_____________________________________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¥«¤» ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ _ _ __ __ _ ___ \\\\\___| |_| | \ \ / / / \ | __|___\"-._ /////~~~| _ | \ / / _ \ __ ~~~/.-' |_| |_| \/\/ /_/ \_\ |___| hank.shows.it hank.tux.nu _____________________________________________________________________________ THE HANK WILIAMS APPRECIATION SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL 1978 _____________________________________________________________________________ JIMMY PORTER - ORIGINAL DRIFTING COWBOY 1928-2007 _____________________________________________________________________________ Jimmy Porter Releases New Book! _____________________________________________________________________________ Jimmy Porter was the youngest musician (13 yrs. old) to ever be hired by Hank Williams. He worked with Hank from 1941-44. In his GREAT new book, "My Life as a Musician", Jimmy discusses his 45+ years in the music business. You'll get to read stories about his time working with Hank & The Drifting Cowboys, Curly Fox & Texas Ruby, Jack Turner and many more Country Music greats! You won't read these stories anywhere else. This book is a must have for any Hank Fan! Don't miss your chance to own a copy! Cost: $10.00 (shipping included). Send Check or Money Orders to: Jimmy Porter, 1195 Berwick Rd, Hoover, AL 35242 _____________________________________________________________________________ UPDATE December 16th, 2007 JIMMY PORTER'R PASSING I am shocked... he seem to be recovering so well... thanks for letting me know... It was a real privilege to meet and be with Jimmy and Geraldine and the world has lost a wonderful human being... Robert Ackerman Palmer, Alaska ----- Original Message ----- From: Dale Vinicur To: Robert Ackerman Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:51 PM Subject: Jimmy Porter's passing Hello all - Just heard from Beth in Montgomery that Jimmy Porter passed away today - sitting in front of his computer... He had a recent heart attack, but had been feeling pretty good, although apparently his heart disease was more advanced than he let on... We will sure miss him... But Hank & others will be welcoming him home. This just happened... The funeral will be in Montgomery, but no one is sure when - you can check back with me or Beth at the museum for details. Love to all, Dale & Lycrecia _____________________________________________________________________________ Jimmy Porter Arrangements Just spoke with Jimmy Porter's granddaughter, Margaret Ann. Arrangements for services are as follows: VISITATION - MONDAY - DECEMBER 17, 2007 Alabama Heritage Funeral Home - (located on Atlanta Hwy in Montgomery) - Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. _______________ FUNERAL SERVICES - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2007 Services will be at same Alabama Heritage Funeral Home Time: 1:00 PM ______________________ BURIAL - In the cemetery located onsite at same Alabama Heritage Funeral Home in Montgomery. Anne Blake ANNEWALKERBLAKE@cs.com _____________________________________________________________________________ UPDATE Feb 07, 2008 _____________________________________________________________________________ JIMMY PORTER BEING INDUCTED INTO THE ALABAMA STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION'S HALL OF FAME From: Robert Ackerman FIRST. The President of the Alabama Steel Guitar Association, Bill Cook, is allowing me a very special privilege of announcing that our Drifting Cowboy Jimmy Porter is being inducted into their Hall of Fame on April 19th, 2008 - but I will let Bill tell you in his own words. See his messages quoted below (Thanks much Bill) BILL COOK STATED: "Robert, word/secrets travel fast, even to Alaska ! Yes, we will be inducting Jimmy into the 3rd Class of The ASGA Hall of Fame. We induct two members each year, one alive and one deceased. Jimmy was to go in on the living side but now that isn't possible. The Show is on April 19th, 2008 at The Holiday Inn in Prattville, Alabama. Don Helms and Mike Johnson, two of Jimmy's closest friends, are the headliners . April 19th just also happens to be Don and Hazel Helms 63rd Wedding Anniversary. It is going to be a great day. Herby Wallace is also confirmed. I will send you a flyer on the show very soon. Thanks for a ll you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will periodicly send you updates as they occur. I knew Mr. Porter very well. He used to play at all our jams before moving to Birmingham. I had talked with Geraldine and told her that we would be inducting Jimmy this year and to keep it a secret from him. Unfortunately he didn't make it and I told her at Jimmy's visitation that we were still definitely were going to induct him. He was a true Southern Gentleman that was always helping some young man along the way. We will surely miss him. Again, feel free to announce his upcoming induction and that two of his closest friends will be there and be part of the ceremony. Don and Mike. Bill _____________________________________________________________________________ UPDATE December 23, 2003 _____________________________________________________________________________ From: ANNEWALKERBLAKE@cs.com Saw an article on this recently and confronted CMT about it for a correction. Mr. Ed Morris is printing a correction on it this month. Should be out now. Boots Harris and Jimmy Porter were the ONLY two living "ORIGINAL" Cowboys