Gentleman Jim Reeves began his career hoping to become a baseball professional with the St Louis Cardinals but saw his playing career brought to an abrupt end through an ankle injury. He then became a DJ in Louisiana and finally turned to recording on the Macy label in 1950, but it was the non-appearance of Hank Williams for a radio performance in 1952 that got Jim his big break and over the next decade he became one of country music s biggest stars. His mix of country and pop ballads was a style that would eventually be copied by many other artists, all eager to follow in Jim s footsteps. On July 31st 1964 Jim and his manager were flying back to Nashville from Arkansas when their plane crashed into dense woodland outside Nashville. Despite over 500 people joining in the search, the bodies weren t found for three days.