Jimmy Arnold on Jimmy Arnold

In 2015, When I first released my first solo album "This...",  a friend of mine in his ordinarily cheeky way posted his condolences on FB when he went to i-Tunes and the biography associated with my music was for the Bluegrass musician from Fries, VA. 

"Sorry to hear of your untimely death in 1992..." He laughed. 

I must admit, I was not anxious to be associated with a bluegrass 'legend', living or dead at that time; and though my complaining for the various platforms to separate our online presences did not amount to anything, I did finally take the time to listen to Mr. Arnold's work and his story. A child prodigy, as I also was, had a harrowing and troubled life in his last years, riddled with Meth dealing, Outlaw biker gangs in Southern Maryland and a brief stint in Prison... and, of course, Alcohol. Nobody wants to hear that somebody so talented missed his calling. I really don't mind sharing my space with his music. It's not like there's going to be any more... and my last word on this Jimmy Arnold is: tragic. The most informative: Yesterdays Wine Podcast - Lost Soul Jimmy Arnold is the most complete telling of his story that I know of.

I am much more like him than not, creatively, despite the genre differences. We are/were both obsessive about our work. "Southern Soul" should have been a superb start to an illustrious career as a singer/songwriter, and I agree that it was his Magnum Opus... although, I'm torn on the subject matter. I don't know what he was trying to say, considering that in the 2000's Americans have experienced a sinister racial divide that harkens back to it's roots in slavery and the civil war. 

I remember the time period that "Southern Soul" came out in very well. The phrase of the day was 'Heritage, Not Hate'. This was the answer of all the Southern Rockers of the 1980's, like Lynyrd Skynyrd and all of their imitators, that proudly flew the Rebel flag on their stages.

 I have to flatly say that Mr. Arnold's record would have been met with vitriol had it been released in 2020; Enslaving human beings and all of the horrors that came with it, was the Heritage of the South. Hate or not. I'm sure he didn't imagine in his lifetime that there would be movements to remove monuments to 'The Lost Cause' and change the names of institutions that were named after 'heroes' of the Confederacy. It's too bad that his Magnum Opus had to be on 'The Lost Cause', that's all.

I have never had the pleasure of being confused with the 'other' Jimmy Arnold, who was a member of The Four Lads. They were famous for 1958's  'Standing on the Corner (watching all the girls go by)'. Something I would have avoided doing as I am Gay (had I even been alive in 1958.. ). 

I have encountered a few more along the way... There once was a guitarist from N.O. ...  

Yes, New Orleans. No, this is not a limerick... It's more like... Why so many??? There were only 2 Arnold's in the phone book when I was a kid, and they were my Dad and my Brother...

Must I change my name as to not be found by accident?

I never did it, because my Father was a happy wanderer and my Grandmother made me promise not to change my name so my Father could know it was his son on the radio, or TV and be proud of me to his friends, as I was always told that he was proud of all of his sons.

They are dead now, as are the other Jimmy's so it isn't important to anybody (myself included) what name I 'go by'. 

Peace~  Jimmy