who began with Hank when Hank was only 18 years old. Boots just passed away a couple of months ago. Jimmy was only 13 years old at the time he played steel guitar for Hank. He was All State Musician at the time from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, and is the first successfully noted steel guitarist to come out of Montgomery or the state of Alabama. There weren't that many "steels" around in those days. Jimmy Porter is the ONLY actual one left of the "FIRST COWBOY BAND" that Hank Williams, Sr. formed. With him from 1941-1944. Don Helms (whom we love dearly) came along about then. BUT, he was NOT one of the actual "FIRST" GROUP OF DRIFTIN' COWBOYS. Jimmy Porter even has a book out and has been interview by the H.O.F. in Nashville and will be seen on a documentary interview. At present we do not know when. Jimmy Porter is a good friend of mine, and he is a devoted fan of Hank Williams, Sr as well as one of his best friends. Jimmy is a devoted volunteer for the Hank Williams Museum and religiously shows up 2 o 3 times a week to help out. You would do better talking with Jimmy Porter. I recently did an interview on him myself. Tears would well up in his eyes when he spoke of such fond memories that were "untainted" and "unpainted" as some people claim theirs NOT to be. Jimmy Porter lived in the boarding house with Hank and his mother and knew only a Hank Williams Sr. that others did not know. But, as Jimmy says "..It's the bad stories that sell the music; not the good ones." It's sad that people have come to a point where that is what sells them -- gossip and tragedy.... A.W. Blake/Director Bibb Promotional Productions bibbpromotional@cs.com Supporting/Promoting Hank Williams Museum Montgomery, Alabama www.hank50.com http://hankjr.com/almeria.htm 'I'M ONE OF YOU" _____________________________________________________________________________ STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAME NOMINATION INFORMATION _____________________________________________________________________________ January 20th, 2004 (FOR MR. JIMMY PORTER): 1. LIST OF NOTABLE ARTISTS WITH WHOM THE NOMINEE HAS PERFORMED: I would assume that the biggest name star that Mr. Porter he ever worked for was Hank Williams, Sr. Jimmy turned 13 years old in March 1941 and shortly after his birthday Hank called his home and asked him if he would like to audition on the steel guitar. He auditioned that day, got the job, and started to work for Hank the next day. Boots Harris, a great steel player, was leaving Hank to go with Curly Williams and he left two days after Jimmy’s audition, and Jimmy played the last job that Curly played but temporarily played the rhythm guitar to hear what intros he played and some of the licks he played while backing Hank. Jimmy then became the youngest musician to ever work for Hank and became an original Drifting Cowboy (and he is now the only original Drifting Cowboy still living). He worked with Hank from March 1941 until mid-August 1944, at which time he left Hank and went to work for Dad Crystal's Royal Hillbillies in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. This group played every Wednesday and Saturday night to capacity crowds for round and square dances. They also traveled on Saturday nights to various locations in the Montgomery area and other areas in the South. They also opened all the shows that came to the City Auditorium in Montgomery and Jimmy played with the group until May 1947. He then graduated from Sidney Lanier High School and left for Nashville to audition for Curly Fox and Texas Ruby. He auditioned back stage at the Ryman in June 19 47 on a Saturday night, got the job and started traveling with them the next day. He stayed with them two months (to August 19 47) at which time he decided that music was not what he wanted to do full time so he gave his notice and returned to Montgomery. In early 1948, Hank Williams came to my home in Montgomery, after Jimmy had left Nashville in August 1947, and Hank tried to hire him to go to Nashville with him. He told Hank that he appreciated his offer but that he had been there already and decided to return to Montgomery and go to work and just play music as a side job. Hank said he understood this and wished Jimmy the best. Hank and Jimmy were friends to the day Hank died. Prior to his working with Hank in March 1941, Jimmy played for two other local bands for a few months. One was Pop Johnson and his family band, and the other was Smokey Metcalf, a local guitar teacher and singer. He left Smokey to go with Hank. During his days with Hank, they played mostly shows but played many dances in areas south of Montgomery. Most of the engagements were on Friday and Saturday nights. He also played the only recorded radio shows with Hank in 1941 and one in 1942. Jobs were scarce during this period of time but most of this band stuck it out with Hank. Jimmy was a student in the 7th grade but never missed a day of school because of his playing (and in fact accomplished a great deal while in school. He took band in high school and made the All-State Band on the Tuba in 1946. He was also a member of the brass ensemble for the school band and a member of the Lyre Club). _____________________________________________________________________________ - 1 - 2. DURATION AND TOURING HISTORY OF THE NOMINEE: Jimmy joined the Jack Turner Band and The Singing River Boys in 1954 and worked with Jack until 1964-65. Jack recorded for RCA, MGM, and Hickory