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Jim Lowe

1927 – 2016

American singer-songwriter

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About Jim Lowe

Lived 1927 – 2016 (aged 89). Jim Lowe was an American composer, singer, radio personality, songwriter, disc jockey and musician.

James Ellsworth Lowe (May 7, 1923 – December 12, 2016) was an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1956 number-one hit song, "The Green Door". He also served as a disc jockey and radio host and personality and was considered an expert on the popular music of the 1940s and 1950s. Lowe graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1948. He worked for several radio stations in Springfield, Indianapolis, and Chicago, before moving to WCBS in New York City in 1956.

A million-seller and gold record recipient, Lowe's 1956 hit "The Green Door" was written by Marvin Moore and Bob "Hutch" Davie.

Lowe earlier wrote "Gambler's Guitar", a million-selling hit for Rusty Draper in 1953. His most notable run as a disc jockey was with WNEW AM in New York, from 1964. 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. For contributions to the music industry, Lowe was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6341 Hollywood Boulevard.

Lowe died on December 12, 2016, at his home in East Hampton, Long Island, after a long illness.

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 "Michael J. Pollard For President"b/w "The Ol' Race Track" - - - 1973 "Green Door" (Re-recorded version)b/w "San Francisco Bay"Featuring Teresa Brewer on background vocals - - -

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Missouri
Awards
Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

People in Jim Lowe's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jim Lowe's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jim Lowe?

American singer-songwriter

When was Jim Lowe born?

Jim Lowe was born on 7 May 1927 in Springfield.

When did Jim Lowe die?

Jim Lowe died on 12 December 2016 in East Hampton.

What was Jim Lowe's occupation?

Jim Lowe was a composer, singer, radio personality, songwriter, disc jockey and musician.

What nationality was Jim Lowe?

Jim Lowe was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jim Lowe

· Wikidata: Q1378364

· DBpedia: Jim Lowe

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jim Lowe. https://biography.guide/jim-lowe/

MLA: "Jim Lowe." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jim-lowe/.

Chicago: "Jim Lowe." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jim-lowe/.

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