The King Is Gone... but definitely not forgotten!! When George Jones passed away in 2013, a flood of tributes came out of Nashville and beyond, though as you can see below, folks have been honoring Ol' Possum for years. Here's a sampling of tribute album and songs devoted to the world's greatest country singer. And if I missed any, feel free to let me know!

George Jones/Various Artists "George Jones And Friends: 50th Anniversary Tribute Concert" (New West Records, 2007)

Barry Burke & Jim Foster "Once More With Feeling" (D Records) (LP)

James Hollie & Laura Hollie "Classic Country: Our Tribute To George Jones And Tammy Wynette" (Blas Records, 2012)
A 3-song EP, including "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "Beer Run," and a duet version of "Golden Ring." Back in the 1960s, James Hollie was a member of George's backing band, The Jones Boys.

Shooter Jennings "Don't Wait Up (For George)" (Black Country Rock, 2014)
Here's one that comes to us from Waylon's boy, Shooter. This five-song EP has original material such as the title track, "Don't Wait Up (I'm Playin' Possum)" along with covers of classics from the Jones catalog. Now, I'm all in favor of honoring ol' George, but I'm still just not feeling it with Shooter. I mean, how could anyone possibly get a song like "She Thinks I Still Care" so very, very wrong, or give such a blaring, bland rock arrangement to a tune like "The Door"? I know he's doing well and has lots of devoted fans, but I just don't find Shooter to have the gravitas to pull off the whole honkytonk rebel/outlaw icon thing. Maybe it's a generational difference... but maybe not. See for yourself.

The Jones Boys "Country & Western Song Book: Instrumental Selections Of George Jones' Greatest Hits" (Musicor Records, 1964) (LP)
(Produced by Pappy Daily)
Jeez: how's that for an album title?? Quite a mouthful. Nonetheless, this is a fine example of a band album, with whoever was in George Jones's backing band at the time giving the boss man a break and working their way through a dozen instrumental versions of his past and current hits, circa 1964, including tracks such as "White Lightning," "Window Up Above," Melba Montgomery's "We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds" and "The Race Is On," as well as a few odd, less lauded selections, such as "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms" and "Dixieland For Me." Unfortunately the liner notes don't tell us who was in the band at the time (and indeed, this could have just be a bunch of studio pros and not his touring group...) though Discogs mentions a fellow named Sonny Curtis as the steel player, though it's not clear if this is the same fella as the songwriter of the same name.

The Jones Boys "New Country Hits" (Musicor Records, 1965) (LP)
(Produced by Pappy Daily)
The backing band for the world's greatest country singer, The Jones Boys went through steady changes in lineup, as did many Nashville road bands. And their albums, as with others of their kind, often did not list the individual band members, so it's not always clear who played on which albums, or if they were sometimes augmented by other musicians in the studio setting. Greenfield, Ohio's Don Adams anchored the band for several years in the mid-'Sixties, and The Jones Boys also included future solo star Johnny Paycheck -- indeed, when his own career took off later in the decade, Paycheck poached Adams and other members of the group when forming his own road band. A lot of cover tunes, of course, but some newer stuff as well, including three songs written by Wayne Kemp who played guitar in the band for a while... The other members are not listed, though Johnny Paycheck is clearly pictured on the back.

The Jones Boys "My Boys" (Musicor Records, 1970) (LP)
One more contractual obligation out of the way! While the Jones Boys produced a few stars back in the 'Sixties, a few less well-known fellas were in the lineup circa 1970. Newcomers Charlie Carter and James Hollie alternate on the lead vocals, with the boss man, George Jones, singing on two tracks, "Burn The Honky Tonk Down" and "I Cried Myself Awake." In addition to getting credited on the album, both Carter and Hollie also had 7" singles released on Musicor, of tracks broken off from this album. Alas, the other band members remain anonymous.

(George Jones &) The Jones Boys "Live At Dancetown USA" (Ace Records, 1985) (LP)
Live performances from 1965. Most of the tracks feature George Jones on vocals, though Don Adams and the Jones Boys are credited on several tracks.

(George Jones &) The Jones Boys "Live In Texas: 1965" (Ace Records, 2018) (CD)
This is an expanded edition of the Dancetown USA album above...

The Mick Lloyd Connection "George Jones Tribute EP" (Pie Piper Records, 2012)
A 3-song EP, including "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "Beer Run," and a duet version of "Golden Ring."

Ron McCranie & The Three Gents "A Salute To George Jones" (Western News Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Ray Sweeney & Roy Ward)
This album was sponsored by a country music fanzine/newspaper based in Vacaville, California called Western News. They heard about singer Ron McCranie from Capitol Records star Stoney Edwards, whose manager, Ray Sweeney produced this album. The set list is all cover songs -- "The Race Is On," "White Lightning," "Window Up Above," et. al. -- along with one original, "That Jones Boy From Texas," written by McCranie. The backing band was a little wild and galloping, though McCranie is a pleasantly robust singer, capable and resonant and pretty good at imitating Jones' intonation and style. There are a few rough edges in his phrasing, but I think the producers of this album were right: he really could have made it, if given the right breaks. A nice record!

Johnny Paycheck "Tribute To George Jones" (K-Tel Records, 1996)
Another alumnus of The Jones Boys... though Johnny Paycheck actually poached several members of the band when he set out on a solo career! I'm sure all was forgiven and forgotten eventually.

Don Rich "...Sings George Jones" (Omnivore Records, 2013)
A true master of twang, the late Don Rich helped define the "Bakersfield Sound," working as Buck Owens' guitarist throughout the 1960s, and as the leader of the Hee Haw house band in the late '60s and early '70s. Rich was the consummate sideman, but other than several mainly-instrumental albums with the Buckaroos, he never emerged as a solo star. Rich died tragically young in a 1974 motorcycle accident, although he did record one solo album, a George Jones tribute recorded in 1970, though sadly shelved by the label and left in the vaults until now. Finally, four decades later, twangfans and Buckaholics can hear this robust, rootsy outing, where Rich blasts his way through a dozen bouncy old classics from the early Jones canon. As a singer, Rich isn't really on par with Owens, but he's got the same down-home charm and the music will have a familiar irresistible appeal. Good-natured, melodic honky-tonk with a few rough edges -- apparently just enough to scare off the record execs in the countrypolitan era, but definitely the right amount for the hard-country true believers of today. Highly recommended!

Hal Sherfey "Wild Irish Rose: Reverences Of George Jones" (Pie Piper Records, 2003)

Amelia Ann "Millie" Short "Out On A Limb: A Tribute To George Jones" (Jewel Records, 2004)

Leona Williams "By George This Is... A Tribute To George Jones" (Ah-Ha! Records, 2012)