Gov. Jimmie Davis Passes

[Jim Landers]

Jimmie Davis, singer who served as Louisiana governor, dies at 101
The Associated Press
11/5/00 11:38 AM


BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Jimmie Davis, the "singing governor" who drew on his popularity as a maker of hits such as "You Are My Sunshine" to twice win election to the state's top office, died Sunday at age 101, his former press secretary said.

"He died at 4:40 a.m., peacefully in his sleep in his home at Baton Rouge," Ed Reed said.

Davis parlayed smooth talking and sweet singing into a political career, serving as governor from 1944-48 and 1960-64.

He estimated that he wrote more than 400 songs, including "It Makes No Difference Now" and "Sweethearts or Strangers," and recorded at least 52 albums. "You Are My Sunshine," his first smash hit in the late '30s, became a standard.

Age had taken its toll on Davis in recent years, but he frequently mustered the strength to peform. He sang at his own 100th birtday celebration in Baton Rouge in September 1999. At a quieter, private celebration a year later he was in a jocular mood.

"It's a great day for me," he told The Associated Press in one of his last interviews. "I'm getting the hang of these things."


Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Tim Rowley]

Another legend has passed. Gov. Davis stayed around for so long, I thought he was close to immortal. May he rest in peace. Thank you Jimmie Davis for the joy you brought into my life and the lives of many others. Hope to see you again some day in that better land.

Tim R.

[C Dixon]

I am surprised the Associated Press did not list one of Jimmy's greatest of all, "It's Supper Time".

That song still brings tears to my eyes.

May Jimmy rest in peace. They don't make em like him any more. Such a great man

carl

[Kenny Dail]

The man left his mark on country music. R.I.P. Jimmy. We love you...

------------------
kd...and the beat goes on...

[billy tam R.I.P.]

An icon is gone. This was an amazing man, politician, entertainer, songwriter, and storyteller of magnitude. Some twenty years ago he would come in the music store I was working in to visit the owner Kenny Gill(his guitar player for many years) and would entertain us with stories of politics, hunting, people and life in general, and of course his adventures. I had the honor of playing steel with him one night at the LSU football stadium for the Special Olympics. He loved music, life, and people and he will surely be missed.
billy tam

[Milton Guilbeau]

I have always heard that his STEEL GUITARIST in the early days, Charlie Mitchell, co-wrote his signature song, You Are My Sunshine. This may not be archived that way, but I do have a band picture on a “Penny Post Card” dated March 2, 1942 taken at KHKW radio station in Shreveport. Included with the group is Mitchell playing a thick lap steel, non-pedal, of course. Cliff Bruner, Johnny Gimble’s ideal, is shown playing fiddle.

Interesting also, Johnny Gimble at the age of 17, toured with Mr. Davis’ band during the 1944 campaign. Fiddle? No, he was playing a four string banjo. The story goes that Johnny rode by himself in the back seat of a car from stop to stop. The reason was so he could practice the fiddle, licks he would hear from the tour fiddler who was Jimmie Tomilson (spl?) from California. Others in the group were Moon Mullican, piano/vocals and Lloyd Ellis on guitar. Great group.