Real name: James David Gateley

Effective period / Period of releases: 1963 - 1985

US country singer, guitarist, fiddler, songwriter, born May 1, 1931, Springfield, MO, passed away on March 17, 1985. 1963, he worked on radio and television with Red Foley on Ozark Jubilee and Jubilee USA. In 1963, he started a long association with Bill Anderson, for whom he played fiddle, sang, acted as frontman and was also featured on many of Anderson’s recordings. Became a regular on the Grand Ole Opry with Anderson and also in a double act with Harold Morrison. He made his first solo recordings for Cullman in 1959 but later recorded for several labels, including Starday, Decca Records, Columbia Records, Chart, Sapphire, B.T. and Constoga. His talents as a songwriter led to some of his songs becoming hits when recorded by others. These include ‘Alla My Love’ (a number 5 in 1962 for Webb Pierce) and ‘The Minute You’re Gone’ (a number 9 in 1963 for Sonny James). He co-wrote ‘Bright Lights And Country Music’ with Bill Anderson, whose recording of the song reached number 11 in 1965. He appeared in the films The Road To Nashville and Las Vegas Hillbillies.