Jimmy Day

Jimmy Day (born James Clayton Day; 1934–1999) was an American steel guitarist active in the 1950s and 1960s whose career in country music blossomed about the time the pedal steel guitar was invented after pedals were added to the lap steel guitar. He was a pioneer on pedal steel in the genres of Western swing and Honky tonk and his modifications of the instrument's design have become a standard on the modern pedal steel. Day's first job after high school was performing on the Louisiana Hayride as a sideman accompanying developing country artists including Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Willie Nelson, Jim Reeves, Ray Price and Elvis Presley. He recorded and toured with all these artists and was featured on hit records by of many of them, including Ray Price's, "Crazy Arms" and "Heartaches by the Number". He was a member of Elvis Presley's band for about a year, but, along with fellow bandmate Floyd Cramer, resigned after Presley requested them to re-locate to Hollywood; instead, Day moved to Nashville to work as a session player and Grand Ole Opry musician. He was a member of the Western Swing Hall of Fame (1994) and the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame (1999). Day died of cancer in 1999.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 9, 1934 (Tuscaloosa), Died January 22, 1999 (Austin)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1952 - 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: steel guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 2656 2/29/1952 That heart belongs to me Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2657 2/29/1952 I just can't be true Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2658 2/29/1952 So used to loving you Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2659 2/29/1952 I haven't got the heart Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2702 4/21/1952 Slowly Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2703 4/21/1952 The last waltz Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2704 4/21/1952 Bow Thy head Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2705 4/21/1952 Country church Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2768 7/15/1952 Just how long Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2769 7/15/1952 I haven't got the heart Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2770 7/15/1952 Slowly Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 2771 7/15/1952 I'll always take care of you Webb Pierce instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 10964 1/27/1960 Lovesick blues Patsy Cline instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 10965 1/27/1960 How can I face tomorrow Patsy Cline instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 10966 1/27/1960 There he goes again Patsy Cline instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca NA 10967 1/27/1960 Crazy dreams-1 Patsy Cline instrumentalist, steel guitar  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Day, Jimmy," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/311181.

Day, Jimmy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/311181.

"Day, Jimmy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/311181

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