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Noel C Noronha / Deccan Herald
 Mangalore, Aug 20: On July 31, 1964, the mellow baritone voice of Jim Reeves fell silent but the voice that echoed around the world still lingers on. Music buffs in Mangalore are overcome by nostalgia every 31st of July. It is the day of redemption of the fond memories of ‘Gentleman Jim’, as he is known across the world. For Mangaloreans, though, Jim Reeves lives in their heart and in their mind, every July 31 he comes alive through Max Karkada, Jim Reeves sing-alike. This year it was held at the Paduhithulu Island, 30 km from Mangalore.
Reeves was snatched away at the crescendo of his career when his private aircraft crashed on July 31, 1964 over the Tennessee Mountains. On Jim Reeves grave site statue, inscription says “If I a lowly singer, dry one tear and soothe one human heart in pain, then my homely verse to God is dear and not one stanza has been sung in vain”. This reveals in him, the fullness of spiritual vitality. His rich and melodious rendition had inspired and consoled millions of young and old across the world for over 40 years and he stands in the Hall of Fame along with Paul Robeson, Frank Sinatra, Matt Monroe, Englebert Humperdinck and Tom Jones.
Born on August 20, 1923 in Panola County, Texas, one of nine children, his birth name was Jim Travis Reeves but was nicknamed Gentleman Jim. Tragically his father died when Jim was 10-months-old. He grew up in Galloway, Texas. At the age of five he was given an old guitar. When he turned twelve, he had already appeared on a radio show. Six-feet tall Jim, after college began to pursue a professional baseball career, but was sidelined by an injury to his left leg. He went through a number of blue collar jobs for few years. During this time, he began singing as an amateur solo artiste and as a frontman for Moon Mullican’s band. For few years, he worked as a disc jockey and newscaster. In spite of not particularly successful, late in 1952, when Hank Williams failed to make an appearance on the show, Jim sang in his place. Mexican Joe was Reeves’ debut followed by number one hit, Bimbo.
Indeed Reeves’ vocal style derived from the crooning of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. In 1956 with RCA contract, his nine shining years began. According to Billboard magazine, Jim has 51 top hits — 19 after his death. Jim’s widow, Mary Reeves, kept many of the recordings unreleased after his death in backlog and had them released, little by little over the years, to great success. For his fans in Mangalore, Max Karkada has filled the void through his near-Reeves-like vocal chords delighting thousands of die-hard Jim Reeve fans. Max has found what used to click with Jim Reeves. Every July 31, Max makes it a point to mention that Mohammed Rafi also died on the same day and as a tribute to him, sings the popular Pukaarta chala hoon maain.
What was unique about Jim Reeves was that he had evolved a delectable blend of Pop, Country and Western and held his music-lovers the world over spellbound. Those 160 songs that are still available on CDs and cassettes seems like a consolation. His saga has created many protégés like Amy Grant, Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins, Merle Heggard, Roy Drusky and Marty Robbins. Being a past-master in voice modulation, he had great skill in voice intonation. He was a good mimic and entertainer at concerts and extremely good at medleys.
As P B Shelley said “music when soft voices die vibrates in the memory”.
Kumar Mandana of Coorg in one of his letters to Max Karkada wrote, “Jim Reeves passed on perhaps unsung, un-honoured for many years but there was hardcore fan club which never left the memory of his voice die out. I am not aware of other fan clubs but I cannot think of a more loyal, dedicated and enthusiastic fan club than yours at Mangalore which has an added glow imbued as it is with that special ingredient of sincerity and affection which warms one’s heart…What an evening! My wife and I danced the night away, our ears filled with Jim ‘Max’ Reeves…. Even if we cannot be with you this time remember that we will be with you in spirit and soar with you on wings of music. Jim's voice echoes in my ears as I say Adios Amigos.”
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