Honoring Little Jimmy Dickens & His Imprint On Country Music
on Dec 27, 2023
Little Jimmy Dickens Was A Country Music Icon – Listen To The Music He Left Behind
With a career spanning over three quarters of a century, there is no denying the impact that Little Jimmy Dickens had on country music.
The 4’11” singer was known for his comical novelty songs, his rhinestone-covered outfits, and his great sense of humor. Later in his career, Dickens played an active role in the careers of modern country artists. During the last few years of his life, he became known for his humorous appearances in many of Brad Paisley‘s music videos and in 2003, Dickens was the one who invited Trace Adkins to join the Grand Ole Opry.
Dickens himself was the oldest living member of the Opry until his death on January 2, 2015.
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Throughout the course of his career, Dickens was a major crowd-pleaser thanks to his fun, high-energy performances. In honor of Dickens, we’d like to pay tribute to him with three of his most entertaining and memorable performances.
“A-Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed”
Released in 1949 off of Dickens’ compilation album Raisin’ The Dickens, “A-Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed” was Dickens’ biggest hit that year. The song peaked at the sixth spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and was Dickens’ fourth Top 10 hit for 1949.
In 1983, almost 40 years after the song’s release, it was still a big hit with crowds whenever Dickens performed it on stage. While performing on the show That Good Ole Nashville Music that year, Dickens decided to sing the song, much to the pleasure of the crowd.
Dickens’ performance makes it clear that he loved what he did, since the smile never disappeared from his face the whole time he sings. He even let out a little chuckle at the end. The audience rewarded his energetic performance with a warm round of applause once he finished singing.
“I’m Little, But I’m Loud”
Another song from Dickens’ compilation album, Raisin’ The Dickens, “I’m Little, But I’m Loud” did not make its way on the charts. But the song still captures Dickens’ fun-loving spirit.
Dickens also plays on the listeners’ awareness of his short stature, making sure to place extra emphasis on the line “I’m puny, short, and little, but I’m loud!” every time he sings it.
“May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose”
Dickens’ most recognizable song, “May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose” was released in 1965 off of his studio album of the same title. The song was Dickens’ biggest success and his only number one hit. It held the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for two weeks and crossed over to claim the 15th spot on the pop chart.
In total, the song spent 18 weeks on the charts, and was a definite fan-favorite.
We still miss Dickens terribly. But after providing us with decades of fun-filled performances, it seems safe to say that his legacy will always live on in country music.
