Jim Reeves

Jim and his twin brother Jack were born in Clinton, Louisiana on February 4th, 1942. Their parents Stewart and Elizabeth moved to Baton Rouge where their dad went to work at Standard Oil Refinery to support his family and the War effort. Growing up in Ole North Baton Rouge during  the fifties is still one of his fondest memories of all. He and his friends listened to  music like Elvis, Jerry Lee , Jimmy Clanton, Everly Brothers ,but at an earlier age of ten this dad came home from Standard Oil with two tickets to see Hank Williams Sr. at Baton Rouge High and he was hooked,  from that day, he was hooked on country music. Late ,on Saturday nights he would use his transistor radio and listen to the Grand Ole Opry from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee.

He graduated from Istrouma High in 1960 and after graduating from U.S.L at Lafayette with a B.S. Degree in biology. Jim returned to Baton Rouge and worked in medical technology for several years.

In 1974 he was hired as the trainer for the Baton Rouge Cougars A league baseball club and their games were held in Alex Box Stadium.

He began his studies at Baylor Medical School College of Physician Assistants in 1976 and became NCCPA certified in 1980. He is currently a member of AAPA and a DOT certified medical examiner. While practicing in urgent care medicine in Baton Rouge he would often grab his guitar on weekends and jam with retired musicians like Jack Youngblood who was fiddle player for Lefty  Frizzell for 18 years and Jim Thornsberry who was lead guitarist for Tom T. Hall for over twenty years.

While jamming one night ,with some great musicians at a local club in Baton Rouge , two gentlemen walked in by chance and invited their group to perform on the main stage at the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans on June,4th,1984. They came up with the name 24 Karat Country and the rest is history .

Jim and his wife moved to Lafayette, Louisiana in 1997 where he continued the practice of urgent care medicine. He and his wife Helen became instant friends with Rod Bernard and his wife Jo Ann. From time to time he would meet with Rod and D.L. Menard “the Cajun Hank Williams ” and have a jam session.

In early 2000 he became the President and CEO of Gulf Regional Medical Center of Acadiana and very often he treated musicians and their families who were without insurance or too ill to perform at no charge. He would often volunteer his time at an afterhours clinic in Lafayette and treat musicians and their families at no charge.

Besides playing  rhythm  guitar and singing , he’s written several songs over the years.  He recorded Cajun Boy Gets Right in late 2020 and it’s been very popular on Acadiana radio stations throughout southwestern Louisiana and southeast Texas. In late 2021 he released GEORGIANA  and it’s being airing well over several states, without the help of music agents or a fancy record label.

After forty one years of practicing in urgent care medicine , married to a beautiful ,caring wife for over fifty years, three special children ,six wonderful grandchildren and one great grandchild, a life time of music and dear friends, it’s time to retire and enjoy this wonderful ride called, Life.

As HANK WILLIAMS would often tell his band The Drifting Cowboys,  at the end of his radio shows,” Well, fellows let’s pack it up and go to the house, goodnight.”