a mechanic here in Fort Worth. and an auto repair shop in the daytime. I performed on the "Cowtown Hoe Down" in Fort Worth, and in numerous clubs in Oklahoma and Texas.
During the summer of 1961 I recorded my first 78 rpm single, the A side was called The Great Speckled Bird and the B side was The Great Judgment Morning at The Clifford Herring studio in Fort Worth, Texas. When "Panther Hall" opened in the early 60's I performed on numerous live shows that were broadcast from there every Saturday night on TV channel 11 (KTVT) in Fort Worth.
My wife Jenny and I who I married on April 7 1956 in the great state of Georgia, recorded our first 45 rpm record on the "panther" label in the early 60's. the 2 songs were We Belong Together and Give Them Their Mommy & Daddy.
My oldest son, Jimmy Lee, Jr., was about 3 years old when I decided to quit the music business. I became a Fort Worth firefighter in 1965. For about 20 years I did not perform although everyone knew I really missed performing during that time. My youngest son, David Lee, was born in 1969.
After the children were grown, I started my musical career again. I formed a band in the late 80's and called it, "Pure Country Band". I recorded my first cassette tape in 1990, which was a tribute to Hank Williams, Sr. called "Jimmy Eaves Sings the Hits of Hank Williams". This recording was made while I was performing in the Fort Worth Stockyards at a club called "The Longhorn Saloon" where I performed for over 6 years. Two more recordings were made called "Jim Eaves Sings Pure Country", (1997), and "Bringing Back Memories"(1999).
Since restarting my career I been performing all over the country and I even have been to England to perform.
Nowadays. I am doing shows at Ernest Tubbs record shop in Fort Worth, Texas and also in the Nashville store from time to time.
THANK YOU
JIMMY EAVES
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