Gene Watson's Peers: Jimmy Capps
Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry
believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much
so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and
rightly so!
All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2010 were most gracious with their
time & words. It is here, within this special part of gene-watson.com, that
you have an opportunity to read a quote from
Jimmy Capps, which he submitted to
this site on Thursday 15 April 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Jimmy Capps
who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online
'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'; also a special word of thanks to
Michele Voan Capps,
without whose help this quote would not have been possible.
Gene Watson with Jimmy Capps backstage at
the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville on Friday 19 March 2010
Jimmy Capps
This quote was submitted on Thursday 15 April 2010
'In my opinion, Gene Watson is in the same class as Tony Bennett, Frank
Sinatra, Bing Crosby & Ray Price!
As time moves on, he just gets better, as they did & have. What a
proud musician I am to have played on many Gene Watson albums & to still
work with him on the Opry!
I am a fan!’
Thank you, Jimmy Capps, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jimmy Capps...
Jimmy Capps
was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina to Alice & Tommy Capps & was raised in
Benson. Jimmy listened to the Grand Ole Opry from the age of eight
years old & he was inspired by champion fiddle-playing Uncle Lynn Cook who encouraged him
to play guitar. Hayden Ivy, a picker friend of Jimmy's, gave up his own
guitar & presented it as a gift to Jimmy. The twelve year old took his first
guitar & started working local dances.
Jimmy sang & played on WCKB-Dunn & worked in both radio & television in Florence,
South Carolina with a performer named Slim Mims. Jimmy moved on to Wilson
to work with another Slim (Short) & he played local clubs in Benson in a
band called The Tar Heels.
One audition in 1958 changed Jimmy Capps' life forever when he became the guitar
player for the Louvin Brothers, one of country music's all-time greatest
duo-teams. When Jimmy auditioned for his job with the Louvin Brothers, their
then current guitar
player, Paul Yandell, had been drafted into the service. He had heard
Jimmy
working with a duet in North Carolina who sang all the Louvin Brother's
songs, so Jimmy knew all the intros & turnarounds. Paul had heard
Jimmy play &
recommended him to the Louvin Brothers.
Jimmy Capps recalls when the Louvin Brothers were scheduled for a guest appearance on the
Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, he came down with double pneumonia. He
remembers,
'No way was I going to
miss the Opry if I died on the stage...I'm gonna work the Opry just one
time! And I did!' Jimmy remembers playing
'The Knoxville Girl', but he was so
scared Pete Wade had to help him plug his guitar into the amplifier.
Jimmy
said that that is one of his most cherished moments.
Jimmy Capps' 'just one time' has turned into years of history on the
hallowed stage; he has now been a member of the 'Grand Ole Opry Staff Band' since
1967 (although it wasn't officially graced with that title at that point in
time).
Jimmy Capps' guitar heroes include Grady Martin, Chet Atkins, Pete Wade,
Billy Sanford, Ray Edenton, Leon Rhodes & Spider Wilson. Some of
his heroes were honoured on Monday 11 October 1982 when the Country Music
Association (CMA)
nominated the 'Grand Ole Opry Staff Band' for 'Instrumental Group of the
Year'.
Jimmy learned from the master producers the art of song production & has produced albums
for the Wilburn Brothers, Jim & Jesse, Jan Howard, Roy Drusky, David Houston
& Stu Phillips.
Jimmy Capps also produced his own album; 'Jimmy Capps: His Guitar & Old
Friends Making New Memories' includes artists such as Billy Walker, Charlie Louvin, The Osborne Brothers,
Porter Wagoner,
Jeannie Seely, Steve Wariner (who played
& sang on the project) & the Carol Lee Singers.
Throughout his career, Jimmy Capps has received numerous awards from the
'National Academy of Recording Arts & Science'; these are awards for
'playing on the most No.1 country music hit recordings'...thus making him a member of the
'NARAS Superpickers Band' for 1978 & 1979. In 1979, Jimmy Capps was also
voted 'Most Valuable Acoustic player'.
