Jimmy Dean
| Jimmy Dean | |
|---|---|
Dean in 1966.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jimmy Ray Dean |
| Born |
August 10, 1928 Plainview, Texas |
| Died | June 13, 2010 (aged 81) Varina, Virginia |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor, businessman |
| Instruments | Vocals, Accordion, Piano |
| Years active | 1953–2010 |
| Labels |
Columbia Records RCA Victor |
| Associated acts | Roy Clark, Patsy Cline, Charlie Rich |
| Website | Dean's Website |
Jimmy Ray Dean (August 10, 1928 – June 13, 2010) was an American country music singer, television host, actor, and businessman, best known today as the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand. He became a national television personality starting on CBS in 1957. He rose to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad John" and his 1963 ABC television series, The Jimmy Dean Show, which also gave puppeteer Jim Henson his first national media exposure. His acting career included a supporting role as Willard Whyte in the 1971 James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever. He lived near Richmond, Virginia, and was nominated for the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010, although he was formally inducted posthumously.
Dean was born in Plainview in Hale County in West Texas in 1928, the son of George Otto Dean, and his second wife, the former Ruth Taylor. Ruth Taylor taught Jimmy how to play piano at a young age. He attributed his interest in music to the Seth Ward Baptist Church. He dropped out of high school and became a professional entertainer after serving in the United States Air Force in the late 1940s. Dean was 22 and just starting in show business when he married his first wife Mary Sue (Sue) in 1950.
Dean had his first hit, "Bummin' Around", in 1953 on the 4 Star label, He signed with Columbia Records in 1957. He had minor pop hits, such as "Little Sandy Sleighfoot" (a Christmas novelty song) and "Sing Along", later used as the theme for TV's "Sing Along With Mitch".
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