As we begin a new year, a new decade, a new century and a new Millennium, I think it's appropriate to pause for a look at where we've been and where we're going with The Jim Reeves Way.

First let me thank the tens of thousands of you who have taken the time to visit this site over the last year or so. Mail has come from such far-flung places as Sri Lanka, Australia, the U.K., the Panama Canal Zone and even Iceland! Truly Jim Reeves' fabulous voice touched the hearts and souls of millions around the world.

Since this website was originally created back in November of 1998 in response to a lot of misinformation about Jim that has been posted elsewhere on the web, I have been proud to claim endorsement by "members of the Reeves family." I felt it important to draw a distinction between this site and another that also purports to "honor" him. I have wanted fans to know that what is presented here is accurate and trustworthy, because it comes from Jim's own immediate family, as well as his closest friends and associates who knew him best.

Reeves family members have shared with me rare items from Jim's personal and professional life, photos, letters and priceless anecdotes.

In case you wondered, those who have helped include Jim's two surviving sisters, Luie and Vergie. Although they've had a longstanding policy of protecting their privacy and not responding to fan queries, they have nevertheless made themselves available to help me. Various nieces and nephews, including but not limited to Lani Jo, Carolyn, Kay, Alton, Kenneth, Wayne, Billy Rex, Joann, and others have encouraged my efforts by giving assistance, directly and indirectly, as have some other Reeves descendents like Ronda Strickland.The Reeves family has been most gracious in helping when asked, and volunteering when they thought they could offer a better insight into Jim Reeves and his music.

They haven't always agreed with everything that's posted here, and at times they've been a bit embarrassed to see dirty linen aired in public.

But over and over again they have told us that they are helping us because they are tired of the lies and smears on Jim's character, as contained in a pseudo-biography on Jim as well as postings elsewhere on the web. Simply put, they are anxious to see the record set straight.

This has been an uphill battle that has often brought to mind the old saying that "A Lie travels halfway around the world before Truth puts on its boots." Especially vulnerable are fans who maybe don't have the time to study Jim's life, or are not as discerning, and therefore don't realize that a lot of what they've read and heard about him is simply not true.

One grandnephew of Jim's, who was only a toddler when Jim was lost, has taken some shots at The Jim Reeves Way in the course of "heartily endorsing" another site. (Fortunately, he has the authority to speak only for himself, and is far outnumbered by the rest of the clan!) Let the record show that when he attacks me, he is also attacking members of his own family, who have supplied a lot of what's presented here. Please keep in mind that what you read on The Jim Reeves Way is backed up by credible sources, taped interviews and court documents. It's too bad others don't share the same passion for accuracy and accountability.

This website will continue to update you as to the court case involving Mary's estate, which is so intertwined with the Jim Reeves legacy. Many of you have emailed me from around the world to say you appreciate being kept informed about all this.

Clearly Jim wanted his musical heritage to be preserved, as evidenced by the backlog of recordings he left his wife Mary as "insurance." As his will confirms, he also intended for his records to continue to be promoted for the benefit of his family and a musical scholarship he endowed.

Mary did her best to see to it that Jim's wishes were respected but, alas, she made a fatal error in her choice of a second husband, who has worked maniacally to diminish not only her bank account, but also the place Jim Reeves holds in the history of recorded music.

The motivations of Lani Arnold, the Reeves niece who has brought a lawsuit to protect Jim and Mary's legacy, have come under assault by the previously mentioned grandnephew for one, and his father who harbors longstanding bitterness toward Mary over her refusal to support his singing career. But the fact remains that Mrs. Arnold filed an affadavit disclaiming any financial benefit which might otherwise acrue to her from the lawsuit. And even if the estate would revert to Jim and Mary's families, Lani does not stand to profit anyway because her mother Vergie is still alive, and thus that share of the inheritance would go to her mother instead.

