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James Cecil Dickens (born December 19, 1920 from Bolt, West Virginia), Hillbilly singers never will come any hillbilly-er than Little Jimmy Dickens.^{[citation needed]} Indeed, as he put it himself on one early hit record, he’s “a plain old ... cornbread lovin’ country boy,” from the toes of his loudly colored cowboy boots to the top of his head, just 4’11” later.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Stop_hand. ... December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

The current generation of country fans will recognize Dickens from his frequent guest spots in the videos of Brad Paisley, but the truth is that Dickens first gained national exposure nearly half a century ago. None other than Roy Acuff first introduced him to the old Ryman Auditorium stage all the way back in 1948, and Dickens has been wowing Opry audiences pretty much ever since—longer than any other current cast member—with his flamboyant rhinestone-studded outfits, wild novelty hits, and country humor. Brad Paisley - Time Well Wasted album cover Brad Paisley (born October 28, 1972) is an American country music singer and songwriter from Glen Dale, West Virginia. ... Roy Claxton Acuff (15 September 1903–23 November 1992) was an American country musician. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...

Dickens was the oldest of 13 children born to a West Virginia farmer. He started singing on radio station WJLS in nearby Beckley while attending West Virginia University, opening his program “crowing like a rooster.” Even though Dickens had to walk to and from the station, he set his sights on an entertainment career that would eventually find him spreading his brand of “Hillbilly Fever” all around the world. ^{[citation needed]} Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq. ...

Literally. Dickens has made 13 trips to Europe, and he twice entertained the troops in Vietnam. In 1964, Dickens became the first country artist to completely circle the globe on a world tour. That same year, he released “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.” The single topped the country charts, even went to No. 15 on the pop charts^{[citation needed]}, and Jimmy found himself on several network shows, including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. See also: 1963 in country music, 1964 in music, other events of 1964, 1965 in country music, 1960s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events Top Hits of the Year No. ...

Of course, by then, Dickens had been a beloved figure among the country faithful for years.^{[citation needed]} He’d had a string of down-home novelty hits, including “A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed,” “Out Behind the Barn,” and “Take an Old Cold Tater (And Wait),” the song that prompted Hank Williams to dub his diminutive friend “Tater.”^{[citation needed]} Jimmy is also a master of the recitation and a ballad singer so expert that it once prompted no less than George Jones to honor his friend with the tribute album Like the Dickens!

Jimmy joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983, In December 2004 he was admitted to hospital in Nashville, TN with pneumonia, and in 2006 he and his wife Mona celebrated their 35th anniversary by renewing their marriage vows on the very Opry stage where Dickens still shows the world that “I may be little....but I’m loud!” See also: 1982 in country music, 1983 in music, other events of 1983, 1984 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events Top Hits of the Year No. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other cities named Nashville, see Nashville (disambiguation). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

After 58 years in the music business Little Jimmy is, as one of his hits said, still "little but loud."

This year, 2006 marks Dickens' 58th year at the Grand Ole Opry. 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM Radio in Nashville, Tennessee. ...

External links

• Official Website

• at the Country Music Hall of Fame

• at the Grand Ole Opry