"Death Row" 1960-Story of Caryl Chessman The Red Light Bandit-Jimmy Minor Jim

This is an original Mercury release record from 1960. This is the remastered version from Jim's new cd "The Complete 45 Collection. This song "Death Row" is about Caryl Chessman, the Red Light Bandit. Caryl was convicted on circumstantial evidence only based on the testimony of two policeman. He was on California's death row for 12 years and then finally executed. The head of Mercury records asked Jim to do a song about Caryl Chessman, and Jim wrote "Death Row". Marlon Brando asked Art if he had a song about Chessman for one his movies, that never happened. Mercury released the song in April 1960 and radio stations across the US stopped playing this great song once Caryl was executed. Jim Minor-Lead vocals, Chet Atkins-lead guitar, Floyd Cramer-piano, The Jordanaires-Background vocals.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• colin escott
• bear family records
• grand ole opry

[orson15]

@mbdfilms No one does. There is no justification for killing, even by the state.

[EarlyOldies]

I also agree. He got an extra dozen years of life he didn't deserve. We were finally put out of his misery on my eighteenth birthday. I abhor songs that glamorize killers. I intentionally keep them out of my 4000 song "Jukebox."  There are many better unsung people to celebrate.

[laurence132]

@sportshistorybuff AMEN I agree both his parents were kind and honest Chessman was a smug arrogant deviant who hurt and robbed the innocent for personal gain He is NO role model

[sportshistorybuff]

There are better death penalty martyrs than this

arrogant punk. The evidence against him for a 3-4 day crime spree was massive, completely consistent with his prior crimes. According to his warden, fellow inmates detested him for vicious behavior. He stabbed an inmate in the face with a pencil arguing over how to decorate an X-mas tree, never showed remorse for his crimes. Executing him was a very small injustice, if any at all.

[razorbackman1]

Jim Minor was approached by Art Talmadge of Mercury records in 1960 and Art wanted a song about Chessman. Jim wrote DEATH ROW and it was released in the Spring of 1960 by Mercury Records. The song was played on the radio some but for most it had to of a morbid title to it for DJs to play. When Chessman was executed in 1960 the song kinda died with it. Marlon Brando approached Art and wanted a song for one of his movies but that never happened.

[razorbackman1]

I believe he was innocent. He was convicted on circumstantial evidence ONLY, based on the testimony of two policeman. They teach his case in law schools all over the country.

[mbdfilms]

@soifdesavoir check out "cell 2455 death row" chessman's autobiography and "when you read this, they will have killed me." from what i've read it looks like chessman could have very likely been innocent. he certainly didn't deserve the death penalty.

[soifdesavoir]

was chessman innocent?