Country music hall of famer jean shepard dead at 82. His quirky individuality was portrayed for posterity by jason robards in the play and film, a thousand clowns, written by sheps close pal, herb gardner. Jean shepard elmer williams country music hall of fame grand ole opry star jean shepard died sept. Miss sheppard talks about a lot of well known country music artists she knew over the. Country music hall of famer jean shepard has released her longawaited autobiography down through the years, during this weeks cma music festival. While jean shepherd is best remembered for cowriting the screenplay for a christmas story in 1983, he also served as a radio personality, wrote for the village voice and car and driver, and recorded eight spoken word albums. Please watch larrys country diner on rfd for information on where to order my book. Not to be confused with american country music singer jean shepard. Country music hall of fame singer jean shepard was known for her renditions of jimmie rodgers songs while working in tulare county orchards. Cheap jean shepard book down through the years prices. A man appearing to be jean shepards 79yearold husband was hurt at the tennessee home. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the hot country songs chart, one of. Ollie imogene jean shepard november 21, 1933 september 25, 2016 was an american honky tonk singersongwriter who pioneered for women in country music.
The late gentleman jim reeves was often quoted, when he said, all the girl singers should sound like jean shepard. Jean shepherd books list of books by author jean shepherd. Jean shepard reflects on her life down through the years. Down through the years by jean shepard 2014, hardcover. Country music hall of fame member jean shepard is in a reflective mood these days, and much of that stems from releasing her longawaited autobiography, down through the years. Jean shepard sings tennessee waltz on countrys family. Jean shepard greatest hits best jean shepard songs. She was a bass player in the band melody ranch girls when she was a teenager in 1948 and, after being discovered by hank thompson, she signed to capitol records in 1952. Few country singers let alone female country singers of the 20th century produced a large body of work as enduring as jean shepards. Jean shepherd was born on july 26, 1921 and died on october 16, 1999. Jean was born on november 21, 1933 and passed away on sunday, september 25, 2016. Jean shepherd was one of americas favorite humorists, his most notable achievement being the creation of the indefatigable ralphie parker and his quest for a bb gun in the holiday classic a christmas story.
November 21, 1933 september 25, 2016 hendersonville, tennessee set a reminder for the anniversary. Shepard gained top ten hits into the 1970s, and for many years she held the longest continuous tenure of any grand ole opry star. She was born november 21, 1933, in pauls valley, oklahoma. July 26, 1921 october 16, 1999 was an american storyteller. Country music hall of famer and grand ole opry star jean shepard took some time from her schedule to reflect on her country career and she chatted about her forthcoming book. Humorist jean shepherd on his wor radio program in 1971. Because music was such an important part of her life. Jean shepherd would have been 78 years old at the time of death or 94 years old today. Jean shepard, a grand ole opry singer who had a long recording career and helped influence other women in country music, including loretta lynn, died sept. She died on september 25, 2016 in nashville, tennessee, usa. On september 25, 2016, shepard died of parkinsons disease at the age of 82. Jean shepard releases autobiography down through the.
We use cookies to enhance the security, performance, functionality and for analytical and promotional activities. I enjoyed her book very much, i learned a lot of things i didnt know. Country star jean shepards granddaughter, 18, and her boyfriend are found dead at the home of the singers 79yearold widower the granddaughter of country great jean shepard was murdered. Country singer who released seventythree hit singles during her long, storied career. Countrys family reunion celebrating the legacy of country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the hot country songs chart, one of which reached the no. Jean shepherd was, and remains, a pervasive part of american culture. Country music hall of fame member jean shepards autobiography, down. July 26, 1921 october 16, 1999 was an american storyteller, humorist, radio and tv personality, writer and actor. Official facebook page of country music hall of fame artist, jean shepard. She was inducted into the country music hall of fame in 2011. Jean shepard born ollie imogene shepard was an american honky tonk singersongwriter.
