Biography

Country performer. Born October 20, 1913. Died February 19, 1998. Real name: Louis Marshall Jones. Performer, banjoist, and comedian. Career active 1930s-1990s. During early career worked with Bradley Kincaid who gave him the “Grandpa” nickname. Recorded for the King, RCA, and Decca record labels. Regular cast member of the popular Hee Haw television show. Grand Ole Opry performer for over fifty years. Member, Country Music Hall of Fame®.

Interview Summary

1975 March 10
(1 hour, 35 minutes)
Country entertainer Grandpa Jones talks about the start and early years of his career. Discussion includes childhood and early musical influences; his early performing experience, including his billing as “The Young Singer of Old Songs”; his experiences as a traveling performer during the late 1930s; working with Bradley Kincaid; development of the Grandpa character; his career as a radio performer; comments on the popularity of country music; memories from the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree, a barn dance radio show; his association with Cousin Emmy; recording for King Records, including his work with the Brown’s Ferry Four; memories of performers he worked with, including Merle Travis, and Curly Fox & Texas Ruby; his career after World War II; comments on the Grand Ole Opry; and comments on the popularity of his music and its different audiences.