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Howard Gerald "Jerry" Clower (b. September 28, 1926, Liberty, Mississippi - d. August 24, 1998) was a popular country comedian best known for his stories of the rural South.Clower began a 2-year stint in the Navy immediately after graduating high school. Upon his discharge, in 1946, he was a Radioman Third Class (RMN3) and had earned the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with two bronze service stars), and the World War II Victory Medal. He then studied agriculture at Mississippi State University, where he played college football and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. After finishing school, in 1951, Clower worked as a county agent and later as a seed salesman. He became a fertilizer salesman for Mississippi Chemical in 1954. By this time, he had developed a reputation for telling funny stories to boost his sales.It was while speaking to the Alabama Dairy Convention in Point Clear, Alabama in 1970 that an attendee enthusiastically told Clower he might have a future in comedy. Thinking there might be some potential in that area, Clower taped his next few speaking engagements. "The Coon Hunt" that would launch his career was first taped in Corpus Christi at the Texas Farmer's Cooperative Convention. Eventually, Clower's tapes wound up in the hands of Edwin "Big Ed" Wilkes and Bud Andrews in Lubbock, Texas, who had him make a better quality recording which they promoted. MCA Records later awarded "The Coon Hunt" a platinum album for sales in excess of $1 million at the retail level.At first, Clower was just taking orders at his speaking engagements. He sold 8000 copies this way on the Lemon record label. In time, Wilkes sent a copy to Grant Turner at WSM radio in Nashville, and when Turner played it on the air, Clower said "that thing busted loose". MCA was soon knocking on Clower's door offering him a contract. Once MCA began distribution in 1971, Jerry Clower from Yazoo City, Mississippi Talkin' retailed more than a million dollars over ten months and stayed in the Top 20 on the country charts for 30 weeks.Clower was 45 when MCA came calling and he began his professional career as a comedian. He often said, "I backed into show business." Many of his comedic stories revolved around the non-fictional Ledbetter family, especially his "best friend" Marcel Ledbetter who currently lives in the area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. These stories are true but embellished for story telling. Marcel and Jerry were best friends throughout Jerry's life. Those stories are considered to be informal chronicles of early 20th century rural Southern life and according to Clower, were usually based on actual events.Clower made 27 full length recordings in his 27 year career as a professional entertainer (not counting "best of" compilations). With one exception, all the recordings were released by MCA. The exception was Ain't God Good which Clower recorded with MCA's blessing at a worship service. Word Records promoted and distributed this title in 1977. Always a staunch Christian, this recording gave Clower an opportunity to present his personal testimony in a comfortable church setting. The title of the recording was taken from a book Clower had written two years earlier.In 1973, Clower became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and remained with that organization until his death. He also co-hosted a radio show called Country Crossroads with Bill Mack and Leroy Van Dyke for a number of years. This show was produced and distributed by the Southern Baptist Convention. Clower's last album was Peaches and Possums, released posthumously in October 1998.He was the author of 4 books. The book Ain't God Good became the basis for an inspirational documentary film of the same title that won an award from the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.Clower died following heart bypass surgery, aged 71. He had been married to Homerline Wells Clower since August 1947. He is also survived by a son, Ray, three daughters, Amy, Sue, and Katy, and seven grandchildren.
