Not Playing Opossum

George Jones, known to many of his fans as "Possum", died yesterday in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee and will be sorely missed. He was a country music institution, a legend on a par with Johnny Cash. Jones was a bridge between eras, thrilling listeners at the end of the era of stars like Eddy Arnold, whose record of hits to reach the country music charts Jones would eventually eclipse, to being an icon to the superstars of country music today, still able to fill venues just before his passing, as Jones was preparing for what was prophetically being called his farewell tour in his last days. George Jones colorful presence will be missed but his voice will resound for generations to come.