Jim Nabors was a talented TV actor and possessed an exceptional singing voice too. He was also a staple at the Indianapolis 500, singing its unofficial anthem, “Back Home Again in Indiana.”
Born James Thurston Nabors in Sylacauga, Alabama, in 1930, Nabors was discovered by Andy Griffith while working at a Santa Monica nightclub called The Horn, where he sang and performed in cabaret theater. He eventually joined The Andy Griffith Show, where he played Gomer Pyle, the friendly gas station attendant.
Nabors from The Andy Griffith Show (photo courtesy The NY Times)
That character was so popular that Nabors was given his own spin-off show, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. He also appeared in films, including Stroker Ace (1983) and The Cannonball Run II (1984), starring his good friend Burt Reynolds.
Nabors showcased his rich baritone singing voice during the 1960s and 1970s. Producers made sure to incorporate musical numbers whenever Nabors was on The Andy Griffith Show and on his own sitcom, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. He also showcased his remarkable singing voice on many variety shows, including The Danny Kaye Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and The Carol Burnett Show. Nabors even had an opportunity to host his own variety shows, The Jim Nabors Hour and The Jim Nabors Show. Nabors furthered his singing career by recording at least two dozen albums.
In 1972, Nabors attended the Indianapolis 500 as a guest of businessman and casino mogul Bill Harrah. What he didn’t anticipate was that he’d soon join a long list of celebrities, including Dinah Shore, Mel Torme, and Florence Henderson, who would be invited to sing the race’s signature song, “Back Home In Indiana.”
500 owner Tony Hulman asked him to sing, but he had very little time to prepare. So Nabors wrote the words on the palm of his hand and read them as he delivered a stirring rendition of the song. The crowd responded with a thunderous ovation.
It was the beginning of a long stand. Nabors performed “Back Home Again in Indiana” 36 times between 1972 and 2014.
Not only did Nabors love performing during pre-race ceremonies, but he also enjoyed the many festivities that occurred during race weekend, including attending the traditional Saturday drivers’ meeting and riding in the 500 Festival Parade.
Tributes poured in when Nabors died in 2017, including from the entertainment world and the IndyCar racing community. IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles said that “Jim’s stirring rendition of ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’ became as much of a tradition of the Indianapolis 500 as the command to start engines or the winner’s bottle of milk.”
Boles added that Nabors “became an unofficial Hoosier,” and “that for 90 seconds every year (when he sang the song), there was no better Hoosier than Jim Nabors.” Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves added that Nabors “made the Indianapolis 500 bigger and better than it was, a great reminder of how powerful ‘Back Home Again’ is.”
Jim Nabors, actor, singer, and Indy 500 icon.
