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Fabor Robison glanced nervously at his
wristwatch as he wheeled his black
Cadillac into the parking lot of radio station
KTRB in Modesto, California.
“I don’t know if we made it or not, Jim
,
”
he grimaced as
he screeched into the first open parking space.
“Well, let’s go in and find out
,
”
Jim
responded as he stretched his hand into the back seat to retrieve his white cowboy hat. It
was Thursday, February 4, 1954, and Jim Reeves was to appear at the California Ballroom
with ‘Fat Boy’ Bill Mitchell in just a few short hours. Robison, Reeves’ Hollywood-
based producer and record label boss, had arranged for Jim to stop by Chester Smith’s
daily KTRB radio show to publicize that evening’s performance and promote
I Love You
,
his current Abbott Records duet with Ginny Wright.
But they didn’t make it in time. Reeves had been delayed by a longer-than-expected
autograph session at a local record shop, and Chester was just about to sign off the air
when the two walked in. Smith introduced Fabor to Alvis Coker, whose daily radio show
with his Coker Family Band was up next on the broadcast schedule. With his wife
Geraldine on upright bass, 14-year-old daughter Alvidine on vocals, and 12-year-old son
Sandy on fiddle, the Cokers were a popular local group who played the country hits of
the day. Robison explained the situation and asked Alvis if Reeves could appear on the
Cokers’ show since they’d missed their chance with Chester. The good-natured Coker
patriarch, very familiar with Jim Reeves and his recent #1 hits,
Mexican Joe
and
Bimbo
,
readily agreed.
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