James Buford Abner (November 10, 1917 – November 19, 2011) was an American songwriter, musician and singer who worked during the early days of

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

, working in both secular and gospel country music genres. With his brother Merle Abner, his uncle Stacy Abner, George Hughes and Billy Carrier, he was a member of the Swanee River Boys. He was inducted into the

Southern Gospel Music Association The Southern Gospel Music Association (''SGMA'') is a non-profit corporation formed as an association of southern gospel music singers, songwriters, fans, and industry workers. Membership is acquired and maintained through payment of annual dues. T ...

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...

in 2002 and the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame as a member of the Swanee River Boys. His song "Long White Lines" has been covered numerous times, including versions by

Aaron Tippin Aaron Dupree Tippin (born July 3, 1958) is an American country music singer, songwriter and record producer. Initially a songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music, he gained a recording contract with RCA Nashville in 1990. His debut single, "You've Got to ...

and

Sturgill Simpson John Sturgill Simpson (born June 8, 1978) is an American country music singer-songwriter and actor. As of February 2022, he has released seven albums as a solo artist. His first two albums, '' High Top Mountain'' and '' Metamodern Sounds in Cou ...

Background

He was raised in Lineville, Alabama as the child of sharecroppers. At the age of 15 he became part of the Pepperel Manufacturing Company Quartet in Columbus, Georgia until he joined the Vaughn Four on WNOX radio in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Family

In 1941, Abner married Dorothy Jean Dalton and they had a daughter, Pamela in 1943.

References

American country songwriters American country singers Southern gospel performers {{US-songwriter-stub