Jimmy Dean dead at 81 -- my vote for best memoir title
Jimmy Dean, who died Sunday, will be known best for his country music hits (who can forget the haunting words "Big John, Big Bad John") and his meat products.
I'd also nominate his memoir for best subtitle: "Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham." It could be my own memoir. The book recounts Dean's rise in the worlds of music and business, with the down-home humor that he displayed on TV and stage appearances.
A Maryland note: Dean's 1960s-era TV show prominently featured Rowlf the Dog, the first Muppet to reach national stardom. Rowlf (who also starred in commercials for Baltimore-based Esskay meats) was designed by UMd. grad Jim Henson. We all know where Henson and the Muppets went from there.
p.s. I love the computer-generated ads on Google. When you search for Dean's memoir, you get this offer: Buy 30 years of sausage at Amazon! Qualified orders over $25 ship free.
Comments
After the 1948 shock of the Air Force, he and a band, Texas Wildcats, who played in the DC area. This year, made the Country Music Hall of Fame. We played every dive in Washington http://usspost.com/jimmy-dean-11133/
Posted by: susan | June 14, 2010 4:57 PM
Jimmy Dean, was a great American, God
only gives his special talent to special people, like Jimmy
Posted by: Dennis Davis | June 14, 2010 5:08 PM
I like the Jimmy Dean commercials. That's all that I ever knew about him before he died. What a history of hard work and accomplishments.
Posted by: NotableM | June 14, 2010 5:13 PM
He could sing and he gave the world tasty breakfast meats ... that's talent! And he introduced Rowlf the piano playing muppet dog to the world. Sainthood, perhaps?
Posted by: tehheh | June 14, 2010 6:46 PM