Collection:LSA

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Louisiana General

Copyright Holder: Louisiana State Archives

Date Issued: 1993-03-10

Duration: 01:01:04

Subjects: Oral history | Rogers, James C. "Jimmie," 1897-1933 | Davis, James H. "Jimmie," 1899-2000 | Dodd, William J. "Bill," 1909-1991

Contributors:

• Davis, Jimmie Interviewee
• Courtney, Bob Interviewer
• Jackson, Sailor Jr. Photographer

Oral history with singer/songwriter 47th Governor of Louisiana James Houston "Jimmie" Davis (11 September 1899–5 November 2000) conducted on March 10, 1993. In this interview, Davis discusses his early life, his lengthy career as a country singer, his experiences recording singles, his brief year of teaching history, and his time as governor of Louisiana. Davis also shares some stories from his recording sessions and from his two terms as Governor. Davis' song "You Are My Sunshine," recorded in 1940, became one of the official state songs of Louisiana by legislation under Senator Virginia Shehee in 1977.