Of late, we have had quite a few leave us to pass over to the other side, but few have had the impact of Jimmy Dean.
Not to be confused with James Dean (hated his movies…but loved his car), Jimmy Dean was more than just the Sausage King.
One wonders where to start in his great career, but since this blog is about Smokes and Booze….why not here….
Jimmy Dean got start in the music business as an accordionist at a tavern near Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where he was stationed in the 1940s.
In the early 1950s, Dean's band had its first national hit in "Bummin' Around", but it was his next hit that set him apart in the music industry….”Big Bad John”, a song that won him a Grammy.
He later went on to play Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and became the first country star on the Vegas Strip. He was also the first guest host on "The Tonight Show," and an actor in Diamonds Are Forever.
Most people would be happy with that type of career, but Jimmy also founded Jimmy Dean Sausage…..and for that….he earns our eternal thanks.
RIP Jimmy
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