“Top” Ten Music Aviation Tragedies: Jim Reeves (#1)

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Yesterday was spent with friends, and I was dog tired when I got into the room. I’ll catch you up, fear not. As for right now, we’ll close the book on looking at the musicians who met an untimely end in an aviation accident. One more big shout-out to @JudyEv who suggested this topic. Not “fun,” but it’s good to remember these talents. As for the top spot…anyone who didn’t see this one coming just doesn’t know me. #1: Jim Reeves The reason I don’t have any photos of the crash site to share is there’s really nothing to see. (Plus, it’s on private property.) Just woods and brush, much like it was the day Gentleman Jim’s life ended. Let’s go back to August 2, 1964. We were at Mammoth Cave, taking a tour of the cave. When we got back to the car, little me was waiting impatiently as the tube warmed up so the radio would start playing. (You could see the glow of the tube through the speaker grate in the middle of the dash. You kids today just don’t know. ) Once the tube warmed up we heard the news from WSM in Nashville that they had found the wreckage of the plane. Now, for a second, let’s to back to 1963. As I mentioned, the NTSB listed pilot error as the cause of the Cline/Copas/Hawkins crash: a simple case of a pilot not experienced enough or legally cleared to fly with instruments in bad weather. When Reeves heard the report, he was brutally critical, saying, “I’d never do something like that.” Okay, let’s be fair. Jim (another singer with a pilot’s license) did not take off from Arkansas, where he’d been to look at some property to purchase, against advice. The storm he flew into was one of those typical late July “popcorn” storms. However, Reeves was told to make a right turn over Franklin, Tennessee to avoid the storm. He decided to turn left, instead, to follow Franklin Road (an easy landmark) toward the airport. The official findings is that the plane stalled and Reeves reacted the wrong way, putting the plane in full power. His last word, according to numerous historical accounts, was “Nega..” He didn’t get tive out (“negative”) before the plane crashed. The crash happened along Franklin Road, in a still-wooded area. Marty Robbins was outside in the storm, collecting rain water to wash his hair (he’d heard rain water was good for the hair [obviously back before the days of “acid rain”]) and he heard the crash. He went back in the house and told his wife, “Somebody’s just been killed out there.” That was on a Friday. Sunday afternoon they found the wreckage. Reeves’ manager and piano player, Dean Manuel, had gone to Arkansas with Reeves (because Dean was from Arkansas…and partly because Jim was an impulse buyer, so he was probably trying to keep Reeves from buying the state), was the other victim of the crash. Cause of crash: pilot error, just like with Randy Hughes’ fatal mistake with Patsy, Cope, and Hawk. This July will make 60 years. I’ve gotten older, but Jim Reeves is still my favorite singer. That’ll never change. Thanks for reading. Jim Reeves Born James Travis Reeves August 20, 1923 - July 31, 1964 (age 40) Dean Manuel January 1, 1934 - July 31, 1964 (age 30) Place of crash: Franklin Road, Brentwood, Tennessee After the “Nashville sound” took off, Jim wasn’t allowed to do much straight-up country music. Here’s one he did sneak out (and Linda? NO!!!):