Jim Eanes
Encyclopedia
Jim Eanes was an American bluegrass
and country music
singer and guitarist.
and grew up in Martinsville
. He learned to play the guitar at an early age despite an injury to his left hand. He had his first musical training as a rhythm guitarist in his father's string band. In 1940, he joined "Roy Hall's Blue Ridge Entertainers" performing at a radio station in Roanoke, Virginia
until 1943 when Roy Hall died. In the mid 1940's, Eanes joined "Uncle Joe and the Blue Mountain Boys". He also performed with Flatt & Scruggs, and in 1948, with Bill Monroe
's Bluegrass Boys.
In 1949, he made his solo recording debut on the Rich-R-Tone label together with Homer Sherrill on fiddle and Snuffy Jenkins
on banjo. Two years later, in 1951, Eanes formed "The Shenandoah Valley Boys" recording for the Blue Ridge label. His new band performed at radio station "WWVA
Wheeling Jamboree". After receiving a recording contract on Decca Records
, on the proposal of the A & R man, he changed his musical style from bluegrass to country music. He remained on Decca until 1955 when he began recording for Starday Records renaming his band: "Smilin' Jim and His Boys". His band by now consisted of Roy Russell on fiddle, Allen Shelton
on banjo, and Arnold Terry on bass. One of his most popular songs: Your Old Standby became his signature song. Another heart touching gospel song he wrote "Not Afraid" was widely recorded by many well known artists.
Eanes worked as a deejay
in the 1960s for several radio stations. In the late 1960s, he worked with "Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cut-Ups" and when Smiley retired, Eanes took over the band calling it "The Shenandoah Cutups". They released a few albums and disbanded shortly after 1970. Eanes began an extensive tour visiting bluegrass festivals in both the United States and Western Europe during the 1970s and early 1980s. He even recorded an album in Belgium with the local band: the "Smoketown Strut". He had a heart attack in 1978. He died on November 21, 1995 of congestive heart failure
.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer and guitarist.
Biography
Homer Robert Eanes Jr. was born in Mountain Valley, VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and grew up in Martinsville
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
. He learned to play the guitar at an early age despite an injury to his left hand. He had his first musical training as a rhythm guitarist in his father's string band. In 1940, he joined "Roy Hall's Blue Ridge Entertainers" performing at a radio station in Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
until 1943 when Roy Hall died. In the mid 1940's, Eanes joined "Uncle Joe and the Blue Mountain Boys". He also performed with Flatt & Scruggs, and in 1948, with Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
's Bluegrass Boys.
In 1949, he made his solo recording debut on the Rich-R-Tone label together with Homer Sherrill on fiddle and Snuffy Jenkins
Snuffy Jenkins
DeWitt "Snuffy" Jenkins was an American old time banjo player and an early proponent of the three-finger banjo style.-Biography:...
on banjo. Two years later, in 1951, Eanes formed "The Shenandoah Valley Boys" recording for the Blue Ridge label. His new band performed at radio station "WWVA
WWVA (AM)
WWVA is an AM radio station that broadcasts on a frequency of 1170 kHz with studios in Wheeling, West Virginia, USA, and towers formerly located in St. Clairsville, Ohio, before they were destroyed in an August 2010 storm...
Wheeling Jamboree". After receiving a recording contract on Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, on the proposal of the A & R man, he changed his musical style from bluegrass to country music. He remained on Decca until 1955 when he began recording for Starday Records renaming his band: "Smilin' Jim and His Boys". His band by now consisted of Roy Russell on fiddle, Allen Shelton
Allen Shelton
Allen Shelton was an American five-string banjo player known for being a member of Jim & Jesse's Virginia Boys since the 1960s. His picking style is described as "bouncy".-Biography:...
on banjo, and Arnold Terry on bass. One of his most popular songs: Your Old Standby became his signature song. Another heart touching gospel song he wrote "Not Afraid" was widely recorded by many well known artists.
Eanes worked as a deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
in the 1960s for several radio stations. In the late 1960s, he worked with "Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cut-Ups" and when Smiley retired, Eanes took over the band calling it "The Shenandoah Cutups". They released a few albums and disbanded shortly after 1970. Eanes began an extensive tour visiting bluegrass festivals in both the United States and Western Europe during the 1970s and early 1980s. He even recorded an album in Belgium with the local band: the "Smoketown Strut". He had a heart attack in 1978. He died on November 21, 1995 of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
.
Selected discography
- Bluegrass Ballads - Rebel 1643 (1986)
- Reminiscing - Rebel 1653 (1987)
- Let Him Lead You - Rebel 1673 (1989)
- 5oth Anniversary - Rebel 1683 (1990)