I first met Jack Greene in 1962 when he came to Paris Texas as Ernest Tubb’s drummer and band leader for the Texas Troubadours at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. Back then we spent most of our daylight hours at the Paris Boy’s Club and the staff would tell us that a band needed help unloading for a show tonight at the Red River Valley Jamboree which was held in the Fairgrounds Coliseum at that time. Back that day Jack was so kind and friendly to the boys helping unload and set up and gave us autographed records gave each of us a cold drink. I remember him being tall and telling us his nickname was the Jolly Green Giant. We had free tickets to come watch the show and help load back on the bus. Ernest Tubb was kind and gentle also but was the main singer who mainly stayed on his bus until the final sound check. Jack stayed with Ernest Tubb and the Texas Troubadours until mid 60’s when Mr. Tubb encouraged him to go out on a solo career of his own. He had a big big song in 1966 called There Goes My Everything which stayed on the charts for almost two months crossing over beyond country radio. In fact that song earned CMA Song of Year in 1967 , earned him CMA Male Vocalist of the Year and CMA Album of the Year. He had a beautiful voice and always told him my favorite song of his was Statue of A Fool which he always performed at our Kershaw Concert events. He was asked to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1967 and became one of their most loyal members and audience favorites until ill health stopped him in 2011.
When we were securing artist and performers for the Doug Kershaw Celebrity Events back in the mid 80’s I called Jack and he agreed to come and be a part of our event each year.
Jack loved the scenery and people of Paris and Lamar County Texas and said it reminded him so much of where he grew up in Tennessee.
When we would go to Nashville for Country Music Association Talent Buyers business he always wanted me to call him and let’s have lunch and almost always at the Cracker Barrel near the new Grand Old Opry building. I remember one time my son Brad and my brother-in-law Randy Warnell went with me and wanted to go to Opryland while I was in meetings and as a member of the Opry he had VIP credentials to get in free and came out from his house to meet us at Opryland to get them in free. He also set us up each time with back stage entry and seats to seeing the Grand Ole Opry each time we went to Nashville. Jack was a great Christian guy who shared his faith with me during some of our lunch meetings and when driving him around Paris and Lamar County and I continued to call him at least once or twice a year until his health failed. He was fond of Duane and Nora Lee Allen and wanted to see where Duane was raised on one of his trips here. He had lots of dealings with Duane’s wife Nora Lee as said she was the sweetheart of the Cara Lee Background Singers on all the Grand Ole Opry Shows.
I leave you with we hear many bad stories on entertainers but assure you in over my 35 years of dealings with Jack Greene he was a caring individual with a kind heart and true Country Music Legend.
by: Ronnie Nutt
07/11/22