Jimmie Davis
Oral Histories
Details
Collection:LSA
Genre: Interview
Place Covered: Louisiana General
Copyright Holder: Louisiana State Archives
Date Issued: 1985-02-11
Duration: 01:00:04
Subjects: Martin, Mary Virginia, 1913- 1990 | GAMBLING | Oral history | Quitman, Jackson Parish, Louisiana | Martin, Mary Virginia, 1913- 1990 | Jones, Sam H. (Sam Houston), 1897-1978 | Davis, James H. "Jimmie," 1899-2000 | Dodd, William J. "Bill," 1909-1991 | "You Are My Sunshine"
Contributors:
- Davis, Jimmie Interviewee
- Courtney, Bob Interviewer
- Jackson, Sailor Jr. Photographer
Description
Oral history with singer/songwriter and 47th Governor of Louisiana James Houston "Jimmie" Davis (11 September 1899 – 5 November 2000). Conducted on 11 February 1985. In this interview, Davis talks about his career as a singer, the process of recording a single back in the 1940s, how he began his career in Louisiana politics, and his two terms as governor. Davis recorded the song "You Are My Sunshine" in 1940. The song becmae one of the official state songs of Louisiana due to legislation passed by Senator Virginia Shehee in 1977. While Davis campaigned for governor, he took his band with him and performed concerts across the state.