Gene Watson and Jimmy Capps backstage at Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Friday 19 March 2010
On Tuesday 2 June 2020, it was announced that acclaimed, and in-demand session musician, Jimmy Capps, had passed away on the night of Monday 1 June 2020.
Jimmy Capps was spotlighted by The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum as a ‘Nashville Cat’ in 2012, inducted into The Musicians Hall of Fame in 2014, and was inducted into his home state of North Carolina’s Music Hall of Fame in 2018.
Jimmy Capps was 81 years old, and Gene Watson released an official statement.
‘Just devastated to learn that a great friend personally, but a great friend to country music, has passed.
Jimmy Capps, one of the greatest guitar players ever, rightfully in the Musicians Hall of Fame, as well as the North Carolina Hall of Fame, has died at age 81.
He received many accolades in his life, but nothing greater could be said than he was a friend to all who met him.
Please send your prayers to his family’
On Thursday 15 April 2010, Jimmy Capps graciously provided a ‘Peer’s Quote’ about Gene Watson, which was included within Gene’s Ireland-based, and approved, Fan Site; this contribution from Jimmy Capps would not have been possible without the kindness of Jimmy Capps‘ wife, Michele Voan Capps.
Jimmy Capps made a major contribution to a number of Gene Watson’s highly acclaimed albums, including the following:
Jimmy Capps played acoustic guitar, on all tracks, on Gene Watson’s ‘Back in the Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988); the album included ‘Don’t Waste It On The Blues’ (No.5, 1988), ‘Back In The Fire’ (No.20, 1989), ‘The Jukebox Played Along’ (No.24, 1989) and ‘The Great Divide’ (No.41, 1989).
Jimmy Capps played acoustic guitar on ‘This Could Go On Forever’ (written by Jerry Vandiver and Sandy Ramos), a track which was included on Gene Watson’s ‘At Last‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).
Jimmy Capps played acoustic guitar on ‘The Workin’ End of A Hoe’ (written by Jim Rushing), a track which was included on Gene Watson’s ‘At Last‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).
Jimmy Capps played acoustic guitar, on all tracks, on Gene Watson’s ‘Uncharted Mind‘ (Step One Records, 1993).
Jimmy Capps played rhythm guitar, on all tracks, on Gene Watson’s ‘Gene Watson…Sings‘ (Intersound Records, 2003).
Jimmy Capps played acoustic guitar, on all tracks, on Gene Watson’s ‘Gene Watson…Then & Now‘ (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).
Jimmy Capps could be seen every week on RFD-TV’s ‘Larry’s Country Diner’, where he played the guitar-picking Sheriff Capps. Jimmy Capps was a member of The Grand Ole Opry Staff Band since 1967 and continued to perform regularly on The Opry.
Jimmy Capps
Thursday 25 May 1939 – Monday 1 June 2020