Records. During the time he worked with Jack he was a featured steel guitar soloist on WBAM Radio (50,000 Watt Station), as well as on two TV programs on WSFA-TV. He was also featured on all the shows. One show was twice a week and the highest rated daytime TV show in the Channel 12 viewing area and the other show was a big production show that he was featured on and was every Wednesday night for over a year. The band became very popular in this area. He played as a fill in for Boots Harris who was with Curly Williams in Montgomery. Curly had a large night club and Boots would take a few days off and Jimmy would be asked to fill in for him. Jimmy did this for quite a while until the club closed a few months later. Eddie Dean - Jimmy did a one week rodeo engagement with singer/western movie star Eddie Dean in Montgomery, Alabama. He was booked for the same rodeo association for a weeks engagement in Evansville, Indiana about three weeks after the Montgomery job. He asked if Jimmy would like to do the Evansville job and Jimmy accepted the offer. Western Actor/Singer - Chill Wills. Jimmy backed Chill Wills at the annual Dothan Peanut Festival for his show about 1969. Jimmy Wakely - Jimmy Porter backed Jimmy Wakely at the City Auditorium in Montgomery, Alabama for one of his shows in 1946. Jimmy played steel for Jim Ed and the Browns at the Jimmy Rogers Memorial Celebration in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1955. Also on the same show, Jimmy backed Dizzie Dean. Jimmy backed Sonny James at a concert in Gainesville, Georgia in 1961. This show also featured Jack Turner. Jimmy joined Curly Fox and Texas Ruby on the Grand Old Opry in June 1947 and toured in Missouri and Oklahoma, returning to Nashville to play the Opry on Saturday night. He also toured with Curly with Uncle Dave Macon and Lazy Jim Day. Jimmy was in the U.S. Air Force and played steel guitar (off duty) with bands in Cheyenne, Wyoming and after a transfer to Guam, played with a band in the officer and NCO clubs, as well as the service clubs on Guam. Jimmy was discharged in June 1950 and played for numerous bands in and around Montgomery up until 1978. In 1979, Jimmy helped form a band called Southern Touch, a country and soft rock group. They played the Ramada Inn in Prattville, Alabama for about three months and Jimmy’s name was on the Marquee during this time. They left the Ramada Inn and went to work for the Moose Lodge in Prattville, Alabama and played there two years on Saturday nights. Jimmy Porter retired from music completely after a New Year’s Eve dance on December 31, 1986. - 2 - 3. NOMINEE’S INFLUENCES ON OTHER PLAYERS: The only tangible influence Jimmy had on other players learning to play the steel guitar was a young aspiring musician named Jimmy Webster. They practiced together quite a bit and Jimmy showed him several things that helped him along. Jimmy Webster went to work for Hank Williams in 1945/46 and later went to work for Jimmy Wakely. Jimmy Webster was killed in an auto accident in Texas in 1947 while traveling to an engagement. The other musician Jimmy helped along while he was quite young was Mike Johnson. Mike was playing drums with his Dad, Bob Johnson, and Jimmy played steel for Bob for a few years and Mike became very interested in learning the steel. Jimmy taught him the fingerboard, how to use his picks, bar, chime, etc. As of today, he is one of the top players in Nashville and is doing session work altogether now. Jimmy said he has never seen anyone learn as quickly as Mike did. They are still very close friends and stay in contact with each other. I am sure there were others but none that he personally taught. He was the pioneer of the steel guitar in Montgomery and the only professional player on the steel for about three years. After the steel became popular there other players started coming and looking for work. Additionally, Jimmy’s book "My Life As A Musician" in itself serves as an inspiration to other musicians. 4. NOMINEE’S RECORDINGS: Jimmy recorded two records with Jack Turner on RCA and his playing was also recorded on a CD titled "Jimmy Porter and Southern Touch" (copy of CD is enclosed). Also, Jimmy wrote and recorded a steel guitar song on the flip side of "The Phoenix City Story" in the mid 1950's. The steel song was played for quite a while by country DJ's as a theme song. Two recent interviews were video-recorded with Jimmy . He was interviewed by The Country Music Hall of Fame about his steel playing days with Hank in the 40's (It’s on file at the HOF in Nashville in Hank's historical file) and he was recently interviewed by Morgan Neville of Tremelo Productions for the new PBS Documentary that is coming out in June 2004. 5. THE NOMINEE’S EFFORTS AS AN INSTRUCTOR: During the time he played for Hank and others, he also started teaching steel guitar for the American Guitar Studio in downtown Montgomery. He taught at first as a student teacher and then became a Certified Teacher/Professional on the steel guitar by the International Guitar League. 6. INVOLVEMENT IN STEEL GUITAR MANUFACTURE: Not known. 7. OTHER ACTIVITIES NOMINEE HAS ENGAGED IN THAT ADVANCED THE STEEL GUITAR: Not known. _____________________________________________________________________________ Note: Join Robert Ackerman's Hank Fan Mailing list. _____________________________________________________________________________ Email: Hank1@mtaonline.net _____________________________________________________________________________