He also served as a disc jockey and radio host and personality, and has been considered an expert on the popular music of the 1940s and 1950s.
Born in Springfield, Missouri, Lowe graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia.
His most notable run as a disc jockey was with WNEW AM in New York. Lowe also worked at WNBC AM in New York where he was heard both locally and on the coast-to-coast NBC Radio weekend program Monitor.
A million-seller and gold record recipient, Lowe's 1956 hit "Green Door" was written by Marvin Moore and Bob Davie. The song reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1956. Lowe earlier wrote "Gambler's Guitar", a million-selling hit for Rusty Draper in 1953.
He retired in 2004 at the age of 81, and lived in Southampton, New York.
Lowe died on December 12, 2016 at his home in East Hampton, Long Island, after a long illness.
For contributions to the music industry, Lowe was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6341 Hollywood Boulevard.
Discography
Singles
Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated US R&B US Country Album
1953 "Gambler's Guitar"
b/w "The Martins and The Coys" - - - The Door Of Fame
"Look In Both Directions"
b/w "Santa Claus Rides A Strawberry Roan" (Non-album track) - - -
1954 "Pretty Fickle Darlin'"
b/w "Go and Leave Me" - - -
"River Boat"
b/w "Goodbye Little Sweetheart" - - -
1955 "Close The Door"
b/w "Nuevo Laredo" (Non-album track) 27 - - Songs They Sing Behind The Green Door
"Maybellene"
b/w "Rene LaRue" (from Wicked Women) - 13 - Non-album tracks
"John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith"
b/w "St. James Avenue" - - -
1956 "Blue Suede Shoes"
b/w "(Love Is) The $64,000 Question" - - -
"The Green Door"
b/w "(The Story Of) The Little Man In Chinatown" (Non-album track) 1 5 - Songs They Sing Behind The Green Door
"Prince Of Peace"
b/w "Santa Claus Rides A Strawberry Roan" (Non-album track) - - - The Door Of Fame
"The Martins and The Coys"
b/w "The Golden Goose Is Dead" - - -
1957 "By You, By You, By You" / 43 - - Non-album tracks
"I Feel The Beat" 84 - -
"Four Walls" / 15 - -
"Talkin' To The Blues" 15 - 8
"From A Jack To A King"
b/w "Slow Train" - - -
"The Bright Light"
b/w "Rock-A-Chicka" - - -
1958 "The Lady From Johannesburg"
b/w "Kewpie Doll" - - -
"Take Us To Your President"
b/w "Later On Tonight" - - -
"Ja Ja Ja"
b/w "Chapel Bells On Chapel Hill" - - -
"Play Number Theven"
b/w "Come Away From His Arms" - - -
1959 "Without You"
b/w "I'm Movin' On" - - -
1960 "He'll Have To Go"
b/w "(This Life Is Just A) Dress Rehearsal" - - -
"The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere"
b/w "The Tomorrow That Never Came" - - -
"Man Of The Cloth"
b/w "Someone Else's Arms" - - -
1961 "That Do Make It Nice"
b/w "Two Sides To Every Story" - - -
1963 "Hootenanny Granny"
b/w "These Bones Gonna Rise Again" 103 - -
1964 "Addis Ababa"
b/w "Have You Ever Been Lonely" - - -
1965 "Mr. Moses"
b/w "Make Your Back Strong" - - -
1967 "Blotsen Botten"
b/w "Gambler's Guitar" - - -
1968 "Micahel J. Pollard For President"
b/w "The Ol' Race Track" - - -
1973 "Green Door" (Re-recorded version)
b/w "San Francisco Bay"
Featuting Teresa Brewer on background vocals - - -
Gambler's Guitar
Jim Lowe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell of the hearts that this vagabond has broken
Tell of the fun that I've had
Tell of the lovin' and the laughin' and the jokin'
Back when I was glad, oh back when I was glad
Tell it pretty, my guitar
Oh, what a gambler's spree
Tell of the hotty way ol' lady luck was burnin'
Everyone but me, yes everyone but me
Speak of the time when I took my biggest gamble
In a game where hearts were high
Speak of the funny way my heart began to ramble
When she caught my eye, yes when she caught my eye
Tell all the folks that this life's a game of poker
A fool and his gold must part
But in this hectic world the biggest fool's the joker
Who gambles with his heart, who gambles with his heart
Tell it sad, my guitar
That's the story of a gambler's guitar
The lyrics of Jim Lowe's song "Gambler's Guitar" tell the story of a vagabond gambler and his guitar. The gambler reminisces about his past, speaking to his guitar and asking it to tell the tales of the hearts he has broken, the fun he has had, and the love and laughter he once experienced. He speaks of his days as a riverboat gambler, where he watched others lose while he remained lucky, and tells of the time when he took his biggest gamble - on a woman who caught his eye. Throughout the song, he stresses the importance of never gambling with one's heart, as it is the biggest risk of all.
