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James Cecil Dickens (born 19 December 1920, better known as Little Jimmy Dickens, is an American country singer and guitarist. He was born in Bolt, West Virginia, the thirteenth child in a farming family. His nickname results from the fact that he is only 4' 11" tall. Despite his stature, he has had great succcess, being the longest serving member of the Grand Ol' Opry
Dickens was discovered singing at a nightclub in Saginaw, Michigan by country legend Roy Acuff. In 1948, Dickens became a member of the Opry. Although many of his contemporaries, such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Minnie Pearl, and Ernest Tubb have gone on to what Nashville stars call "Hillbilly Heaven", Little Jimmy carries on the traditions. With 60s hits like "May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose", "Hillbilly Fever", and "Out Behind The Barn", he can fire up the 4,400 people who show up at the Opry every Friday and Saturday night to hear traditional country music and get them all to their feet like no one else can.
After 57 years in the music business Little Jimmy is, as one of his hits said, still "little but loud."
In December 2004 he was admitted to hospital in Nashville with pneumonia.
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