Jerry Clower

Jerry Clower

Clower at the Grand Ole Opry in 1974
Birth name Howard Gerald Clower
Born (1926-09-28)September 28, 1926
Liberty, Mississippi
Died August 24, 1998(1998-08-24) (aged 71)
Jackson, Mississippi
Medium Stand-up
television
recordings
Nationality USA
Genres Stand-up
Subject(s) Rural humor, observational humor, character study
Influenced Jeff Foxworthy
Spouse Homerline Wells (1947–1998; his death)

Military career

Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1944-1946
Rank Radioman Third Class (RMN3)
Awards American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bronze Service Star (x2)
World War II Victory Medal

Howard Gerald "Jerry" Clower (September 28, 1926 – August 24, 1998) was a popular country comedian best known for his stories of the rural South and nicknamed "The Mouth of Mississippi".

Life

Clower was born in Liberty, Mississippi, and began a two-year stint in the Navy immediately after graduating from high school in 1944. 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.[1]

He 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.[1]

Career

By 1954, Clower had developed a reputation for telling funny stories to boost his sales. Tapes of Clower's speaking engagements 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 record for sales in excess of $1 million at the retail level.[2]

At first, Clower took orders at his speaking engagements, selling 8000 copies 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 10 months and stayed in the top 20 on the country charts for 30 weeks.[3]

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. His stories often featured the Ledbetters, a quintessential Southern, agrarian clan.[4] Clower said his faith kept him happy and able to make others laugh.[5]

In 1973, Clower became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and continued to perform there regularly until his death. He also co-hosted a radio show called Country Crossroads with Bill Mack and Leroy Van Dyke, which has aired in syndication for 40 years and a television version of the program was produced, as well, starting in 1993. Clower's involvement began in 1973 and lasted well over 20 years. This show was produced and distributed by the Southern Baptist Convention.[6]

Clower was visible as a commercial spokesman. While it was mostly confined to local commercials and those airing in the Southern states, Clower could be seen selling anything from Dodge cars and trucks to transmission repairs and oil service to barbecue and fishing and hunting equipment. In fact, his salesmanship was so strong, he was named Pitchman of the Year for his commercials for flying fishing lures in 1995. An illustration of this type of propeller bait appears on his album released that year.

Clower also taped segments of Nashville On the Road, which included comedic performances and interviews with other country artists featured on the show. Jim Ed Brown hosted the series with Clower during the program's first season, 1975–76, and they were joined by Helen Cornelius in 1976. Their involvement in the series lasted until 1981. The show continued to air with new host, Jim Stafford, through 1983. Clower's last album was Peaches and Possums, released posthumously in October 1998. He was the author of four 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. His other three books include 1978's Let the Hammer Down; 1987's Life Everlaughter, and 1993's Stories From Home.

Death

Clower died in August 1998 following heart bypass surgery. He was 71. He had been married to Homerline (née Wells) Clower since August 1947. He was survived by a son, Ray (1953-2011), three daughters, Amy, Sue, and Katy, and seven grandchildren.[7][8]

Discography

Year Album Chart Positions[9] RIAA[10] Label
US Country US Comedy US
1971 From Yazoo City - Mississippi Talkin' 19 Gold Decca
1972 The Mouth of Mississippi Gold
1973 Clower Power 7 MCA
1974 Country Ham 12
1975 Live in Picayune 8
1976 The Ambassador of Goodwill 40
1977 On the Road
1977 Ain't God Good!! Word Records
1978 Live from the Stage of the Grand Ole Opry! 50 MCA
1979 Greatest Hits 189 Gold
1980 Ledbetter Olympics
1981 More Good 'Uns 43
1982 Dogs I Have Known
1983 Live at Cleburne, Texas
1984 Starke Raving!
1985 An Officer and a Ledbetter
1985 The Best of Jerry Clower
1986 Runaway Truck
1987 Top Gum
1988 Classic Clower
1989 Let There Be Light
1990 The Mouth of the Mighty Mississip'
1991 Racoonteur
1992 Sidewinder
1993 Stories Told Funny
1994 Jerry Joins the Navy
1995 Fish'n, Frogs, Hawgs, and Dawgs
1997 Live at Dollywood
1998 Peaches and Possums {final album}
1999 Great Moments with Jerry Clower
1999 Legendary Clower
1999 More Clower Power
2005 The Jerry Clower Collection Madacy Records
2006 Classic Clower Power 52 3 MCA Nashville
2008 Collectors Edition Box Set Madacy Special Markets

References

  1. 1 2 "The Evening News - Google News Archive Search".
  2. ↑ Profile, kdav.com; accessed August 31, 2014.
  3. ↑ AllMusic profile; accessed August 31, 2014.
  4. ↑ Jerry Clower profile, olemiss.edu; accessed August 31, 2014.
  5. ↑ "The Telegraph - Google News Archive Search".
  6. ↑ Jerry Clower profile, cmt.com; accessed August 31, 2014.
  7. ↑ Jerry Clower profile, findagrave.com; accessed August 31, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Observer-Reporter - Google News Archive Search".
  9. ↑ Jerry Clower awards, allmusic.com; accessed August 31, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American album certifications – Jerry Clower – Jerry Clower". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

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