The song is centered around the theme of gambling, both in terms of cards and love. The lyrics paint a picture of a carefree and reckless lifestyle, but the gambler's introspection reveals a touching vulnerability. There is a sense of regret in his voice as he remembers the love he once had but lost. It is a reminder that life is unpredictable and heartbreak can be just as devastating as losing a hand of poker. Through his guitar, the gambler tells his story and reflects on the consequences of his choices.
Line by Line Meaning
My guitar, my guitar
The instrument that I use to tell my story
Tell of the hearts that this vagabond has broken
Recount the number of people that I hurt and led on
Tell of the fun that I've had
Relate the memories of joyous times and adventure
Tell of the lovin' and the laughin' and the jokin'
Remember the moments of love and humor that we shared
Back when I was glad, oh back when I was glad
Reflect on the happier days of my youth
Tell it pretty, my guitar
Make it sound good when I tell my story
Tell her of the days when the riverboat was turnin'
Recall my days gambling on the river on a boat
Oh, what a gambler's spree
It was a wild time filled with risk
Tell of the hotty way ol' lady luck was burnin'
The feeling of luck and momentum that I experienced
Everyone but me, yes everyone but me
Everyone else was lucky but me, I lost everything
Speak of the time when I took my biggest gamble
Describe the experience of taking the biggest risk of my life
In a game where hearts were high
It was a game of high stakes and emotion
Speak of the funny way my heart began to ramble
Talk about how I fell in love in a surprising way
When she caught my eye, yes when she caught my eye
When I saw her, I knew I was in trouble
Tell all the folks that this life's a game of poker
Explain to people that life is like a game of poker
A fool and his gold must part
If you are foolish with your money, you will lose it
But in this hectic world the biggest fool's the joker
In a world of chaos, those who play around with their hearts are the most foolish
Who gambles with his heart, who gambles with his heart
Those who take risks with their hearts often get hurt
Tell it sad, my guitar
Make it sound like a tragic story
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIM LOWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kimbozw
A cover version of this song in Finland was entitled NAURAVA KULKURI. A big hit in 1986.
Juha Ketola
And much better.
wowzerz497
This song was stuck in my head for a week & I finally found it!
jeff werner
WOW! A real hard-to-find recording. Thank you !
Bill Busse
This is the original recording by the composer Jim Lowe. It was released on Mercury and just made the bottom of the Billboard charts. Mercury later recorded it by Rusty Draper who basically did an exact copy of Jim's original.
Warp Drive Fueled by Insomnia
I saw this as part of a Fallout 4 list, but after listening this seems like something that would've been more at home in Fallout New Vegas. Kinda sad that it wasn't in it now.
Nailah Princess of Hokuto
It's in the Old World Radio Mod. I think in Cadillac Jacks Radio Shack Mod to be specific. It can be downloaded together in Old World Radio or Separately on Galaxy News Radio Boston, or Cadillac Jacks Radio Shack.
shab pieczony
This song is featured in Red Rocket Radio Bop as well.
Dirk Lorenzen
Most of the not-so-young germans know this melody.
janis jop
Great!!
Thank you!!