The country industry mourned the loss of a superstar when Jack Greene died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease at age 83 on March 14, 2013. He has left behind classic country tunes from the ‘60s, such as “There Goes My Everything” (1966) and “Statue of a Fool” (1969). He was survived by his wife, Barbara Stidman, and their five children, with one deceased. Grand Ole Opry spokeswoman Jessie Schmidt declared that Greene died in his sleep, but funeral arrangements were incomplete. Here’s a look at his death and his legacy.
The singer was a regular Opry attendee for almost 40 years before his final performance on December 16, 2011. When American country singer Kenny Chesney performed for the first time in 1966, Greene mistook him for “Larry Chesney.” His symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease grew, and he had to prioritize his health. But despite it all, he continued releasing music with his signature deep, smooth voice, which made him one of the venerated country artists contemporary singers look up to.
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Nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant, the 6 ‘4 tall singer was born on January 7, 1930, in Maryville, Tennessee. He got his first guitar at age 10 and performed on local radio stations as a teen. But before venturing on a solo career, he moved to Atlanta in the 1950s and formed three bands, namely Cherokee Trio, the Rhythm Ranch Boys, and the Peach Tree Cowboys. Greene not only sang but also played the guitar, string bass, and even the drums.
When he met Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadours in 1962, Greene’s shot to fame materialized. He served as a drummer for the Hall of Famers, where Tubb traditionally introduced him as his “big-eared singing drummer.” Eventually, Greene’s vocals were included on one of Tubb’s recordings and made his first-ever chart-topping as a solo artist with the single “Ever Since My Baby Went Away,” released on 1965’s Christmas Day. Releasing the two-month top hit “There Goes My Everything” in 1966 made him a luminary figure in the history books. The song has been covered numerous times, including Engelbert Humperdinck’s and Elvis Presley’s notable versions.
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Consequently, he hewed his career with fame and became the first recipient of three awards in the 1967 Country Music Association Awards: Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Album of the Year. That same year, he joined the Grand Ole Opry and performed a duet with Grammy-Award winner Jeannie Seely in the 1969 single “Wish I Didn’t Have to Miss You.” Greene had a total of five number-one hits and three top-ten entries, making him one of the Top 100 Most Played Artists, according to Billboard.
Jack Greene’s death left a remarkable absence, but his legacy in country music lives on.
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