Sam1863

December 3rd, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^

One of my favorite bits was one of his earliest: He's on stage with the banjo, people think it's a comic prop, and then he actually starts playing the thing well. Then he said what I (and probably many others) were thinking:

"Hey, this guy's good!"

Artie

November 30th, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^

Ugh. After hearing him sing many “Back Home Again in Indiana’s”, I’m saddened to hear this news. A great guy that will very much be missed.

Frieze Memorial

November 30th, 2017 at 2:49 PM ^

My only connection to him is that my grandparents wanted to see him in traverse City but they were watching my cousin and me. So they came up with the idea of dropping us off at the movie theater that was playing Howard the Duck. Turns out a Jim Nabors show is a lot longer than Howard the Duck. So my cousin and I (we were about 10) just wandered Traverse City until we happened to see their car. I can't imagine doing that now, but I guess my parents were ok with it.

rob f

November 30th, 2017 at 3:12 PM ^

I had no idea Gomer was still alive.

What a great show that was. And what a great baritone voice that has just been silenced. RIP, Jim Nabors!

M-Dog

November 30th, 2017 at 4:01 PM ^

I'm a big Indy 500 fan and when Jim Nabors sang Back Home Again in Indiana to start the race, all was right with the world.  I saw him sing every one, from 1972 to 2014.

I hum this to myself throughout every May.

 

DonAZ

November 30th, 2017 at 4:40 PM ^

I'm a big Indy 500 fan 

I used to be ... never missed the Indy 500 back in the 70's, 80's and 90's.  But I dropped away.  Wasn't there some dust-up between the racing organizations, CART and something else?  One of the reasons I stopped watching back then was it seemed they ran almost constantly under the yellow.  Is that still the case?

Honk if Ufer M…

November 30th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^

From the Indy website:

A statement from the Hulman-George family, owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, about actor and entertainer Jim Nabors, who died Thursday, Nov. 30 at age 87. Nabors sang a beloved rendition of "Back Home Again in Indiana" 36 times between 1972 and 2014 during pre-race ceremonies for the Indianapolis 500: 



"Jim Nabors was such a kind, caring man, and we will miss him greatly. Jim was born in Alabama, but he became a Hoosier to all of us almost immediately after he began his superb performances of 'Back Home Again in Indiana' starting in 1972. He loved coming back home to the Speedway almost every May for more than 40 years and seeing his friends and race fans, who loved him dearly. Jim was not only a treasured friend, but truly a cherished member of our family. We will never forget his genuine kindness, sincerity and loyalty. He was wonderful man who inspired millions of people across the globe every May and throughout his entire life."

DonAZ

November 30th, 2017 at 4:09 PM ^

Nabors had a liver transplant 20 years ago after a bout of Hepatitis B.  He died at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii.  All told, not a bad run at life.  May we all live to see 87 years of age.