Jack Greene

Jack Henry Greene entered the world on January 7, 1930, in Maryville, Tennessee. At the age of eight he began studying guitar and later took up drums as well. In the closing years of the 1940s he relocated to Atlanta and formed the Cherokee Trio alongside Lem Bryant and Speedy Price. He subsequently performed with the Rhythm Ranch Boys and gained local attention through regular appearances on the Georgia Jubilee broadcast over WTJH. His musical activities paused when he was called to serve in Korea; upon returning he rejoined the Atlanta scene with the Peachtree Cowboys while supporting himself through sales work and construction jobs.

In 1962 Greene signed on with Ernest Tubb & the Texas Troubadours, playing drums and singing on occasion. He appeared on the album Presents the Texas Troubadours, and his reading of “The Last Letter” opened the door to solo sessions. Beginning with the 1965 release “Ever Since My Baby Went Away,” he accumulated a string of country successes, among them the chart-topping singles “There Goes My Everything,” “All The Time,” “You Are My Treasure,” “Until My Dreams Come True,” and “Statue of a Fool.” He remained with Tubb’s outfit until 1967, departing only after Tubb grew weary of audience requests for the drummer to perform.

A 1969 duet on Hank Cochran’s “I Wish I Didn’t Have to Miss You” paired Greene with Cochran’s wife, Jeannie Seely, and became another hit. Seely joined his touring revue and the two continued to cut records together. In an attempt to align with the outlaw-country wave they renamed their backing group from the Jolly Greene Giants to the Renegades, yet their sound remained squarely in the middle-of-the-road style. Greene’s final appearance on the charts came in 1984 with “If It’s Love (Then Bet It All),” though he continued as a regular member of the Grand Ole Opry after joining the cast in 1967.