Profile of Jerry Clower on Famous Like Me

Jerry Clower (September 28, 1926-August 24, 1998) was a popular country comedian best known for his stories of the rural South.

Clower was born "Howard Gerald Clower" in Liberty, Mississippi. He began a stint in the Navy immediately after graduating high school, then studied agriculture at Mississippi State University, where he played college football. He became a fertilizer salesman, and got in the habit of telling funny stories to boost his sales. It was while speaking to a group of farmers in Lubbock, Texas in 1971 that a friend suggested that he might have a future in comedy. His friend taped his next speech. MCA received a copy and offered Clower a contract.

His first album, "Jerry Clower from Yazoo City, Mississippi Talkin’!," was released in 1971. After some word-of-mouth advertising, it hit the Top 20 on the country charts. Several other albums followed. Many of his comedic stories revolved around the fictional Ledbetter family, especially his "best friend" Marcel Ledbetter. Those stories are considered to be informal chronicles of early 20th century rural Southern life.

In 1973, Clower became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and remained with that organization until his death. His last album was Peaches and Possums released in October 1998, after his death. He was the author of 4 books. The book "Ain't God Good" became the basis for an inspirational documentary film of the same title that won an award from the New York International Film Festival.

Clower died at age 71 after heart bypass surgery.

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