"You Are My Sunshine" Singer Jimmie Davis Dead at 101 By Michael Gray Country Music Hall of Fame member Jimmie Davis, whose signature song, "You Are My Sunshine," one of the most recognized country songs in the world, died Sunday morning (Nov. 5) at age 101. The two-time governor of Louisiana passed away at his home in Baton Rouge, La., in his sleep. Born Sept. 11, 1899, Davis was country music's first centenarian. In January, the singer was admitted into a Baton Rouge hospital after he fell at home. He did not break any bones but did suffer bruises. Davis may have suffered a small stroke close to the time of his fall. Many reliable reference books list James Houston Davis' birth in 1902. However, 1899 is now commonly accepted as the correct year of the country star's birth. Davis misrepresented his age for many years (probably a move to help win over younger voters in later elections) then as he got older he corrected it, making him one of the few people to actually move their birth date back rather than forward. Davis began recording in 1928 and was still recording 70 years later, giving him one of the longest recording careers in entertainment history. Davis also had the distinction of being one of the earliest country singers to record with a racially integrated band. One of 11 children born in Beech Springs, La., to a sharecropping couple, Davis rose to prominence in the 1930s with a smooth vocal style that helped popularize country music far beyond its original rural southern audience. The singer's best-known songs, particularly "You Are My Sunshine," helped carry him to the governorship of Louisiana in 1944 and in 1960. With its easy-to-follow melody and sweet inspirational message, "You Are My Sunshine" has been recorded more than 350 times by many top artists. The song, now a country music anthem and a children's favorite, became nationally known in 1941 through recordings by Gene Autry and Bing Crosby. Davis' own Decca recording was released in 1940. Prior to his purchase of the song, "You Are My Sunshine" was credited to Paul Rice, a member of Louisiana band The Rice Brothers Gang, but Rice previously may have purchased the copyright himself. The rumored sale price between Rice and Davis was as low as $15 and as high as $500. The copyright to "You Are My Sunshine" is now perhaps the most valuable in country music. Far from being frowned on, purchasing the original compositions of other local musicians was the accepted practice of the time. There was nothing underhanded about it. Like A.P. Carter and a host of other artists of the era did, Davis would rework the original tunes to fit his style of singing and change the lyrics to meet his own needs. Regardless of its origin, "You Are My Sunshine" clearly belonged to Davis -- he's the reason it is one of the most recognized and most loved songs in the world.

Source Country.com