Author: StuffOtherThanMusic
Keywords: Jerry Clower Comedian MCA Records Comedy Yazoo City Liberty Mississippi Country Rural South Southern Baptist
Added: August 29, 2008
Howard Gerald "Jerry" Clower (b. September 28, 1926, Liberty, Mississippi - d. August 24, 1998) was a popular country comedian best known for his stories of the rural South.Clower began a 2-year stint in the Navy immediately after graduating high school. Upon his discharge, in 1946, he was a Radioman Third Class (RMN3) and had earned the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with two bronze service stars), and the World War II Victory Medal. He then studied agriculture at Mississippi State University, where he played college football and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. After finishing school, in 1951, Clower worked as a county agent and later as a seed salesman. He became a fertilizer salesman for Mississippi Chemical in 1954. By this time, he had developed a reputation for telling funny stories to boost his sales.It was while speaking to the Alabama Dairy Convention in Point Clear, Alabama in 1970 that an attendee enthusiastically told Clower he might have a future in comedy. Thinking there might be some potential in that area, Clower taped his next few speaking engagements. "The Coon Hunt" that would launch his career was first taped in Corpus Christi at the Texas Farmer's Cooperative Convention. Eventually, Clower's tapes wound up in the hands of Edwin "Big Ed" Wilkes and Bud Andrews in Lubbock, Texas, who had him make a better quality recording which they promoted. MCA Records later awarded "The Coon Hunt" a platinum album for sales in excess of $1 million at the retail level.At first, Clower was just taking orders at his speaking engagements. He sold 8000 copies this way on the Lemon record label. In time, Wilkes sent a copy to Grant Turner at WSM radio in Nashville, and when Turner played it on the air, Clower said "that thing busted loose". MCA was soon knocking on Clower's door offering him a contract. Once MCA began distribution in 1971, Jerry Clower from Yazoo City, Mississippi Talkin' retailed more than a million dollars over ten months and stayed in the Top 20 on the country charts for 30 weeks.Clower was 45 when MCA came calling and he began his professional career as a comedian. He often said, "I backed into show business." Many of his comedic stories revolved around the non-fictional Ledbetter family, especially his "best friend" Marcel Ledbetter who currently lives in the area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. These stories are true but embellished for story telling. Marcel and Jerry were best friends throughout Jerry's life. Those stories are considered to be informal chronicles of early 20th century rural Southern life and according to Clower, were usually based on actual events.Clower made 27 full length recordings in his 27 year career as a professional entertainer (not counting "best of" compilations). With one exception, all the recordings were released by MCA. The exception was Ain't God Good which Clower recorded with MCA's blessing at a worship service. Word Records promoted and distributed this title in 1977. Always a staunch Christian, this recording gave Clower an opportunity to present his personal testimony in a comfortable church setting. The title of the recording was taken from a book Clower had written two years earlier.In 1973, Clower became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and remained with that organization until his death. He also co-hosted a radio show called Country Crossroads with Bill Mack and Leroy Van Dyke for a number of years. This show was produced and distributed by the Southern Baptist Convention. Clower's last album was Peaches and Possums, released posthumously in October 1998.He was the author of 4 books. The book Ain't God Good became the basis for an inspirational documentary film of the same title that won an award from the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.Clower died following heart bypass surgery, aged 71. He had been married to Homerline Wells Clower since August 1947. He is also survived by a son, Ray, three daughters, Amy, Sue, and Katy, and seven grandchildren.
Author: StuffOtherThanMusic
Keywords: Jerry Clower Comedian MCA Records Comedy Yazoo City Liberty Mississippi Country Rural South Southern Baptist
Added: August 29, 2008
Howard Gerald "Jerry" Clower (b. September 28, 1926, Liberty, Mississippi - d. August 24, 1998) was a popular country comedian best known for his stories of the rural South.Clower began a 2-year stint in the Navy immediately after graduating high school. Upon his discharge, in 1946, he was a Radioman Third Class (RMN3) and had earned the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with two bronze service stars), and the World War II Victory Medal. He then studied agriculture at Mississippi State University, where he played college football and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. After finishing school, in 1951, Clower worked as a county agent and later as a seed salesman. He became a fertilizer salesman for Mississippi Chemical in 1954. By this time, he had developed a reputation for telling funny stories to boost his sales.It was while speaking to the Alabama Dairy Convention in Point Clear, Alabama in 1970 that an attendee enthusiastically told Clower he might have a future in comedy. Thinking there might be some potential in that area, Clower taped his next few speaking engagements. "The Coon Hunt" that would launch his career was first taped in Corpus Christi at the Texas Farmer's Cooperative Convention. Eventually, Clower's tapes wound up in the hands of Edwin "Big Ed" Wilkes and Bud Andrews in Lubbock, Texas, who had him make a better quality recording which they promoted. MCA Records later awarded "The Coon Hunt" a platinum album for sales in excess of $1 million at the retail level.At first, Clower was just taking orders at his speaking engagements. He sold 8000 copies this way on the Lemon record label. In time, Wilkes sent a copy to Grant Turner at WSM radio in Nashville, and when Turner played it on the air, Clower said "that thing busted loose". MCA was soon knocking on Clower's door offering him a contract. Once MCA began distribution in 1971, Jerry Clower from Yazoo City, Mississippi Talkin' retailed more than a million dollars over ten months and stayed in the Top 20 on the country charts for 30 weeks.Clower was 45 when MCA came calling and he began his professional career as a comedian. He often said, "I backed into show business." Many of his comedic stories revolved around the non-fictional Ledbetter family, especially his "best friend" Marcel Ledbetter who currently lives in the area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. These stories are true but embellished for story telling. Marcel and Jerry were best friends throughout Jerry's life. Those stories are considered to be informal chronicles of early 20th century rural Southern life and according to Clower, were usually based on actual events.Clower made 27 full length recordings in his 27 year career as a professional entertainer (not counting "best of" compilations). With one exception, all the recordings were released by MCA. The exception was Ain't God Good which Clower recorded with MCA's blessing at a worship service. Word Records promoted and distributed this title in 1977. Always a staunch Christian, this recording gave Clower an opportunity to present his personal testimony in a comfortable church setting. The title of the recording was taken from a book Clower had written two years earlier.In 1973, Clower became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and remained with that organization until his death. He also co-hosted a radio show called Country Crossroads with Bill Mack and Leroy Van Dyke for a number of years. This show was produced and distributed by the Southern Baptist Convention. Clower's last album was Peaches and Possums, released posthumously in October 1998.He was the author of 4 books. The book Ain't God Good became the basis for an inspirational documentary film of the same title that won an award from the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.Clower died following heart bypass surgery, aged 71. He had been married to Homerline Wells Clower since August 1947. He is also survived by a son, Ray, three daughters, Amy, Sue, and Katy, and seven grandchildren.
