Today we mourn the loss of a versatile performer, Jimmy Dean. Mr. Dean was a country singer whose biggest hit Big Bad John was number 1 back in 1961. It is a heart-wrenching song about a quiet man who saved a group of miners, but was unable to save himself. He had a minor hit before that in 1953, called Bummin Around. In the time between hits, he hosted a popular country radio show. By the late 1950′s he found himself with a variety show on TV, introducing country music to a new audience. He was the first guest host of The Tonight Show in the 60′s and even spent some time hosting a news program, The Morning Show. When his variety show ended, he took a stab at the movies and is perhaps best known in film for his role as Willard Whyte in the James Bond movie, Diamonds are Forever.
When his peers invested in race horses and prize cattle, he put his money into hogs. At first, it was a source of amusement to him to talk about his “hogs”, but when the market collapsed he recalled how his grandpa would make sausage, and was inspired to turn downturn into upswing. Jimmy Deans Food offered a good product at a fair price and was lead to success by Mr. Dean’s clever commercials. The company was eventually sold, however, Mr. Dean stayed on as a spokesman until 2004.
Musically, he continued to churn out hits into the 1970′s until he semi-retired. He served on the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and wrote a book to cap off his remarkable career. In Febuary of 2010, he was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and will be inducted, posthumously, in October.
So in honor of his amazing streak of successes, today’s list will be of stars who have built food related companies – on the side, as they say.
1) Paul Newman – former honoree of The Daily List Blog, whose Newman’s Own food label has donated over $290 million dollars to charity. That’s a lot of salad dressing, popcorn, pizza, lemonade, and the list of products just keeps getting longer.
2) Sammy Hagar – singer for Van Halen. He has created a brand of Tequila, Cabo Wabo. This is the same name as his growing chain of nightclubs.
3) Planet Hollywood – a Partnership with Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Arnold Schwarzenegger. This one hasn’t done so well lately, having filed for bankruptcy protection twice.
4) Eddie Money and Jonathan Cain – rock stars (Mr. Cain was the keyboardist for The Baby’s and Journey) are partners in a wine venture – the Wanna Go Back label. (For a fascinating list of other Celebrity Wine Vintners, check out this article in LuxLife)
5) Jimmy Johnson – football coach, University of Miami/Dallas Cowboys – owns a restaurant called Three Rings, which is the number of championship rings he has from the college and professional ranks.
6) Travis Barker – drummer, Blink-182 - co-owner of a Wahoo Fish Tacos in Norco, CA.
7) Dan Ackroyd – actor, co-founder of The House of Blues. He still hosts the House of Blues Radio Hour as Elwood.
8) Johnny Depp – actor, part owner of The Viper Room. This club is perhaps best known as the place River Phoenix died.
9) Tim Horton – Hockey Player, co-founder of Tim Horton Donuts, which became Tim Horton’s, which still later became Tim Hortons. This chain is now larger than McDonald’s in Canada. It should be noted that Tim died in 1974, well before the huge growth of the company that still bears his name.
10) Ludacris – rapper, co-founder Straits Restaurants - With 5 locations currently, and another set to open, it is growing despite the recession. I, for one, cannot wait to try it next time I am in Atlanta (or San Jose, or Santa Monica, or…). It should be noted that Ludacris also has his own cognac as well, Conjure. I wonder if this mean he won’t rap about Hennessy, anymore?
We’ll miss you Jimmy, but rest assured, celebrities are willing than ever to take a chance in serving up great food and drinks. Perhaps one day we’ll be able to get some Jimmy Dean Sausage, a Tim Hortons donut, with a cup of Newman’s Own Coffee (or Lemonade for those so inclined) at the House of Blues. Ok, maybe that is pushing it.