Jimmy Capps went home to Benson, North Carolina for a special performance, when he was
surprised with an honour few people receive. State Senator Charlie Albertson
read Governor James Hunt's Proclamation declaring Monday 25 May 1998 'Jimmy
Capps Appreciation Day'.
As one of country music's finest guitar players, Jimmy Capps is a 'master of
smoothness' & is known in the studio for his ability to move flawlessly from
electric to acoustic with a polished & refined touch that he brings to every
recording or performance he is a part of.
Jimmy Capps has played on many timeless classics, including the following:
Freddie Hart: 'Easy Loving' (No.1 for three
weeks in September/October 1971) Freddie
Hart: 'Easy Loving' (Capitol Records, 1971)
George Jones
& Tammy Wynette: 'Golden Ring' (No.1 for one week in August 1976)
George Jones & Tammy Wynette: 'Golden Ring' (Epic Records, 1976)
Kenny Rogers: 'The Gambler' (No.1 for three
weeks in December 1978/January 1979)
Kenny
Rogers: 'The Gambler' (United Artist Records, 1978)
Barbara Mandrell: 'Sleeping single in a
double bed' (No.1 for three weeks in November 1978)
Barbara Mandrell: 'Moods' (ABC Records, 1978)
Charley Pride: 'Honky tonk blues' (No.1 for
one week in April 1980)
Charley Pride: 'There's a Little Bit of Hank in Me' (RCA Records, 1980)
George Jones:
'He stopped loving her today' (No.1 for one week in July 1980)
George Jones: 'I Am What I Am' (Epic Records, 1980)
Oak Ridge Boys: 'Elvira' (No.1 for one week in May/June 1981)
Oak Ridge Boys: 'Fancy' (MCA Records, 1981)
Conway Twitty: 'Red neckin' love makin' night' (No.1 for one week in
January 1982)
Conway Twitty: 'Mr. T' (MCA Records, 1981)
Conway Twitty: 'Merry Twismas' (Warner Bros. Records, 1983)
Conway Twitty: 'I don't know a thing about
love (the moon song)' (No.1 for one week in October 1984)
Conway Twitty: 'By Heart' (Warner Bros. Records, 1984)
Reba McEntire: '`How blue' (No.1 for one
week in January 1985)
Reba McEntire: 'My Kind of Country' (MCA Records, 1984)
Conway Twitty 'Don't Call Him a Cowboy'
(No.1 for one week in June 1985)
Conway Twitty 'Don't Call Him a Cowboy' (Warner Bros. Records, 1985)
Jimmy Capps played acoustic guitar (on all
tracks) on Gene Watson's 'Back
in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records,
1987)
Alan Jackson: 'Here in the Real World' (Arista Records, 1990)
Jimmy Capps played acoustic guitar (on 'This
could go on forever' & 'The workin' end of a hoe') on Gene Watson's 'At
Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991)
Jimmy Capps played acoustic guitar on Gene Watson's 'Uncharted
Mind' (Step One Records, 1993)
Jimmy Capps played rhythm
guitar on Gene Watson's 'Gene
Watson...Sings' (Intersound
Records, 2003)
Jimmy Capps played acoustic
guitar on Gene Watson's 'Gene
Watson...Then & Now' (Koch Records
Nashville, 2005)
Jimmy Capps has also added his distinctive guitar work to recordings by
Terri Gibbs,
Mac Davis,
John Conlee, Janie Fricke, Moe Bandy,
Joe Stampley,
Billie Jo Spears,
John Denver &
Johnny Paycheck, along with all of Ronnie Milsap's recordings through to 1988.
Gene Watson,
Michele Voan Capps (Opry production co-ordinator) & Jimmy Capps (with a
handmade guitar built by Gene's neighbour in Houston, Texas) backstage at
the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville on Friday 19 March 2010
Visit Jimmy Capps' Official Site
Visit Michele Voan Capps' Official Site
