Country Artist Jimmy Dickens

Best known by his stage name, Little Jimmy Dickens was famous for his humorous novelty songs, his small size, 4’11”, and his rhinestone-studded outfits, which he is given credit for introducing into live Country music performances. He started as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1948 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. With the death of Hank Locklin in March 2009, Dickens became the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry, at the age of 90.

Dickens recorded many novelty songs for Columbia, including “Country Boy”, “A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed”, and “I’m Little but I’m Loud”. His song “Take an Old Cold Tater (And Wait)” inspired Hank Williams to nickname him Tater. Later, telling Dickens he needed a hit, Williams wrote “Hey Good Lookin'” in only 20 minutes while on a plane with Dickens, Minnie Pearl, and Pearl’s husband, Henry Cannon.

In 1950, Dickens formed the Country Boys with musicians Jabbo Arrington, Grady Martin, Bob Moore, and Thumbs Carllile. It was during this time that he discovered future Country Music Hall of Famer Marty Robbins at a Phoenix, Arizona, television station while on tour with the Grand Ole Opry road show. In 1957, Dickens left the Grand Ole Opry to tour with the Philip Morris Country Music Show.

In 1964, he became the first Country artist to circle the globe while on tour. He also made numerous appearances on television, including on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In 1965, he released his biggest hit, “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose”, which reached number 1 on the Country chart and number 15 on the Pop chart.