Jimmy Lee Fautheree (April 11, 1934 - June 29, 2004) was an American rockabilly and country singer. Born in Smackover, Arkansas, he began playing guitar at age 12, and was heavily influenced by

Merle Travis Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Rosewood, Kentucky, United States. His songs' lyrics often discussed both the lives and the economic expl ...

. In 1946 his family moved to Dallas, where he played on KRLD's '' Big D Jamboree''. By 1951 he was playing on the '' Louisiana Hayride''; that year he signed to

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

and released his first single, "I Keep the Blues All the Time", as Jimmy Lee. Capitol released seven further singles from Fautheree before dropping him in 1952. Despite never charting, the recordings have been cited as influential on later rockabilly artists, including James Burton. Fautheree subsequently found work as a

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

for musicians such as Faron Young and Webb Pierce. Along with

"Country" Johnny Mathis "Country" Johnny Mathis (September 28, 1930 – September 27, 2011) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He was a successful solo performer and one half of the duo Jimmy & Johnny. Mathis is credited with penning more than ...

, he performed on ''Louisiana Hayride'' as Jimmy & Johnny, and released a charting single under the "Jimmy Lee & Johnny Mathis" moniker on

Chess Records Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll ...

, 1954's "If You Don't, Somebody Else Will". Fautheree left Mathis to work with Wayne Walker, a partnership that lasted only four months but yielded a few recordings. Following this he began recording with his brother Lynn, again under the name Jimmy & Johnny; they signed to

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

, but by 1957 the pair had moved back to Dallas. Fautheree went back to solo recording, recording in New Orleans in 1958 at J&M Studio. He recorded briefly with Mathis again between 1958 and 1959. Some self-released material and a single on Paula Records brought him into 1960, and throughout the next decade Fautheree worked increasingly in the genre of

gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...

. By the 1970s Fautheree had left the business, working in

asbestos Asbestos () is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere b ...

removal. In 1995, he returned to music with Mathis, recording a new single, "It Won't Be Much Longer", together. He played both in the U.S. and abroad in the 2000s, and released a full-length album with

Deke Dickerson Deke Dickerson (born 3 June 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and film composer. Dickerson was born in St. Louis, Missouri. After playing in several local rockabilly bands, Deke formed The Untamed Youth at age 17 in his hometow ...

entitled ''I Found the Doorknob''. Shortly after the album was complete he died of cancer in Dallas on June 29, 2004. His mother's name was Lodema Hammonds, the daughter of Mack Hammonds of Maud, Texas, who was a descendant of Phillip Hamman, the Savior of the Greenbrier.

Discography

References

Jimmy Lee Fautheree Jimmy Lee Fautheree (April 11, 1934 - June 29, 2004) was an American rockabilly and country singer. Born in Smackover, Arkansas, he began playing guitar at age 12, and was heavily influenced by Merle Travis. In 1946 his family moved to Dallas, ...

at Allmusic {{DEFAULTSORT:Fautheree, Jimmy Lee 1934 births 2004 deaths American country singer-songwriters American rockabilly musicians Singer-songwriters from Arkansas American session musicians People from Smackover, Arkansas 20th-century American singers Country musicians from Arkansas