Little Jimmy Dickens AutographLittle Jimmy Dickens left the University of West Virginia in the late 1930s to sing on radio shows throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. He called himself "Jimmy the Kid." After hearing Dickens sing on a Saginaw, Michigan, radio show, Roy Acuff befriended him. When he came back through Saginaw in 1947, Acuff offered him the opening spot on his show. Acuff then brought Dickens to Nashville to be a guest on the Red Foley Show. It was around this time that Dickens began billing himself as "Little Jimmy Dickens."Dickens returned to Michigan, but didn't stay long. He decided he liked Nashville well enough to make it his home. After numerous well received performances at the Grand Ole Opry, he became a member in 1948. Dickens signed to Columbia Records in 1949. His first single for the company,"Take an Old Cold Tater (and Wait)" was the first of many humorous, novelty songs. Some of his more catchy titles were "I'm Little but I'm Loud," "A-sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed," and "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose." In 1965, the latter went all the way to number one on the country charts and number fifteen on the pop charts. Though many fans preferred the novelty songs, songs like "Life Made Her That Way" and "A Violet and a Rose" were proof that Dickens was among the best ballad singers in country music. Though he wasn't a prolific songwriter, "Sea of Broken Dreams" and "I Sure Would Like to Sit a Spell With You" were heartfelt ballads that he wrote himself. In the 1950s and 1960s, Dickens and his band the Country Boys played as many as four shows a day throughout the United States. In the early part of that time frame, he was appearing regularly at the Grand Ole Opry. In 1957, he left the Opry to tour with the Philip Morris Country Music Show. In 1964, Dickens became the first country artist to perform on an "around-the-world" tour. In a time when most families were watching the same programs, numerous network TV appearances made him well known among those who didn't often listen to country music.  In 1975, Dickens returned to the Grand Ole Opry. He has been one of the most energetic ambassadors that the Grand Ole Opry has had in its history. Today at age 89, it is normal for him to show up as early as two hours before a show to sign autographs and have his picture taken with all who ask. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of fame in 1983. Return to Collecting Celebrity Autographs from Little Jimmy Dickens
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