Jim Nabors

John Brock · Post by **John Brock** » 30 Nov 2017 10:45 am

Gomer is gone...a Voice for sure..Shazam RIP

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 30 Nov 2017 11:25 am

I had no idea he was still alive. I thought he left us years ago.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 30 Nov 2017 11:29 am

Just saw it on news. He was 87. Had been in poor health lately but news report didn't say what.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 30 Nov 2017 11:41 am

According to the New York times obit, he contracted Hepatitis B in the early 90s when he cut himself shaving with an infected razor in India. He had a liver transplant in 1994, and was in declining health as a result ever since:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/obit ... obituaries

Don Kuhn · Post by **Don Kuhn** » 30 Nov 2017 5:45 pm

I provided security for him and Lily Tomlin at his 70th birthday party in Sunnyvale, Tx. and he sang a few songs. Gomer can sing.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 1 Dec 2017 4:04 am

He was a very talented actor and he could sing with the best of them. I have a CD of songs that he recorded in the 70s and it has some Country songs. It is a very Good CD. RIP Mr. Neighbors!

Godfrey Arthur · Post by **Godfrey Arthur** » 1 Dec 2017 8:14 am

Godspeed Jim!

Gawwwwwhhhleeeeehhhh...

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 1 Dec 2017 9:26 am

Not only was Jim a superlative singer

the fellow in the video below that played the drunk Otis,

he was the Piano Player for Mel Tillis.

Don Kuhn · Post by **Don Kuhn** » 1 Dec 2017 10:24 am

Wow George P. guess I'm not to old to learn something as I never knew about Otis being Mel Tillis piano player but now I know. Thanks

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 1 Dec 2017 7:52 pm

George Piburn wrote:Not only was Jim a superlative singer

the fellow in the video below that played the drunk Otis,

he was the Piano Player for Mel Tillis.

George
Hal Smith, the character actor that played Otis, was a legendary actor and voice actor in Hollywood. He owned a bar on Vine Street just south of H'wood Blvd. and the Capitol Records Tower. I'd occasionally drink there in the afternoons when I was living in H'wood.

He was born in 1916 and died in 1994 in Los Angeles. I don't believe he was ever anyone's piano player, let alone Mel Tillis'.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 1 Dec 2017 8:09 pm

Clearly another example of BAKEd News.

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 2 Dec 2017 9:18 am

I am certainly no historian,

I did have a career in professional audio mixing in the 70's
During a Show at the Miami Dade County Youth Fair , some where between 1976-79 I did a show with the Mel Tillis Band.

When he introduced the band members he Mel said that the piano player was the fellow that played Otis the drunk on the Andy Griffith Show.

That is where I got the quote I expressed. If my comment is Hear Say I apologize and stand corrected to the discussion.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 2 Dec 2017 9:21 am

Must have been a joke. Definitely not the same guy.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 7 Dec 2017 9:54 am

Hal Smith, the character actor that played Otis, was a legendary actor and voice actor in Hollywood. He owned a bar on Vine Street just south of H'wood Blvd. and the Capitol Records Tower. I'd occasionally drink there in the afternoons when I was living in H'wood.

He was born in 1916 and died in 1994 in Los Angeles. I don't believe he was ever anyone's piano player, let alone Mel Tillis'.

No mention of him here...
https://www.meltillis.com/band/

Jim Waldrop · Post by **Jim Waldrop** » 19 Dec 2017 12:38 pm

Jim Nabors and I both graduated from the University of Alabama. He was there a little before me but he was not all that much older than me.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Jim Nabors

Jim Nabors

Otis

Re: Otis

Just what MMel said at a show.

Gomer