Published in Beaumont Enterprise Aug. 27,2012.
Country legend Benny Barnes always credited country standout George Jones for
giving him his break.
He had been playing guitar for Jones during a recording session, and when that
was done he continued to play and sing.
One of the producers asked him if he'd "like to make a record." That night
Barnes recorded "Poor Man's Riches," which climbed to No. 4 on the national
country-western charts.
Barnes scored a few other hits before moving back to Beaumont, where he opened a
tavern.
"He could have gone just about any place in the music business," Jones told The
Enterprise in 1987, referring to Barnes. "But he was a homebody. He missed
Beaumont too much and came back home. He didn't really want a lot of success; he
cared more about being home around family and friends."
When he got sick and started chemotherapy in June 1987, several musicians -
Johnny Preston, Billie Jo Spears, and Jones - performed at benefits for Barnes.
Barnes told The Enterprise in July of 1987 that, "A lot of people are praying
for me. I never knew how many friends I had until I got this thing, and it warms
me. It really warms me."
According to Enterprise archives, Barnes spent the last three weeks of his life
at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He died on Aug. 27, 1987.
He was 51.
Country legend Benny Barnes always credited country standout George Jones for
giving him his break.
He had been playing guitar for Jones during a recording session, and when that
was done he continued to play and sing.
One of the producers asked him if he'd "like to make a record." That night
Barnes recorded "Poor Man's Riches," which climbed to No. 4 on the national
country-western charts.
Barnes scored a few other hits before moving back to Beaumont, where he opened a
tavern.
"He could have gone just about any place in the music business," Jones told The
Enterprise in 1987, referring to Barnes. "But he was a homebody. He missed
Beaumont too much and came back home. He didn't really want a lot of success; he
cared more about being home around family and friends."
When he got sick and started chemotherapy in June 1987, several musicians -
Johnny Preston, Billie Jo Spears, and Jones - performed at benefits for Barnes.
Barnes told The Enterprise in July of 1987 that, "A lot of people are praying
for me. I never knew how many friends I had until I got this thing, and it warms
me. It really warms me."
According to Enterprise archives, Barnes spent the last three weeks of his life
at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He died on Aug. 27, 1987.
He was 51.
Published in Beaumont Enterprise Aug. 27,2012.
Country legend Benny Barnes always credited country standout George Jones for
giving him his break.
He had been playing guitar for Jones during a recording session, and when that
was done he continued to play and sing.
One of the producers asked him if he'd "like to make a record." That night
Barnes recorded "Poor Man's Riches," which climbed to No. 4 on the national
country-western charts.
Barnes scored a few other hits before moving back to Beaumont, where he opened a
tavern.
"He could have gone just about any place in the music business," Jones told The
Enterprise in 1987, referring to Barnes. "But he was a homebody. He missed
Beaumont too much and came back home. He didn't really want a lot of success; he
cared more about being home around family and friends."
When he got sick and started chemotherapy in June 1987, several musicians -
Johnny Preston, Billie Jo Spears, and Jones - performed at benefits for Barnes.
Barnes told The Enterprise in July of 1987 that, "A lot of people are praying
for me. I never knew how many friends I had until I got this thing, and it warms
me. It really warms me."
According to Enterprise archives, Barnes spent the last three weeks of his life
at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He died on Aug. 27, 1987.
He was 51.
Country legend Benny Barnes always credited country standout George Jones for
giving him his break.
He had been playing guitar for Jones during a recording session, and when that
was done he continued to play and sing.
One of the producers asked him if he'd "like to make a record." That night
Barnes recorded "Poor Man's Riches," which climbed to No. 4 on the national
country-western charts.
Barnes scored a few other hits before moving back to Beaumont, where he opened a
tavern.
"He could have gone just about any place in the music business," Jones told The
Enterprise in 1987, referring to Barnes. "But he was a homebody. He missed
Beaumont too much and came back home. He didn't really want a lot of success; he
cared more about being home around family and friends."
When he got sick and started chemotherapy in June 1987, several musicians -
Johnny Preston, Billie Jo Spears, and Jones - performed at benefits for Barnes.
Barnes told The Enterprise in July of 1987 that, "A lot of people are praying
for me. I never knew how many friends I had until I got this thing, and it warms
me. It really warms me."
According to Enterprise archives, Barnes spent the last three weeks of his life
at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He died on Aug. 27, 1987.
He was 51.
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