James E. Stovall, 58, passed away in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, April 2, 2016.
He was born in Corsicana, Texas, to Dennis D. and Carolyn (Reed) Stovall on September 7, 1957.
He grew up in Ennis, Texas and attended Ennis High School. On July 26, 2008, he married Elizabeth B. Reel and
they made their home in Ennis. He started playing drums at 15 years old. He played with local country bands in the
area until age of 18 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force. After his honorable discharge in October of 1978,
he formed a country music band of Airmen called Texas Dust, but when we couldn’t find a regular bass player. He
taught himself bass guitar and played four years with this group. They won vocal group of the year at the Terry Awards
in 1978.
After that, he went to work playing music full time. Things were good for him in the music business and he began to
tour. His first tour was with an artist named Claude King out of Shreveport, LA who’s song Wolverton Mountain was a
#1 hit back in the 1960s. He continued touring over the next 25 years with the following artists: Freddy Fender, Moe
Bandy, Clay Walker and with Ray Price for 4 years, and with Janie Fricke for 9 years, and several more artist not
mentioned here.
With these great artists, he had a chance to appear on several TV Shows. The Grand Old Opry 6 times, Crooke
and Chase on TNN 3 times and 2 times on the show Nashville Now, with the host Ralph Emory. He played on two of
Janie Fricke’s albums, Greatest Hits Now and Then and her album Heroes.
Awards won: Terry Awards: Bass Player of the year 1988 and again in 1992. He was Nominated at the Terry
Awards as 2006 Bass Player of the year. He was presented an award at the Terry Awards for Club of the year 2006.
Certificates of Appreciation: Gov. (now President) George W. Bush’s Inaugural Ball in Austin, Texas. He was presented
an award from Gib Lewis, (Speaker of the House).
He was currently playing with a local band Ira Bradford and Bustin’ Loose who was nominated for Dallas Band of
the Year.
James is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Stovall; daughter, Stephany Stovall; two grandchildren; his father, Dennis
Stovall; one brother, Stephen Stovall and wife, Joyce; and sisters: Vallory Leech and Denise Brassart and husband,
Edward.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn Stovall and two sisters; Patricia Richardson and Kerri Nodine.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at 1 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary of Ennis.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at 2 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary Chapel of
Ennis with Rev. Ed Ramsey.
www.jekeevermortuary.com
