Pam Simmons, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, Jean Simmons , Buddy Lancaster, and
Tommy Simmons. Buddy Lancaster, pictured here, and Dean Hinesley were both regulars in the Simmons Family Band.
This Ozark Folk Center 50th Anniversary Legacy Photo is sponsored by
the Family of Jean Jennings
In Memory of our sweet Mother and Grandmother, Jean Jennings, with love from her Family.
The Simmons Family, (Tommy, Jean, and Pam) would often perform at events around the state at the invitation of Bill Clinton. He was always interested in promoting the Ozark Folk Center and the music and crafts of Mountain View. He could even be seen occasionally at a local gathering of musicians. One evening, he enjoyed a musical gathering at the home of Billy Jo Tatum, Committee of One Hundred member.
Jean Simmons Jennings of The Simmons Family had humble beginnings, growing up in rural Van Buren County, but through her music became friends with and hosted many politicians, actors, and famous musicians from around the world. With the Simmons Family, The Leatherwoods, and with her daughter Pam, she was featured on at least 25 albums, and was featured as a guest on many other albums. She was a huge supporter of the Music Roots Program, and worked tirelessly on promoting traditional music of the Ozarks. She was immensely musically talented, and shared that talent in a way that always promoted the local community.
Jean was not only known for teaching herself to play five or more instruments, but also for her gracious spirit and her ability to cook. To know Jean was to love Jean, and to also love her big homemade breakfasts and fruit cobblers. She was featured in two national cookbooks, although her family remembers how difficult it was for her to host the cookbook writers as Jean rarely wrote down a recipe. “A scoop from the big wooden spoon” was not quite exact enough for most recipe-followers.
Jean performed all over the United States, including performing in D.C. for Hilary Clinton and the United States Senators’ wives. She was featured on HeeHaw, the Tonight Show’s “Most Interesting People in the United States,” and frequently appeared on state-wide news programs. Her favorite place to play, however, was the Ozark Folk Center. The the Ozark Folk Center recognized her contributions to the community and the Folk Center by naming the Green room in the large auditorium “The Jean Jennings Room” in 2007.
Blog submitted by Pam Setser and Alison Lee.
The Committee of One Hundred Tribute Wall recognizes contributions to the preservation of Ozark folk culture.
If you would like to help preserve the folk culture of the Ozarks, consider a
The Committee is made up entirely of volunteers so, except for transaction fees, all of your donation funds music, craft, or the herb gardens and, as a 501c3 entity
your donation is tax deductible!
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