In the vein from the classic Johnny Cash: The Life, this groundbreaking work explores the wild life and extraordinary music career of “the definitive country singer of the last half century” (New York Times), who influenced, amongst others, Bob Dylan, Buck Owens, Emmylou Harris, John Fogerty, George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Garth Brooks.

Inside a masterful biography loaded with new revelations, veteran country music journalist/historian Rich Kienzle offers a definitive, full-bodied family portrait of about The Grand Tour: The Life and Music of George Jones legendary country singer George Jones as well as the music that continues to be his legacy. Kienzle meticulously sifted through archival material, government information, recollections by colleagues and admirers, interviewing many involved with Jones’s existence and career. The result: an evocative family portrait of the enormously gifted, tragically tormented icon known as “the Keith Richards of country.”

Kienzle chronicles Jones’s impoverished East Tx childhood as the youngest son of a deeply religious mother and alcoholic, often-abusive dad. He examines his three troubled relationships including his union with superstar Tammy Wynette and looks unsparingly at Jones’s demons. Alcohol and afterwards cocaine nearly wiped out him until fourth wife Nancy helped him figure out how to like himself. Kienzle also details Jones’s remarkable musical journey from singing in violent Tx honky tonks to Grand Ole Opry celebrity, hitmaker and get better at vocalist whose fresh, emotionally effective delivery remains the Gold Regular for country performers.

The George Jones of this heartfelt biography lived hard before finding contentment until he died at eighty-one-a story filled up with whiskey, women and medicines but generally the saving grace of music.

Illustrated with eight web pages of photos.