Jean shepard was a part of the grand ole opry cast for 60 consecutive years, making hers the longest tenure of any female member. Jean shepherd was an amazing raconteur and radio host. Jean shepard joins country music hall of fame she begins the book on a nostalgic note, talking about her growing up years in oklahoma and then california with her parents, brothers and sisters. Jean parker shepherd was born in chicago, il on july 26, 1921, and would. Jean shepard s book down through the years is finally available for order.
Jean was a resident of hendersonville, tennessee at the time of passing. With a career that spanned decades, shepherd is known for the film a christmas story 1983, which he narrated and coscripted, based on his own semiautobiographical stories. She recorded a total of 24 studio albums between 195681, and became a member of the grand ole opry in 1955. Jean spent most of her formative years in visalia, ca, near bakersfield. Jack nicholson embodied a shepherd like latenight radio talker in the king of marvin gardens. When you listen to him simply talk especially in his latter shows, working he said without a script but some of the shows in the planning for several weeks, you learn why he developed such a cult following. Jean shepard born november 21, 1933, pauls valley, oklahoma, usa died september 25, 2016 was an american country and honky tonk singersongwriter. In 1960, she married fellow opry star, hawkshaw hawkins. Country music hall of famer jean shepard will be releasing down through the years this week just in time for cma music festival shepard will roll out the 224page hardback at a special booksigning while supplies last at the country music hall of fame and museum this friday, june 6 from 1 2 p. Country queen jean shepard releases longawaited autobiography. Jean shepard biography, age, husband, children, net worth.
Jean shepards husband stabbed, granddaughter dead in. Jean shepherd was, and its probably trite to say it again, a modern day mark twain. Jean shepards autobiography, down through the years, is now. New details have emerged in a hendersonville attack early saturday morning in which two people were found dead, and the husband of the late country music trailblazer jean shepard appears to. Jean shepherd s most popular book is a christmas story. Shepard would be posthumously featured in ken burns country music in 2019. Jean shepherd was one of americaa s favorite humorists, his most notable achievement being the creation of the indefatigable ralphie parker and his quest for a bb gun in the holiday classic a christmas story. She started playing as a teenager and signed with capitol in 1952. Jean shepard was born on november 21, 1933 in pauls valley, oklahoma, usa as ollie imogene shepard. Jean shepherd would like america to know two things about him. In 1953 she had her first hit with a dear john letter, a duet with ferlin husky.
Fans of the show planted references to the book and author so widely that. In 2005, he was posthumously inducted into the national radio hall of fame. For many years a cult radio and cabaret personality in new york city, jean shepherd was the creator of the popular film a christmas story, which is based on his novels in god we trust, all others pay cash and wanda hickeys night of golden memories, and which has become a holiday tradition on the turner network. She was married to benny howard birchfield, archie leon summers and harold hawkshaw hawkins. Jean shepherd has 30 books on goodreads with 18822 ratings. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the hot country songs chart, one. But he was so much more, a comic garrison keillora like figure whose unique voice tran. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite. Jean shepard, ollie imogene shepard, american country singer born nov. But he was so much more, a comic garrison keillorlike figure whose unique voice transcended the airwaves and affected a whole generation of. Jean shepard is still a breath of fresh air, which keeps alive the true meaning and value of traditional country music. She had her first top ten hit in 1953, and her last almost exactly 20 years later.
Jean shepards book down through the years is finally available for order. It is written in oral history style and gives me a feeling of getting to really know the kind of person jean shepard was. Jean shepard was elected to the country music hall of fame in 2011. Matriarch of the grand ole opry and its longeststanding female. Trailblazer jean shepard, a country music hall of fame member, a member of the grand ole opry for more than 60 years and one of traditional. Jean shepard country music hall of fame artist home. She was one of ten children, who jean says, were all musically inclined. Police are investigating exactly what led to two people being killed and one man stabbed at the home of the late country music hall of fame artist jean.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves country music or anyone who loves reading books about or by celebrities. Jean was married to benny birchfield, a musician, singer and prominent member of nashvilles music community. In between, she cut one great record after another, mostly on capitol. His final radio job was in the mid1990s, but he continued doing live appearances, and.
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