• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

The Flying Cowboy Passes

June 1, 2010/by Robert K Oermann

Longtime Fan Fair favorite Jimmy Kish, known as “The Flying Cowboy,” died in Nashville last Thursday at age 84.

Mr. Kish was a guitarist, songwriter, publisher, actor, square-dance caller, radio personality and licensed pilot. He had a booth at the first Fan Fair celebration in 1972 and has been a fixture there ever since. Initially, he had his own booth, complete with a plywood airplane. In more recent years he built and managed the booth for The Pioneers of Country Music, known as The Reunionaires.

The Ohio native entered show business in 1945, performing on a medicine show. His singing, guitar playing and square-dance calling led to a radio job on KCOR in San Antonio. Other early radio jobs included WJHP in Jacksonville and KWBN in Williston, North Dakota.

He appeared in the 1946 movie Geronimo Pass with Red River Dave. Returning to Ohio, he worked at radio stations in Youngstown and Ashtabula.

In 1952, Jimmy Kish & His Radio Cowboys became the staff band on WHK in Cleveland. In 1952-54, he was a regular on Pee Wee King’s television show. It was at this time that he earned his pilot’s license. He made a number of records, both as a singer and as a square dance caller.

In 1966, while hosting a radio show on WELW in Willoughby, Ohio, he flew a group of country fans to Nashville to see the Grand Ole Opry. An announcer dubbed him “The Flying Cowboy,” and the nickname stuck.

In later years, Mr. Kish did cameos in music videos by George Jones, Hank Williams Jr. and Garth Brooks and in the movies Ernest Goes to Jail, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Living Proof and Sweet Dreams.

Jimmy Kish passed away on May 27. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruth Kish, by five children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The funeral was Monday, May 31, with burial following at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Robert K Oermann
Robert K Oermann
Robert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
Robert K Oermann
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: New Morgan Wallen Single Is ‘Brilliantly Produced’ - June 26, 2025
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Zach Top Kicks Off Summer - June 12, 2025
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Old Dominion ‘Live & Breathe Hooks’ - June 5, 2025
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png 0 0 Robert K Oermann https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Robert K Oermann2010-06-01 08:10:072010-06-01 08:10:07The Flying Cowboy Passes
You might also like
Lifenotes: Mel McDaniel Hospitalized; More
“Pete” Peterson Passes
Aubrey Mayhew Memorial; Babies On Way For LBT and Luke Bryan
Lifenotes: Dene Hallam
Jo Dee Welcomes Baby Boy
Community: Haiti Benefit, Trey Bruce, Dan Harr, Josh Ragsdale
2 replies
  1. Karen J.Raufeisen
    Karen J.Raufeisen says:
    June 7, 2010 at 1:09 am

    I’m sure I saw him on the PeeWee King show. Used to watch it every week. I’m sure I saw his booth at fan fair too. Yes, he will be missed. Country music needs more men like him. Condolences to the family.

    Log in to Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Are Cowboys this Tough ??? | Henryetta Online says:
    June 1, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    […] The Flying Cowboy Passes : MusicRow […]

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • Johnny Dailey Performs At GM Spring Hill’s Manufacturing Celebration July 2, 2025
  • Industry Ink: Sam Hunt, Erin Enderlin, MŌRIAH, More July 2, 2025
  • Kinfolk Nashville Writers Camp Celebrates Black Music Month With Inaugural Songwriter Camp July 2, 2025
  • Hendrix Frankenreiter Signs with Group Projects, Red Light, Arrival Artists July 2, 2025
  • Josh Turner Joins Star-Studded Lineup For ‘A Capitol Fourth’ July 2, 2025
  • My Music Row Story: Combustion Music’s Chris Farren July 2, 2025
  • Krista Dykes Launches She Laughs Media July 2, 2025
  • Dustin Lynch Celebrates The 4th With New ‘Club Set Remixes’ EP July 2, 2025
  • Grand Ole Opry To Make One-Night Return To Ryman Auditorium July 2, 2025
  • Southall Celebrates Platinum At Opry Debut July 2, 2025

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2025 Music Row Enterprises, LLC - Enfold WordPress Theme by Kriesi
Website hosted by Nashville web design company, All My Web Needs.
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to Instagram
Scroll to top