Search - Jim Eanes, Red Smiley & The Bluegrass Cut-Ups :: Jim Eanes With Red Smiley & The Bluegrass Cut-Ups

Jim Eanes, known as Smilin Jim Eanes, was an influential figure in both bluegrass and country music for over five decades. Eanes began his career in 1948 with Flatt & Scruggs, then Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Starting his solo career in 1949, he had a hit record with 'Baby Blue Eyes' on Capitol Records. He organized the Shenandoah Valley Boys in 1951 and recorded a few singles before signing with Decca Records. Decca groomed him to play country music and received good chart success with several singles.
Eanes wrote many of his own songs including 'Your Old Standby', and one of his best 'I Wouldn t Change You If I Could', which became a number one hit for Ricky Skaggs in 1982. During the 60s, Jim Eanes was a D.J. on different Virginia radio stations and appeared regularly on WWVA s Wheeling Jamboree. In 1968 Jim Eanes recorded his first of two albums for Rural Rhythm Records titled 'Jim Eanes with Red Smiley & The Bluegrass Cut-Ups'. This 20 song album, produced by Lee Sutton, is available now for the first time on CD and features Red Smiley s vocals and his Bluegrass Cut-Ups; Billy Edwards (banjo), Clarence Tater Tate (fiddle), Gene Burris (mandolin, Guitar), John Palmer (bass) and special guest Peggy Peterson (dobro guitar).
His fine vocals and songwriting over the years earned Jim Eanes the universal nickname of 'The Bluegrass Balladeer'.