Back in the Day, 1967

Jimmy Gateley

"Don't Come Cryin' to Me" b/w "It Tears My Heart Out"

(Decca)

Exhaustive enumeration of fiddler/singer/guitarist/songsmith Jimmy's big name, Classic Country credits would defy present space constraints. Red Foley, Harold Morrison, and Connie Smith are three. Bill Anderson is four. Gateley joined with the Nudie-spangled "Whisperer," appearing on hits like "Bright Lights and Country Music" (which Gateley co-wrote with Anderson), and also leading the star's band on the Opry stage for 13 years. 

Jimmy and Bill perform "Bright Lights" in 1966 budget film "Las Vegas Hillbillys," which starred Ferlin Husky, Mamie Van Doren, and Don Bowman. Other performers shown included Roy Drusky, Sonny James, Del Reeves, and Wilma Burgess.

"Jimmy was the only band member I ever hired who was older than me, and I learned so much from him," Anderson wrote on the Ask Bill page of his website, in 2021. "He had been a cast member on the Red Foley Ozark Jubilee TV shows before moving to Nashville, and he was so much wiser about the ins-and-outs of the music business than I was. I wore him out asking questions, but in his calm, understated way he graciously (and often humorously) answered them all."

"Don't Come Cryin' to Me" offers the steel-fueled bounce, impeccable background harmonies, and hard-knocks testimony that has long endeared Classic Country to millions the world over. Its sadder-but-wiser protagonist is one with whom real folks can identify. In its brevity, its spartanness, the song imprints soundly.

Flip "It Tears My Heart Out" downshifts, favoring lowercase demonstrativeness. Players assembled accomodate with tuneful tastefulness. Foamy suds assume distinctiveness, when salty tears take swims.

Among songs Gateleyy penned for others was "The Minute You're Gone From Me," which landed Sonny James on charts.

In later years, Jimmy turned eyes upward, became Deacon of a Tennessee church, and recorded Gospel. A heart condition claimed him in 1985. He was but 53.

"He was a great guy, extremely talented, and hardly a day goes by that I don’t remember something he said or did and it always makes me smile," Bill wrote.

Videos: "Don't Come Cryin' to Me"   "It Tears My Heart Out"

Discogs

Country Music Hall of Fame

The Rock and Country Encyclopedia and Discography