John "Honky Tonk" Beams Jr.

We are saddened to announce the passing of John M. "Honky Tonk" Beams Jr. on December 26, 2023 at 2:51 PM, John went unexpectedly and he had been battling a heart illness. He was born on June 5, 1951 in Alice, Texas. He attended Noonan Elementary, Dubose Junior High, and was a graduate of William Adams High school in Alice, Texas. John was confirmed a Christian at the Immanuel Lutheran church on Texas Blvd in Alice at the age of 12.

John loved Role playing and playing the drums in various places in Alice, like the VFW, The Chandelier, and The Skyway. After graduating High School, he Joined the U.S. Army. After boot camp he was stationed in Phu Bai, and The Republic of Vietnam. He spent 13 months there before he transferred to Munich Germany and later finished his tour of duty in the U.S. John was honorably discharged from the Army and received the Purple Heart Award.

After being discharged from the Army John began his career in music, he played the guitar and sang wherever he could and as often as he could. John played in places like Beefeater, Lou’s Bar, The BBQ Man, Tops Bar, and The Town Pump, to name a few in South Texas. John Traveled to Houston, San Antonio, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. While in Nashville Tenn.  He met up with Mooney Lynn and was commissioned a job as overseeing the campfire shows at Loretta Lynn’s dude ranch in Hurricane Mills Tennessee. Later he and Cissie Lynn formed a band called The Busted Cowboys and toured the United States and Canada playing the Holiday Inns of America and many country fairs and carnivals. The Busted Cowboys toured for many years. John, when not touring, was also Lorretta Lynn’s relief bus driver on many touring stops.

John also performed at and managed Cissi Lynn’s country store and music barn. Later John moved back to Nashville, Tennessee and spent many days performing on the streets of Nashville as a street entertainer. He played and he would sing the old country songs and songs of his own down on the corners of Broadway.

John is preceded in death by his father John M. “Jim” Beams Sr.; two sisters Shirley Beams Keenan and Judy Beams

He is survived by his loving mother Helen Steindorf Beams; brother Leonard Scott Beams, Sr.; two nieces Tiffany Evans (Bill), Kaylee Beams; one nephew Scott Beams Jr.; uncles Larry Steindorff, Roy Stiendorff (Kathy); aunts Joyce (Susie) Steindorff Spaniel, and Clara Nell Beams; cousins Karen Stilltner, Iris Humphreys, and Wayne Choate.

John will always be remembered not for only his singing and entertaining, but for the love and loyalty he had for his family and friends. “Honky Tonk” John Beams was 72 years of age.

A Graveside service will be held at Alice Cemetery at a later date.

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