Author: StuffOtherThanMusic
Keywords: Jerry Clower Comedian MCA Records Comedy Yazoo City Liberty Mississippi Country Rural South Southern Baptist
Added: August 29, 2008
this is part2 of our performance from Arts Alive.songs used "Church" by Tpain and "Killa" by Cherish.
Author: stnick79
Keywords: dance dancing hip hop hiphop show artsalive arts mobile alabama breakdance jazz poppin routine
Added: August 29, 2008
this is part2 of our performance from Arts Alive.songs used "Church" by Tpain and "Killa" by Cherish.
Author: stnick79
Keywords: dance dancing hip hop hiphop show artsalive arts mobile alabama breakdance jazz poppin routine
Added: August 29, 2008
this is part2 of our performance from Arts Alive.songs used "Church" by Tpain and "Killa" by Cherish.
Author: stnick79
Keywords: dance dancing hip hop hiphop show artsalive arts mobile alabama breakdance jazz poppin routine
Added: August 29, 2008
this is part2 of our performance from Arts Alive.songs used "Church" by Tpain and "Killa" by Cherish.
Author: stnick79
Keywords: dance dancing hip hop hiphop show artsalive arts mobile alabama breakdance jazz poppin routine
Added: August 29, 2008
Flickr (photos about Alabama)
![[Electric phosphate smelting furnace used in the making of elemental phosphorus in a TVA chemical plant in the Muscle Shoals area, Alabama] (LOC)](http://static.flickr.com/2282/2179139231_3739906901_s.jpg "[Electric phosphate smelting furnace used in the making of elemental phosphorus in a TVA chemical plant in the Muscle Shoals area, Alabama] (LOC)")
Digg (news relevants about Alabama)
The BRAD BLOG chats with the Free-on-Bail Former Alabama Governor at the Democratic Convention in Denver...
http://digg.com/political_opinion/Exclusive_Video_Interview_Gov_Don_Siegelman
Mixed Martial Arts Event in Daphne, Alabama
http://digg.com/other_sports/Ultimate_Event_Promotions
Alabama wants to tack on 25
http://digg.com/educational/A_fat_tax_What_s_next
Dave Perry of Old School Restorations of North Alabama had a mystery on his hands. A friend of his had bought this funky Opel (a 1959 Opel Rekord P1 Caravan) from the Talladega Speedway museum thinking it was some sort of Bonneville land-speed race car, but had no interest in it, so Dave picked it up.
http://digg.com/autos/Big_Oil_conspiracy_376_mpg_1959_Opel_uncovered
Former basketball star Charles Barkley has found a new career goal. He wants to be the Governor of Alabama.
http://digg.com/people/Sir_Governor_Barkley
Mr. Gibbs, an Alabama native whom Sen. Obama dubs his “one-person Southern focus group,” is part of the close-knit team on the campaign trail with chief strategist David Axelrod, national trip director Marvin Nicholson and “body man” Reggie Love.
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Meet_Obama_s_Media_Enforcer
Central Alabama Pride Inc. filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, contending he discriminated against the group when he refused to allow city workers to hang Gay Pride Week banners.
http://digg.com/people/AL_Mayor_Discriminates_Against_Gays_Says_Sue_God_Not_Me
You can look at leaves from Alaska to Alabama starting in August. That makes now a perfect time to stock up on Queensboro’s embroidered fleeces, jackets and twills so that you look sharp and stay toasty while you go leaf peeping.
http://digg.com/business_finance/Fall_Foliage_Season_is_Longer_than_You_Think_Reports_CNN
Big Jay of Platinum Plays gives his unique handicapping-based preview of this college football game that goes on August 30, 2008.
http://digg.com/football/Preview_Alabama_vs_Clemson_August_30_2008