Jack “Jolly Green Giant” Greene Dies

Grand Ole Opry star Jack Greene, also known as "Jolly Green Giant" (because he was tall and lanky) who's career spanned over 4 decades passed away yesterday at the age of 83. 

Jack was most well known for his song "There Goes My Everything" but he also had several other hit songs including "All the Time," "Until My Dreams Come True" and "Statute of a Fool."

According to his website, the pinnacle of Jack's success came during the 1967 CMA awards, where he swept every major prize including Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Song of the Year for "There Goes My Everything." The popularity of that song is reflected in the fact that it has been recorded no less than 111 times, in 14 languages including by the King himself, Elvis.

Jack was born in 1930 in Marysville, Tennessee and performed as a singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer with Ernest Tubb's group from 1962-64.  According to his bio on the Grand Ole Opry, Jack left Ernest's group when Ernest told him "“‘Son, I believe it’s time to go. If you can’t make it, you can always come back and be a Troubadour.’”

Jack didn't need to go back. In late 1967 Jack's star shot straight up when he achieved success with the song "There Goes My Everything."  From there Jack joined the Grand Ole Opry. Jack retired from music in 2011 and lived out his last days with his manager who also served as his caretaker.