Remembering Jimmy C. Newman

If you've ever been to the Grand Ole Opry, or tuned in on a Saturday Night, there's a good chance you'll remember the wailin' cajun country sounds of Jimmy C. Newman.

Every time he was announced by Eddie Stubbs or Mike Terry, you knew the fiddles were ready to catch fire, your feet would not be able to stay still, and you'd probably hear more than one 'Awwyeee' or 'Awwhaaaa'!

The Country Music Legend was born in High Point, Louisiana and made his debut on the Louisiana Hayride (a classic radio show like the Grand Ole Opry). In 1956, Newman joined the Opry cast and entertained on that famous stage just about every weekend til June 6, 2014. Newman passed at 86 on Saturday, June 21, 2014 in Nashville, he is pictured above in a blue rhinestone coat at the George Jones Memorial concert from November 2013 with Jim Ed Brown, Bobby Bare, and Bill Anderson.

On DOT Records, Newman climbed to Number 4 in1954 with his first single 'Cry, Cry, Darling,' followed by the Number 7 hit single 'Daydreamin'. The last part of the '50's brought a string of Top 10's including 'Blue Darlin'' 'God Was So Good' 'Seasons Of My Heart' and his biggest Billboard hit 'A Fallen Star,' which even crossed over to the pop charts.

In the '60s, Newman's mainstream chart success was slowing down, but he was having more fun making his own style of Cajun Country Music with songs like 'Alligator Man' 'Bayou Talk'  and 'Louisiana Saturday Night' for Decca Records. It was around this time that Newman added the 'C' to his stage name, proudly representing the word 'Cajun.'

Newman was a favorite on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and even fellow Opry Star Whisperin' Bill Anderson posted this message on his official Facebook page: