Sunday, May 10, 2015

Legendary Fiddler Johnny Gimble Dies

Category:  News/Obituary 

Johnny Gimble, the one-time member of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys who went on to work numerous sessions in country music, has died.

Gimble passed away Saturday (5/9) in Marble Falls, Texas.  He had been in poor health for years after a series of strokes.

John Paul Gimble was born in Tyler, Texas in 1926.  He was on the radio playing music before he got out of high school.  After high school he joined the Shelton Brothers' band before the Army took him to Germany during World War II.

Once out of the Army Gimble became a member of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys, where he worked for over a decade.  Following his stint in the Texas Playboys Gimble became an in-demand session fiddler for two generations of country music performers, from Marty Robbins and Connie Smith to a large majority of George Strait's 1980's albums.  He also was part of the Hee Haw "Million Dollar Band."

His son, Dick, told the Waco Tribune, "He's free of that worn-out body of his.  And what a life he had."

What a life, indeed.

Johnny Gimble was 88.

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