Linden, Texas—It’s been over five decades since country music luminary George Jones garnered his first top five country hit and tried his voice with rockabilly tunes under the moniker “Thumper Jones.”

And it was in East Texas where Jones grew up, honing his skills in Texas honky-tonks. After a stint in the Marines, his fortunes rose and the rest is a long string of hits and status as one of the defining artists in country music.

Jones, now 77, will come to Music City Texas Theater on Sunday, Nov. 30, for a 6 p.m. show. Tickets ($225 for premium seating and $135 for reserved seating) are on sale now. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Jones’s appearance follows recent Music City Texas performances from two other music stars: Don Henley and Merle Haggard.

And the “Possum,” as he’s known, has not been sitting still recently, having released “Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets” in August. It’s a collection of duets that revisits his work with Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton, Keith Richards, Shelby Lynne and, of course, the late Tammy Wynette.

In an e-mail interview, Jones reflected on growing up in Southeast Texas, in places like Saratoga, Vidor and Jasper. He still has family and friends from Texas and keeps in touch with them.

“I grew up very poor in East Texas,” said Jones. “Our only entertainment was listening to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night. The Opry singers were my heroes and inspirations.”

In particular, Bill Monroe, Lefty Frizzell, and Roy Acuff were singers he loved back then. Hank Williams, he said, was his favorite.

About growing up in East Texas, he said, “It made me want to go out in the world and do something in the field of music.”

Jones still spends a lot of time on the road, playing about 100 shows annually.

“I love my fans. They have stuck by me through thick and thin,” he said. “I am constantly amazed at the sold out shows and the reaction I get from the crowd. They keep me going and wanting to perform.”

One song on “Burn Your Playhouse Down” pairs him with his daughter, Georgette Jones.

“I am particularly fond of the recording ‘You and Me and Time’ with my daughter Georgette. She co-wrote this song and if you listen to the song, and its message, you will understand why I am fond of it,” said Jones.

He said locals can expect his upcoming MCT show to be the best he can give.

“I will sing lots of my hits and there will be some surprises,” Jones said.

East Texas-based singer Megan Wellborn will open for Jones. She’ll be backed up by Richard Bowden with Moon and the Starz.

“I would say that in the height of my rock and roll days when I was in college in Nacogdoches I would go over to the campus grill and order a club steak, which they were famous for, and walk over to the jukebox and play every George Jones song in the jukebox,” said Bowden, MCT president.

He was a diehard rocker but couldn’t help it. Jones made music that could nearly bring him to tears over a beer, he said.

“I can do that vicariously by listening to George Jones songs,” said Bowden. “His voice is so sincere, like he really lives the lyrics in those songs”

Music City Texas Theater has had an incredible run of talent show up on the stage.

“First of all being in Linden in the middle of nowhere in the Piney Woods we’re sort of an anomaly to start with. We figured where else in the world can you see that caliber of artist in such an intimate setting,” said Bowden.

“Our job is to pull people from other areas, to boost the economy through musical heritage tourism,” Bowden said.



(For tickets and more info, visit www.musiccitytexas.org or call 903-756-9934.)