Jimmie Dale Gilmore on “Come On Back”.
This recording was done as a memorial and a tribute to my
father, Brian Gilmore. It consists of songs that he particularly loved,
from an era of music that seems on the verge of being totally forgotten.
They are simple, well-crafted, unpretentious little gems from a wonderfully
creative period in American commercial music.
My father passed his love of these songs on to me, and although I went on to embrace many other styles and influences I never lost my deep feeling for the music that I associate with him. My dad was not a materialistic man. He was unimpressed by fancy houses, stylish clothing, expensive automobiles, or any firmament than the others.) It was musicians: singers, songwriters and players, and particularly – but not exclusively – country musicians. My dad was very patriotic, but I am certain that if he had ever been given the opportunity to meet Hank Williams or Johnny Cash (or any of the other musicians represented on this recording) he would have chosen that over meeting any president or prime minister or king or queen. Music was an ever-present given in my life, even in hard times (which were common).
I am not sure whether I was simply born loving music, or whether I learned to love it from my dad, but either way My father passed his love of these songs on to me, and although I went on to embrace many other styles and influences I never lost my deep feeling for the music that I associate with him.
Jimmie's 2005 album Come On Back was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Folk Album category. Read praise for Come On Back here (.PDF).