Country Singer Jim Reeves and his manager Dean Manuel died in a plane crash July 31, 1964. Federal Authorities said Reeves, the pilot, ran in to a violent thunderstorm causing the single engine Beechcraft debonair to crash in rural Davidson County. Reeves was only 40 years old.
Reeves had over 50 songs on the Billboard country charts, including 11 number one songs. He is probably best known for his number one cross over hit, “He’ll have to go,” written by Joe Allison. The song remained on the Billboard Country Chart for 14 weeks.
Chattanooga Promoter Gene Goforth said, although Reeves never did a concert in the city, his band, known as the Blue Boys, sang at the Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park several times after the singer's death.
Chattanooga country announcers Lloyd Payne and Ray Hobbs said they interviewed Reeves by telephone in the late 50’s. Hobbs said he was present for one of Reeves’ performances on the Grand Ole Opry.
Reeves and Manuel were returning home to Nashville from a business trip to Batesville, Ark. when the crash occurred. After a two-day extensive hunt in Middle Tennessee, involving 2,000 searchers, the wreckage was located in a wooded area just off U.S. Highway 31.
Singer Eddy Arnold was one of the searchers and talked with CBS News. His comments were heard in Chattanooga over WDOD AM 1310. Click here to listen.