I am of German, Scottish, French, Jewish and Cherokee ancestry. My father, Vernon, had several low-paying jobs, including sharecropper and truck driver. My mother, Gladys Love Smith, who I love very much, worked as a sewing machine operator. My fathers met in Tupelo, Mississippi, and got married on June 17, 1933.

I was born in a two room house, built by my father, in East Tupelo. I was the second of identical twins. My brother was stillborn and given the name Jesse Garon. So thats why I grew up as an only child and I was, as everyone agreed, unusually close to my mother. My family lived just above the poverty line and attended the Assembly of God church. My father was described as "a malingerer, always averse to work and responsibility." In 1938, he was jailed for an eight dollar check forgery.

At age ten, I made my first public performance in a singing contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. Dressed as a cowboy, I had to stand on a chair to reach the microphone and sang Red Foley's "Old Shep."

Then I remember, I got my first guitar In November 1948, my family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, allegedly because my father, in addition of needing work, had to escape the law for transporting bootleg liquor. In 1949, we lived at Lauderdale Courts, a public housing development in one of Memphis' poorer sections. I practiced playing guitar in the laundry room and I also played in a five-piece band with other tenants.

I used to go to recording stores that had jukeboxes and listen to booths, playing old records and new releases for hours. I was always an audience member at the all-night black and white "gospel sings" downtown.
Memphis Symphony Orchestra concerts at Overton Park were another of my favorite, along with the Metropolitan Opera.

R&B, Rock 'n' Roll, Gospel
My small record collection included Mario Lanza and Dean Martin at that time.
I just love music. Period music.

The Prophet, Autobiography of a Yogi, The Mystical Christ.

You can just say about all that Gospel stuff Return to Sender because we've Got a Lot of Livin' to do. You can also say that religion is just a kind of Good Luck Charm - only a bit of superstition to make you feel better when you get All Shook Up once in a while, or regret paying the heavy price for One Night of Sin.

Some, however are afraid that they're too bad and that it is too late for A Fool Such as I and that they have missed their chance of finding God. Some fear they've Lost that Lovin' Feeling for the things of God they once had, and that's that. I believe that God will always give us another chance. Like many of you, I needed it.

You may feel deep down about God, that You're Always on my Mind and when the chips are down and you're left to your thoughts, I Just Can't Help Believin'. I would not want you to stop there. It's Funny How Time Slips Away... I ask you Doncha Think it's Time? to Reconsider Baby. Are You Lonesome Tonight? Is there an emptiness in your heart? If you feel stirred and moved and would really like to know the Lord for real, perhaps for you It's now or Never.

When you think of Jesus dying on the cross you may not understand all about it, but If that Isn't Love, nothing is. Many before you have said Where could I go but to The Lord? Believe me, it is easy to begin a relationship with Jesus, even a simple prayer sincerely said is how you can Put Your Hand in the Hand (of the Man from Galilee). All I can say is that when anyone is willing to Reach Out to Jesus they will know in their heart He Touched Me, and then they will want to sing for all to hear How Great Thou Art.

Only Believe and there will be everlasting Life and Peace in the Valley for you.