James Cecil Dickens
1920 – 2015
James Cecil Dickens, better known as Little Jimmy Dickens, was an American country music singer famous for
his humorous novelty songs, his small size, 4'11", and his rhinestone-studded outfits. He started as a member of the
Grand Ole Opry in 1948 and became a member of the Country Music Hall of Famein 1983.
He was born December 19, 1920 in Bolt, West Virginia, Dickens began his musical career in the late 1930's, performing on a
local radio station while attending West Virginia University. He soon quit school to pursue a full-time music career, and
traveled the country performing on various local radio stations under the name "Jimmy the Kid." In 1948, Dickens was heard
performing on WKNX, a radio station in Saginaw, Michigan by Roy Acuff (also a Freemason), who introduced him to Art Satherly
at Columbia Records and officials from the Grand Ole Opry. Dickens signed with Columbia in September and joined the Opry in
August. Around this time he began using the nickname, Little Jimmy Dickens, inspired by his short stature. Dickens recorded
many novelty songs for Columbia, including "Country Boy",
James Cecil Dickens
1920 – 2015
"A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed" and
"I'm Little But I'm Loud."
His song "Take an Old Cold Tater (And Wait)" inspired Hank Williams to nickname him "Tater". Later,
telling Jimmy he needed a hit, Williams penned "Hey Good Lookin'" specifically for Dickens in only 20 minutes while on a
Grand Ole Opry tour bus. A week later Williams cut the song himself, jokingly telling him, "That song's too
good for you!"
In 1950 Dickens formed the Country Boys with musicians Jabbo Arrington, Grady Martin, Bob Moore
and Thumbs Carllile and. It was during this time that he discovered future Hall of Famer Marty Robbins at a Phoenix,
Arizona television station while on tour with Grand Ole Opry road show. In 1957 Dickens left the Grand Ole Opry to tour
with the Philip Morris Country Music Show.
In 1964 Dickens became the first country artist to circle the globe while on tour, and also made numerous TV appearances
including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In 1965 he released his biggest hit, "May the Bird of Paradise
Fly Up Your Nose," reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 15 on the pop chart.In 1962 Dickens scored his first
top‐10 country hit since 1954 with "The Violet and the Rose". In the late 1960s Dickens left Columbia
for Decca Records, before moving again to United Artists in 1971. That same year he married his wife, Mona, and in
1975 he returned to the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1983 Dickens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dickens
joined producers Randall Franks and Alan Autry for the In the Heat of the Night cast CD "Christmas Time's A
Comin'" performing "Jingle Bells" with the cast on the CD released on Sonlite and MGM/UA
for one of the most popular Christmas releases of 1991 and 1992 with Southern retailers.
Recently Dickens made appearances in a number of music videos by fellow country musician and West Virginia
native Brad Paisley (also a Freemason). He has also been featured on several of Paisley's albums in bonus comedy tracks
along with other Opry mainstays such as George Jones and Bill Anderson. They are collectively referred to as the
Kung-Pao Buckaroos. With the death of Hank Locklin in March 2009, Dickens became the oldest living member of the
Grand Ole Opry at the age of 90. He made regular appearances as a host at the Opry, often with the self-deprecating
joke that he is also known as "Willie Nelson after taxes." At the 2011 CMA Awards, Jimmy was dressed up as
Justin Bieber, and made fun of Bieber's recent paternity scandal.
Dickens was hospitalized after a stroke on December 25, 2014. He died of cardiac arrest on Friday,
January 2, 2015, at the age of 94.
Brother Little Jimmy Dickens belongs to Hiram Lodge #4, Franklin, Tennessee and
in fact he signed Brother Brad Paisley's petition and sponsored him into his Lodge!
