Jimmy C. Newman

Biography

Jimmy Yves Newman (August 29, 1927 – June 21, 2014), better known as Jimmy C. Newman (the C stands for Cajun), was an American country music and Cajun singer-songwriter and long-time star of the Grand Ole Opry.

Early life

Newman was born near Mamou, Louisiana, United States. As a child, he listened more to Gene Autry than to the Cajun music of the area, but had a number of Cajun songs in his repertoire when, as a teenager, he joined Chuck Guillory's Rhythm Boys.

Early career

He recorded a few unsuccessful sides for J. D. "Jay" Miller's Feature Records in the 1940s, but Miller persuaded Fred Rose in Nashville to give the young singer an opportunity. In 1953, he was signed to Dot Records and the following year recorded "Cry, Cry, Darling", which reached number four on the country chart.
His recording success led the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana, to hire him as a regular performer. His next four records all reached top-10 status, and in 1956, he was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. That following year, he released his biggest hit, "A Fallen Star", which spent two weeks at number two and also entered the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
As an established artist, he began to integrate his Cajun influences into his music, and recorded "Alligator Man×Alligator Man1985 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracksA1Alligator ManA2Big MamouA3Jole BlonA4Louisiana ManA5Hollow LogA6Pretty Texas GirlsA7Good Deal LucilleA8Bayou TalkB1Blues Stay Away From MeB2You're The Only Star In My Blue HeavenB3Sail Along Silvery MoonB4D.J. For A DayB5Everybody's Dying For LoveB6Crazy Old HeartB7Just One More NightB8Finally", which was a top-25 record and continued to be his theme song at the Opry. In 1963, he released another top-10 hit, "The D.J. Cried". His final hits came in 1965 and 1966 with "Artificial Rose×Artificial Rose1966 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Artificial Rose2:50A2City of the Angels2:37A3You Must Be True2:26A4Roses Are Red (My Love)2:41A5Angel on Leave2:28A6Back in Circulation2:06B1Ramblin’ Rose2:32B2For Better or for Worse (but Not for Long)2:38B3The One Rose (That’s Left in My Heart)2:14B4Bouquet of Roses2:29B5My Love for You2:36B6The Mover2:31" and "Back Pocket Money". When his commercial popularity declined, he returned to Cajun music, forming his Cajun Country band and taking the high-energy fiddle- and accordion-based music of his native Louisiana to fans around the world. In 1976, his recording of the Cajun French song, "Lâche pas la patate" ("The Potato Song") earned gold record status in Canada. In 1991, Newman and Cajun Country earned a Grammy Award nomination for their album, Alligator Man.
Entertainer Dolly Parton has long credited Newman with enabling her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, in 1959, describing how when she appeared at the Opry unannounced at age 13, asking to sing, Newman relinquished one of his two allotted slots to allow Parton to perform.

Later career

In 2000, he was inducted into the North American Country Music Association’s International Hall of Fame, and in 2004 was inducted into the Cajun Hall of Fame. He is also honored in the Cajun Music Hall of Fame in Eunice, Louisiana, and in 2009, he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. He continued to tour and appear regularly at the Grand Ole Opry, making his last appearance on the show on June 6, 2014. In 2006, he joined a select group of entertainers who have marked 50 years of Opry membership.

Personal life

Newman and his wife made their home on their 670-acre (2.7 km2) ranch outside of Nashville near Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Death

Newman died of cancer, in Nashville, on June 21, 2014.

Singles

A"A Fallen Star" peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.7 on the R&B chart.
B"Born to Love You" peaked at No. 35 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.