Celebrate the 90th birthday of country music icon George Glenn Jones as vocalist Staci Griesbach reimagines Jones’ catalog in My George Jones Songbook, a tribute album available everywhere on September 10, 2021. Set in a jazz context, Griesbach explores all-new interpretations for Jones’ beloved classics from his six-decade recording career including his signature ballad “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “The Grand Tour,” both which will debut as singles on August 27th.
Known for his unique vocal styling and love of ballads, Jones has been called by many “the greatest country music singer.” Griesbach also highlights the multitude of A-list Nashville songwriters who helped create his catalog of hits. Bobby Braddock, who penned Jones’ most impressive and notable career ballad with Curly Putnam, “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” was at top of the list and the first song Griesbach worked on for the album.
My George Jones Songbook also features songwriter Jerry Chesnut’s “A Good Year for the Roses” and pays homage to J.P. Richardson, otherwise known as the Big Bopper, for “White Lightning,” with a nod to the Big Bopper’s hit “Chantilly Lace” to introduce the tune. The album also includes two songs Jones co-wrote in his early years, “Why Baby Why” (featuring Nashville fiddle player Stuart Duncan) and “Tender Years” with French lyrics from rock legend Johnny Hallyday, performed with a nod to Blossom Dearie.
Griesbach’s My George Jones Songbook marks the first full-length album exploration of Jones’ catalog in the style of jazz, but jazz artists and musicians of all genres have celebrated Jones’ artistry through the decades. Music critic and journalist David Hadju has said, “As a singer, George Jones stands shoulder to shoulder with Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday in originality and importance.”
Proof of Jones’ influence is seen across genres with covers or duets recorded over the years by Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Nancy Sinatra, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Lorie Morgan, Chris Stapleton, among others. Grammy winning jazz guitarist John Scofield recorded
“Bartender’s Blues,” James Taylor’s B-side to “Handyman” which Jones covered, taking to #1 in 1978. And, Taylor himself recorded a version of “She Thinks I Still Care,” bringing his singer-songwriter style to Jones’ 1962 hit, which was also covered by Cher and John Fogerty. Both tunes are included in Griesbach’s jazz tribute.