Jimmy Lee Fautheree
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Lee Fautheree was an American rockabilly
and country singer.
Born in Smackover, Arkansas
, he began playing guitar at age 12, and was heavily influenced by Merle Travis
. In 1946 his family moved to Dallas, where he played on KRLD's Big D Jamboree
. By 1951 he was playing on the Louisiana Hayride
; that year he signed to Capitol Records
and released his first single, "I Keep the Blues All the Time", as Jimmy Lee. Capitol released seven further singles from Fautheree before dropping him in 1952. Despite never charting, the recordings have been cited as influential on later rockabilly artists, including James Burton
.
Fautheree subsequently found work as a session musician
for musicians such as Faron Young
and Webb Pierce
. Along with Johnny "Country" Mathis, he performed on Louisiana Hayride as Jimmy & Johnny, and released a charting single on Chess Records
, 1954's "If You Don't, Somebody Else Will". Fautheree left Mathis to work with Wayne Walker
, a partnership that lasted only four months but yielded a few recordings. Following this he began recording with his brother Lynn, again under the name Jimmy & Johnny; they signed to Decca Records
, but by 1957 the pair had moved back to Dallas.
Fautheree went back to solo recording, recording in New Orleans in 1958 at J&M Studio. He recorded briefly with Mathis again between 1958 and 1959. Some self-released material and a single on Paula Records brought him into 1960, and throughout the next decade Fautheree worked increasingly in the genre of gospel music
.
By the 1970s Fautheree had left the business, working in asbestos
removal. In 1995, he returned to music with Mathis, recording a new single, "It Won't Be Much Longer", together. He played both in the U.S. and abroad in the 2000s, and released a full-length album with Deke Dickerson
entitled I Found the Doorknob. Shortly after the album was complete he died of cancer
in Dallas on June 29, 2004.
His mother's name was Lodema Hammonds, the daughter of Mack Hammonds of Maud, Texas, who was a descendent of Philllip Hamman, the Savior of the Greenbrier.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
and country singer.
Born in Smackover, Arkansas
Smackover, Arkansas
Smackover is a city in Union County, Arkansas. According to the 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city stands at 1,929.The name Smackover comes from an anglicization of the French "Sumac Couvert" which translates to "covered in sumac"...
, he began playing guitar at age 12, and was heavily influenced by Merle Travis
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
. In 1946 his family moved to Dallas, where he played on KRLD's Big D Jamboree
Big D Jamboree
Big D Jamboree was an American radio program broadcast by KRLD-AM in Dallas, Texas. The show consisted of appearances by famous country musicians as well as sketch comedy and jokes. It was also carried by KRLD-TV during the 1950s.-History:...
. By 1951 he was playing on the Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
; that year he signed to Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and released his first single, "I Keep the Blues All the Time", as Jimmy Lee. Capitol released seven further singles from Fautheree before dropping him in 1952. Despite never charting, the recordings have been cited as influential on later rockabilly artists, including James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
.
Fautheree subsequently found work as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
for musicians such as Faron Young
Faron Young
Faron Young was an American country music singer and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s and one of its most successful and colorful stars...
and Webb Pierce
Webb Pierce
Webb Michael Pierce was one of the most popular American honky tonk vocalists of the 1950s, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the decade. His biggest hit was "In The Jailhouse Now," which charted for 37 weeks in 1955, 21 of them at number one...
. Along with Johnny "Country" Mathis, he performed on Louisiana Hayride as Jimmy & Johnny, and released a charting single on Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
, 1954's "If You Don't, Somebody Else Will". Fautheree left Mathis to work with Wayne Walker
Wayne Walker
Wayne Harrison Walker is a former professional football player and sports broadcaster. He played in the NFL for fifteen seasons, from 1958-72 for the Detroit Lions. A starter throughout his career, #55 played in 200 regular season games as a 6'2", 225 lb...
, a partnership that lasted only four months but yielded a few recordings. Following this he began recording with his brother Lynn, again under the name Jimmy & Johnny; they signed to 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....
, but by 1957 the pair had moved back to Dallas.
Fautheree went back to solo recording, recording in New Orleans in 1958 at J&M Studio. He recorded briefly with Mathis again between 1958 and 1959. Some self-released material and a single on Paula Records brought him into 1960, and throughout the next decade Fautheree worked increasingly in the genre of gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
.
By the 1970s Fautheree had left the business, working in asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
removal. In 1995, he returned to music with Mathis, recording a new single, "It Won't Be Much Longer", together. He played both in the U.S. and abroad in the 2000s, and released a full-length album with Deke Dickerson
Deke Dickerson
Deke Dickerson is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.After playing in several local rockabilly bands, Deke formed The Untamed Youth at age 17 in his hometown of Columbia, Missouri...
entitled I Found the Doorknob. Shortly after the album was complete he died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in Dallas on June 29, 2004.
Diskographie
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Love Is Hard To Understand / I Keep the Blues All The Time | Capitol Records |
| 1951 | Go Ahead and Go / Knocking On Your Front Door | Capitol Records |
| 1951 | Lips That Kiss So Sweetly / I’ve Got A Broken Heart | Capitol Records |
| 1952 | Suspense / Warm Warm Kisses | Capitol Records |
| 1952 | I’m Diggin’ A Hole To Bury My Heart / Kisses By Mail | Capitol Records |
| 1952 | Blowin’ And Goin’ / Mistakes | Capitol Records |
| 1953 | How About A Date / Cryin’ Won’t Change My Mind | Capitol Records |
| 1955 | Lips That Kiss So Sweetly / Love Me (with Wayne Walker) | Chess Records |
| 1958 | Teenage Wedding / Baby It’s Love (ass Johnny Angel) | Vin Records |
| 1966 | Git / Can’t Find The Doorknob | Paula Records |
| 1966 | Keep Me In Mind / Belle Of Monterrey | Paula Records |
| 1974 | Project X-9 (Instr.) / I’m The Laziest Man In The World | Lodema Records |
| 197? | If You Want To Be Saved / Fellowship With Jesus | Lodema Records |
| 197? | I Just Can’t Keep On / One Day Smiling | Lodema Records |
| unknown | This Ole House / Heaven Is Only Knee High | Little Richie Records |
| 1963 | EP
|
Towne House Records |
His mother's name was Lodema Hammonds, the daughter of Mack Hammonds of Maud, Texas, who was a descendent of Philllip Hamman, the Savior of the Greenbrier.