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Submitted: 5/29/12 • Approved: 2/26/16 • Last Updated: 2/29/16 • R699659-G0-S3
November 23, 1936
August 3, 2011
Inducted in Rockabilly Hall Of Fame
& Arkansas Heritage Museum
Evans was a former resident of Marianna and a member of the Arkansas Jamboree for eight years. His career spaned 40 years as a rockabilly singer and his recordings, "The Joint's Really Jumpin'", "Messy Bessie", Dudley Do-Rite" and "Pink Cadillac", are considered rockabilly classics. Jimmy spent three years (1956-1958) as a member of the Conway Twitty Band. He wrote Conway's "Why Can't I Get Through To You" in 1956. He left the Twitty Band in 1958 and joined Ronnie Hawkins' Hawks as bassist. While with Hawkins, he wrote "Goin' On A Hay Ride" and recorded two albums. "Meet Ronnie Hawkins" and "Mr. Dynamo" playing on Ronnie's million sellers "Mary Lou" and "Ruby Baby." Evans left the Hawks in 1960 when he began his own record career. He had 26 releases, four of which were chart records. His song "It Would Happen With Me" appears on the back side of Johnny Rivers' "Memphis" and Jerry Lee Lewis' "Cold, Cold Heart."
Jimmy began his career with Sun Records and had releases on Shimmy Clearmont. Rebel Ace, Erwin and River Town Records. He retired from the road in 1968 but plays dates for special occasions. He plays lead guitar, bass, drums, steel guitar and piano. He now makes his home in Helena. Jimmy remains a popular artist in Europe and has sold records in Holland, UK. Sweden, France, Germany, Finland and the USA. Jimmy performed with many other rockabilly legends such as Brenda Lee, Paul Burlison, The Comets and many others at the Rockabilly Fest 2000 show in Jackson, April 2000.
Photo contributed by ashaw444@swbell.net
Contributed on 5/29/12 by murdockpat123
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Record #: 699659