61 years ago today was a tragic day for the country music community. It was on July 31, 1964 when James Reeves, better known as "Gentleman Jim," was tragically killed in a plane crash. Reeves was flying the aircraft, which crashed when Reeves lost control when he encountered storms in Brentwood, Tenn., just outside of Nashville.
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Reeves died in the crash, along with his business partner and manager, Dean Manuel. According to the book, Jim Reeves: The Untold Story, at 4:51 p.m., Reeves commented that the rain was getting heavier. His last transmission took place only one minute later.
The accident was cited as pilot error, although the details of what happened in Reeves' final minutes remain unclear. Sadly, it was Reeves' friend, Marty Robbins, who heard the crash and alerted authorities. According to The Tennessean, fellow musicians Bill Pursell, Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins, Ernest Tubb, Stonewall Jackson and Robbins all searched for the wreckage. Two days later, Davidson County Civil Defense rescue team found the airplane wreckage, along with the bodies of Reeves and Manuel.
Jim Reeves' Legacy In Country Music
Reeves was just 39 years old when he passed away, leaving behind his wife, Mary. Reeves' first album, Jim Reeves Sings, was released in 1955. He released more than 20 albums in the nine years after that. He also had several hit singles, including "Mexican Joe," "Bimbo," "Yonder Comes A Sucker" and more.
Reeves also became an international star, long before most artists were taking their music worldwide. His loss was felt across the globe.
"I mean, think right now one if one of the biggest stars in Nashville suddenly died," Michael McCall, the former associate director of editorial at the Country Music Hall of Fame, says.
"It was exactly what happened then," he adds. "He was really the one of the biggest stars in country music."
Reeves was known as much for who he was offstage as when he was performing. He earned the name "Gentleman Jim" because of how he treated other people.
Reeves' legacy lives on in country music. The ACM Honors ceremony, held this year on August 20, will honor Luke Combs with the ACM International Award, inspired by Reeves.
