SIMS RECORDS INC.

HISTORY

 I was born on December 2, 1927 in Laurel County Kentucky, four miles north of London, Kentucky to John D. and Francis Sims.  I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters; the oldest was James Henry, then a sister named Gracie, a brother Mac Pearl, brother Rance, brother G. Ernest, sister Mae, sister Ada and youngest brother Herbert.

          My Dad was a banjo player, oldest brother was also a banjo player.  Rance was a guitar player and a singer and Herbert and I both played banjo, guitar and sang.  We started working for money playing at dances and social gatherings when I was ten and Herbert was seven.

          Herbert, our cousin Billy Barton and I moved to California at a very young age to pursue show business.  I’ve worked as an entertainer, and in movies, a disc jockey, a TV personality, and as an emcee.  We had a lot of success early.  Billy Barton wrote “Dear John letter”, which became a hit in both Pop and Country.  I started managing T. Texas Tyler in 1950 for a couple years.  I worked for Abbott Records and American Music for a year.  I formed Sims Records in 1953.  My first artist I recorded was Ann Jones who moved from Capitol Records to Sims after her first hit “Give me a Hundred Reasons” which was a smash, then a boy named Jimmy Paton with his first record hit, the title “Guilty”.  I also worked with Roy Lanham, and the Whippoorwills, which was Doug Dalton, Red Wooten, Dusty Roads and Muddy Berry.  Jimmy Bryant, Speedy West and my great lifetime friend Doug McGinnis, who was a great rhythm player and singer, also had his own band.  He also worked in the movies as a stunt man and worked in over 100 movies.  I managed and booked Ann Jones and the Western Sweethearts for a while. 

          I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1958.  My brother Herbert went to Phoenix, Arizona and worked as a disc jockey at KTAR.  He was there for 9 years.  He had a show called Herb’s Country Corner.  In 1958 I started recording Bobby Barnett, Billy Parker and Johnny Lee wills (Bob Wills’ brother).  The first record for Bobby Barnett “She Looks Good to the Crowd” written by Joe Poovy went to # 3 on the Country charts.  First record for Billy Parker was “Thanks a lot”  which we had published.  Ernest Tubb recorded it later and it became a #1 hit.  Brenda Lee later recorded it and it became a top ten record for her.  I recorded Eddie Powers’ first hit record “Gypsy Woman”.  The first record we cut with Johnny Lee Wills was with a Western Swing Band and it was called “Blub Twist” and it became a big top 40 hit.  My love for Western Swing music started at a very young age.  When Bob Wills and Tommy Duncan recorded “Rolly Polly” that is when Western Swing had it’s first major recognition.  The years I spent with Abbott was with Jim Reeves, John Horton, The Browns and Billy Barton (De Castro Sister).

          I love bluegrass, country, gospel and rock-n-roll music, but my favorite would be western swing.  I have to give Bob Wills and Tommy Duncan total credit for creating the great sound that so many people have danced to throughout my life.  I want to give thanks to Cindy Walker one of the greatest songwriters I know.  Credit also goes to Leon Rausch and Tommy Allsup for their expertise in helping me create “A Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills”.  Also a special thanks to the musicians: Tommy Allsup, Leon Rausch, Tom Morrell, Rich O’Brien, Randy “Snuffy” Elmore, Bob Boatright, Buddy Spicher, Curley Hollingsworth, Tommy “Dee” Thatcher, Mark Abbot, Dave Alexander, Glen Rothstein, and “Tumbleweed Tex”.

          I have an office at 3216 North Arkansas, Russellville, Arkansas 72801.  In my office there are a few BMI awards, few Gold and Platinum records that I have produced and promoted.  But my greatest accomplishment is one son, John A. Sims and four daughters Elaine, Patricia, Ida and Melody, two granddaughters, Mandy and Harley and three grandsons, Hunter, Ty, and Gunner.  Their pictures are on the wall and their love is very deep in my heart.  I am grateful to the many people who have supported me in my career and those who have worked so hard to help me accomplish what I have accomplished.  Thanks to all of you!  May God Bless you!  Thank you God!!