It may well be that the sale of the Reeves estate WAS in the best interests of Jim's legacy. But until the matter is litigated and all the facts uncovered, we won't know that, will we? If some had their way, all of this would be swept under the rug and the Reeves family would not have its day in court.

Fans need to realize that, tawdry as some of the revelations may be as reported on my site, they are VERY RELEVANT to their ability to continue to enjoy Jim's music in the future. Regardless of whether the estate remains in the hands of the new owners, or payments at least are made to the Reeves family instead of Mary's second husband, let me ask you this: Are you satisfied just listening to retread releases or would you like to hear some unreleased material by Jim instead? Do you think Jim should get the same sort of acknowledgment for his talents that other deceased artists have received -- Patsy Cline, for instance? Why haven't there been more videos released of Jim's live performances? Why doesn't Jim have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame like Patsy does? Why isn't RCA/BMG more interested in making Jim's LPs available in CD format, considering the massive popularity of his music in the U.S. as well as many foreign countries? Why isn't there a place where fans can go to see Jim Reeves memorablia?

The simple truth obviously is that there is no one currently on the scene who apparently has the wherewithal or motivation to help the fans. There are plenty of people who are helping themselves -- i.e., making lots of money off Jim's recordings. But no one has yet surfaced who is in a position to do something positive to help the fans.

The Jim Reeves Way remains the ONLY dependable source of ACCURATE information about all matters pertaining to Jim -- whether they are always pleasant or not. I am not perfect, and occasionally I make an innocent error. But when these are pointed out to me I respond quickly to make a correction. I am not aligned with any faction within the Reeves family, nor am I necessarily opposed to the new owners of the Reeves estate; instead, I am first, foremost and always a JIM REEVES FAN.

I will also give you the straight scoop on other matters pertaining to Jim with an emphasis on the positive -- including providing a Fan Forum for people around the world to share their thoughts about Jim's wonderful music. (The tributes to Jim in the Memoriam section are poignant and uplifting, as are the comments made about Mary). From time to time, we'll even do "real-time" live chats, such as we did with Jim's secretary, Joyce Jackson, who drove more than 700 miles to my home in Iowa last Winter and went online to answer questions from fans around the world for over two hours. It was both fun and informative.

The photos I have online are top-quality and from private sources, many of which have never been reproduced anywhere before. The rare audio and video is likewise original, including from foreign owners. As you know, I also have posted exceedingly rare handwritten letters from Jim and other "Scrapbook" items I continue to bring you here.

When the soundtrack from Jim's movie, "Kimberley Jim," was being prepared for release for the first time on CD last year, it was visitors from my site ONLY who were invited to share their thoughts about the music, with those comments incorporated into the booklet accompanying the CD release! Quite a compliment to those fans around the world who wrote in!

I notified fans of Mary's passing within minutes via email and with a bulletin on this website -- and scooped the Nashville media by several hours. (As a gesture of good will, we even emailed this to the webmaster of "the other" site so he could inform his readers, though he never thanked us or gave us credit). I posted Mary's will before it had even been probated (with big thanks to an unexpected but confidential source). I presented pictures taken at Mary's private memorial service. I brought you an opportunity to acquire a FREE copy of a newly-surfaced Jim Reeves video by enlisting the help of volunteer dubbers. And Jim's longtime secretary, Joyce Jackson, supplies ongoing guidance (even answering fan queries) to assure that I am ACCURATE.

Finally, mine is the ONLY website that is truly non-profit. Unlike the other site, I do not have a list of benefactors who send me money each month, and I do not sell merchandise on this site. I have not made one thin dime off Jim Reeves. Can the other webmaster make the same claim?

I want you to be able to trust the information you see here. And the support of this site by many of Jim's family members and closest associates is your guarantee that you can...

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to an honest celebration of Jim Reeves' music in the coming year! I'd appreciate it if you'd help spread the word about my site by telling your friends about it...

Julie Campbell
(Feel free to write me anytime)