It was reported this morning that long time Grand Ole Opry Staff Band member Jimmy Capps had passed away at the age of 81.
Jimmy Capps was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He began playing the guitar at an early age, as well as listening to the Grand Ole Opry. By the age of 12, he was being featured on various radio stations in the North Carolina area.
In 1958, he had the opportunity to audition for the Louvin Brothers. According to Jimmy, "When I auditioned for my job with the Louvin Brothers, their current guitar player (Paul Yandell, who had been drafted into the Army)) had heard me working with a duet in North Carolina who sang all the Louvin Brother's songs, so I knew all the intros and turnarounds to their songs. He'd heard me play and recommended me to the Louvin. So I went to Burlington, N.C. and after their show, we went back to the hotel and I auditioned. I did all their intros and turnarounds to the songs they auditioned me with and they seemed to like me okay. But their guitar player noticed I didn't use a thumbpick...he then asked me if I could play "Malaguena"? I told him, "No I couldn't".
Charlie Louvin spoke up and said, "Well ... Ira and I very seldom sing "Malaguena" anymore ... so, we're gonna hire you anyway! Thanks to Charlie ... I guess I owe my whole career to him. That one split-second decision that he made is the reason I am here. That decision made all the difference in my life."
Jimmy Capps made his first appearance backing up the Louvin Brothers on the Grand Ole Opry in 1958 and in 1967, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band. Since then there have been many changes in the Staff Band, but Jimmy always survived the changes.
In addition to his work on the Opry, Jimmy was a noted studio musicians who played on over 250 recordings. Among the hits were "Stand By Your Man,""He Stopped Loving Her Today,""The Gambler,""The Rose,""16th Avenue,""Elvira,""Here In The Real World," and the list goes on and on and on. It's hard to find a hit record out of Nashville that Jimmy was not a part of.
Jimmy was the recipient of numerous awards over the years and was featured on many television shows, including over 20 CMA Award Shows, Country's Family Reunion, and more recently as the guitar playing sheriff on Larry's Country Diner.
Recently, Jimmy wrote his autobiography, The Man In Back, and the musicians room at the Grand Ole Opry was named in his honor. The only award missing was election to the Country Music Hall of Fame and I am sure that will come sooner rather than later.
Jimmy Capps was truly a legend and will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers to his family and close friends.
Jimmy Capps was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He began playing the guitar at an early age, as well as listening to the Grand Ole Opry. By the age of 12, he was being featured on various radio stations in the North Carolina area.
In 1958, he had the opportunity to audition for the Louvin Brothers. According to Jimmy, "When I auditioned for my job with the Louvin Brothers, their current guitar player (Paul Yandell, who had been drafted into the Army)) had heard me working with a duet in North Carolina who sang all the Louvin Brother's songs, so I knew all the intros and turnarounds to their songs. He'd heard me play and recommended me to the Louvin. So I went to Burlington, N.C. and after their show, we went back to the hotel and I auditioned. I did all their intros and turnarounds to the songs they auditioned me with and they seemed to like me okay. But their guitar player noticed I didn't use a thumbpick...he then asked me if I could play "Malaguena"? I told him, "No I couldn't".
Charlie Louvin spoke up and said, "Well ... Ira and I very seldom sing "Malaguena" anymore ... so, we're gonna hire you anyway! Thanks to Charlie ... I guess I owe my whole career to him. That one split-second decision that he made is the reason I am here. That decision made all the difference in my life."
Jimmy Capps made his first appearance backing up the Louvin Brothers on the Grand Ole Opry in 1958 and in 1967, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band. Since then there have been many changes in the Staff Band, but Jimmy always survived the changes.
In addition to his work on the Opry, Jimmy was a noted studio musicians who played on over 250 recordings. Among the hits were "Stand By Your Man,""He Stopped Loving Her Today,""The Gambler,""The Rose,""16th Avenue,""Elvira,""Here In The Real World," and the list goes on and on and on. It's hard to find a hit record out of Nashville that Jimmy was not a part of.
Jimmy was the recipient of numerous awards over the years and was featured on many television shows, including over 20 CMA Award Shows, Country's Family Reunion, and more recently as the guitar playing sheriff on Larry's Country Diner.
Recently, Jimmy wrote his autobiography, The Man In Back, and the musicians room at the Grand Ole Opry was named in his honor. The only award missing was election to the Country Music Hall of Fame and I am sure that will come sooner rather than later.
Jimmy Capps was truly a legend and will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers to his family and close friends.