At the Pavilion, take the grand tour with Jones

On a Sunday morning in 1942, a barefoot 11-year-old boy in bib overalls climbed onto a Pearl Street shoeshine stand in Beaumont, Texas.

From a strap around his neck hung his prize possession — a Gene Autry guitar featuring a picture of a lariat-twirling cowboy riding at full gallop. As soon as he started to sing and strum, a crowd of listeners began to gather.

Tossed coins rolled and bounced at the performer’s feet, until someone donated a cup to catch the change. By the time the impromptu show ended, the take had reached nearly $25.

That was George Jones’ first paying performance. Saturday evening, the man who is considered by many of his peers to be “the greatest living country singer” will be presenting his latest concert at the Charlottesville Pavilion.

Then as now, Jones performs for the sheer joy of sharing his musical gifts with others. These days it’s made all the sweeter because the glow isn’t dulled by whiskey or drugs as it once had been.

Few people have led as tumultuous a life as Jones, or more fully redeemed themselves. From his self-admitted myriad mistakes he has harvested hard-won wisdom.

In 1983, Jones married his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulveda Jones, and with her love and support managed to take the off ramp from his hell-bent road to destruction. In 1996 Jones told the raw story of his boozing and brawling days in his remarkably honest best-selling autobiography, “George Jones: I lived to Tell It All,” co-written with Tom Carter.

In the book, Jones revealed that one of his biggest hurdles on his comeback trail was dealing with stage fright while completely sober. He once ducked out of a sold-out concert, and ended up serenading two elderly women on their front porch.

The women loved it, but stunts like that earned the Hall of Fame singer the moniker “No-Show Jones.” Years ago, when he started to mend his ways, he performed dozens of concerts for free to convince promoters that he could be depended upon to show.

Some time back, Jones was being interviewed on a television show and talked about those blurry days of multi-day benders and missed gigs. He said one of his greatest regrets and sorrows was disappointing all the people who had saved up money to see one of his shows, only to be stood up.

The singer said he has been trying to make it up to his audiences ever since. Such honest, heartfelt admissions have endeared Jones all the more to his fans, and havemade the autumn season of his career something special.

“This part of my career is probably the best,” Jones

recently said via e-mail. “I work only the dates I want to, and keep my schedule as full as I want.

“The fans are absolutely wonderful, and we sell out nearly every show. It is so good to see the fans still coming out to see our show and the reaction we always get.

“I still love what I do, and hope to keep doing it for many more years.”

The great composer Harlan Howard famously said, “Country music is three chords and the truth.”

When Jones walks onto the Pavilion stage, the audience will be in the presence of one of the last bearers of the true flame of the genre.

At some point in the evening he almost certainly will sing his Grammy Award-winning song “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”

Written by R.V. Braddock and C. Putman Jr., it’s widely considered one of the greatest country songs ever penned.

Jones’ heart-touching delivery of the story of undying love ensured its exalted place in country music history.

It stands there with more than 150 other songs he made into hits, such as, “Why Baby Why,” “White Lightning,” “The Race is On,” “She Thinks I Still Care,” and “Walk Through This World With Me.”

Some of Jones’ biggest hits have been duets with other singers, in particular with his third wife, Tammy Wynette.

At Saturday’s concert, Brittany Allen will share the microphone with Jones to sing some of the songs he and the late “First Lady of Country Music” made famous.

One of Jones’ most heart-tugging songs is “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” written by T. Seals and M.D. Barnes. The ballad’s opening lines say the world is full of singers but, “just a few are chosen to tear your heart out when they sing.”

Jones is unquestionably among the chosen few. From the time he turned a shoeshine stand into a stage, he has sung the music of the common man with the door of his heart swung wide open.

“I think the power of real country music is unrivaled by any other genre of music for touching the hearts of people,” Jones said.

“The stories told are true life and what people go through every day.

“From heartache to happiness, the message is relevant to millions of people.”

On Saturday at 7 p.m. George Jones will appear in concert at the Charlottesville Pavilion.

Opening for the country music legend are the singing cousins Wil and Langdon Reid, performing as Grandstaff.

Golden Circle tickets are $50.50, lower reserved $40, upper reserved $34 and $25 general admission.

Tickets are available at both Plan 9 locations, the Charlottesville Visitor Center’s downtown location, online at http://www.charlottesvillepavilion.com and by telephone at (877) CPAV-TIX.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Details

George Jones

and Grandstaff

7 p.m. Saturday

Charlottesville Pavilion

$50.50, $40, $34 and $25

http://www.charlottesvillepavilion.com

(877) CPAV-TIX