REAR WINDOW

JIM REEVES His music touched millions Partab Ramchand

or innumerable Western were almost always emotional. music fans in India their He has either lost the girl he Fidea of nirvana or total loved, or is a victim of unrequited bliss is to close their eyes and love and has been unjustly treated listen to the velvety voice of by the girl who has ditched him. Jim Reeves. His 54th death It would appear that there is a lot anniversary falls on 31 July and of melancholy in Reeves’ songs, his 95th birth anniversary on 20 but he was able to convey the August, and as such it is a good hurt through his rich baritone time to remember the singer and apt usage of words. In his whose voice and words have numbers the music stays in touched millions of lives around the background; it is the voice the world. Among the many and words that are of utmost countries in which “Gentleman importance. Jim” was popular, India and Sri Jim Reeves Lanka rank very high. Outside of In India, Reeves continues to enjoy the US where he was born, Reeves immense popularity more than half was not complete without numerous a century after his death. Among the enjoys unprecedented popularity in requests for a Jim Reeves song. South Africa among Western singers; Anglo-Indian community there is no it would not be wrong to say that In Madras I have attended numerous function or event that does not feature India and Sri Lanka are perhaps “Jim Reeves Nite’s” over the years, a song or two by Reeves, and the next on the list. It is reckoned that either on his birthday or on his death following he enjoys is not restricted Reeves is probably the all-time most anniversary, events are held to keep to one or two communities. Western popular English language singer the peerless singer’s memory alive music followers from a broad section in the island nation but his overall with a medley of his super hits. Clones of society have remained his fans, in popularity in India is not far behind. of Jim Reeves belt out his melodious some cases for well over 60 years, I well remember how in the 1960s numbers or, even better, the originals since his first big hitMexican Joe was and early 1970s, the Listener’s are played on the soundtrack which is recorded in the mid fifties. Choice programme over All India the ultimate in meaningful, sublime Our most humdrum days are best Radio Madras on Saturday nights entertainment. enriched by the voice of Jim Reeves. When it comes to Reeves, it was very different from what constitutes entertainment today. There were no computer graphics, no laser lights, no razzle-dazzle, no fog lights or other special effects. “Gentleman Jim” held centrestage with his mellow voice, tuneful guitar and expressive words. In many ways Reeves was the Mukesh of the West for his songs

46 l SRUTI July 2018 There is no question of swaying or dancing or doing a little jig when it comes to a Reeves number. You are just lost in the melody of that rich voice and the meaningful words and transported to an ethereal world as it were. And there are so many gems that one just does not know where to start and where to finish. His most famous numbers include Guilty, Distant Drums, I Love You Because, Am I Losing You?, He’ll Have To Go, Adios Amigo and Golden Memories and Silver Tears, but then one can also be mesmerised by hits like Four Walls, One Dozen Roses, Rosa Rio, Heartbreak in Silhouette, Welcome to With Chet Atkins My World and In the Misty Moonlight. The list is long and there are some Blues as well as gospel songs, though heartstrings, for few among us would breezy numbers too in Bimbo, Billy he is best remembered for his country not have experienced it. Bayou and Snowflakes. western songs for which he figures in The ultimate tribute to “Gentleman the Country Music Hall of Fame. The voice of Jim Reeves is ideally Jim” is that his fan base keeps growing suited for gospel numbers and at Easter Reeves’ words mirror life and touch us and even those who were not born or Christmas there is nothing better because the truisms he uttered reflect when he died in a plane crash three than to sit back, close your eyes and what we have been through. In What’s weeks before his 41st birthday, keep listen to his songs sung in praise of the In It For Me the line “There is no humming or singing his songs (thanks Lord. Among his gospel numbers the future in the past” besides being subtle mainly to YouTube) enraptured as they best include the likes of May the Good is something we have come to believe are by the twin qualities that made him Lord Bless and Keep You, Mary’s in. Similarly, in Golden Memories an endearing artist—the mellifluous Little Boy Child, This World Is Not My and Silver Tears when he sings “Oh voice and the meaningful words. Home and Take My Hand Precious memory of love, bringing me pain, oh (Partab Ramchand is a sports columnist, Lord. His versatility knew no bounds how sad to love, and love all in vain,” author and commentator) and he was at home while rendering there is something that tugs at our

47 l SRUTI July 2018