James Young, Sr.

On October 3rd 2014, the heavens received the soul of James Richard "Jimmy" Young Sr. My grandfather Jimmy Young had played the fiddle professionally for the better part of seventy years. His talent had taken him across the country as he made his living on stage with the likes of Meryl Lindsay and the Oklahoma Nightriders, Lefty Frizzell, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Charlie Phillips, Roy Clark, Lou Walker, Ray Price and of course Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Growing up I was always fascinated by the sound of his fiddle as he would warm up before a show. With rosin dust hovering in the air, and the hum of his amplifier, he would go back and forth between playing and turning nobs in order to find his desired sound by which he would enchant yet another audience. During every show I went too, the sense of pride that consumed me when he stepped on stage was both exhilarating and heartwarming. After every good lick he would always shoot me a wide grin as if to say, "Listen to this, I'm fixing to burn the hair off of this bow!" In my opinion I always had the best seat in the house at those shows. Every musician I've met that knew my grandpa ends up telling me how much they enjoyed his playing and above all his demeanor among his fellow bandsmen. In a business where many can be very snobbish, Jimmy Young had always maintained a genuine sense of humility. Some folks can get a little bit arrogant once they have been inducted into the hall of fame more than a few times. Such accolades might boost one's ego and fill their heart with self-importance, but not in his case. He had always been the same man from my viewpoint. Never was he the fiddle playing extraordinaire, or the Bob Wills impressionist, to me he was and always will be be Opa. He is survived by his wife Gloriann Jean Young; sons, Jimmy and Dale Young; daughter-in-laws, Amanda Young and Joni Evans; grandson Dustin Young, Brother Tom Young, and sisters Nida Meilick, Bernice Calhoun and Joyce Gore. Services will be held at the Palo Duro Cowboy Church on October 9th at 2:00. He is preceded in death by his father Ulysses S. Young and mother Audie Mae Young, brothers Cecil, Celbert, and Melvin Young. Death also came to sister Essie Mae Young.

Visitation Schedule

Cox Funeral Home 4180 Canyon Drive Amarillo, TX 79109 Wednesday, October 08, 2014 6:00-8:00 P.M.

Service Schedule

Church Service Palo Duro Cowboy Church 1220 W. Hwy 60 Canyon, TX 79015 Thursday, October 09, 2014 2:00 p.m.

Burial Schedule

Memorial Park Cemetery Amarillo , TX 79118