From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Tue Aug 27, 2002  1:34 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Jimmy C. Newman
 
JIMMY C. NEWMAN

Born Jimmy Yves Newman, 27 August 1927, Big Mamou, Louisiana

The 'C' stands for Cajun, and though much of Jimmy C. Newman's
early country material has little swamp stylings, he developed a fusion
on several 1960s albums that established him as a forerunner in Cajun-
country music. As a child, Newman listened more to Gene Autry than
the Cajun music of the area, but still included several Cajun songs in
his repertoire with Chuck Guillory's Rhythm Boys, which he joined while
still a teenager. Newman recorded several unsuccessful sides in the
late '40s for J.D. Miller's Feature label, but Miller later convinced
Nashville legend Fred Rose to give the budding singer a shot. After
recording four songs in 1953, Newman signed to Dot Records and
scored a hit the following year, when "Cry, Cry, Darling" reached # 4
in the Country charts. His next four hits also made the Top Ten and
this chart success prompted the Louisiana Hayride to hire Newman
as a regular performer. He then moved up to the Grand Ole Opry in 1956
and released "A Fallen Star" the following year. The single, his biggest hit,
spent two weeks at # 2 and also went to # 23 on the pop charts. Shortly
before the expiration of his Dot contract, Newman recorded a great rocker,
"Carry On" (originally recorded by Clarence Garlow), in Nashville with that
city's stellar session crew, featuring Floyd Cramer at his wildest, almost
Jerry Lee style.
Jimmy moved to MGM in 1958 and to Decca in 1961, still charting frequently.
Now that he was an established artist, Newman began to integrate Cajun
influences in such hit singles as "Alligator Man" and "Bayou Talk." His
1963 album Folk Songs of the Bayou Country was a milestone in the
popularization of Cajun music, and included great work by accordionist
Shorty LeBlanc and Newman regular Rufus Thibodeaux on fiddle.
His last chart entry was 1970's "I'm Holding Your Memory (But He's Holding
You)." Following his commercial decline, Newman moved back to Cajun music,
recording Cajun albums for the La Louisianne, Swallow and Rounder labels.
His performances continue to excite many in Europe as well as America, and
his Grand Ole Opry slot also keeps him busy.

Recommended listening:
Lache Pas La Patate (Ace 501, 30 tracks). The title track (from 1974) is
irresistible and was a big hit in French-speaking Canada.
The Cajun Country Music Of A Louisiana Man (Edsel, released in 2001).
The 2 CD-set "Bop A Hula" (Bear Family BCD 15469), with the complete
Dot recordings (1953-1958), is now deleted.
"Carry On" is available on That'll Flat Git It # 5 (Bear Family 15711) and
Dot Rock 'n' Roll (Ace 592).