First appearance of sidekick "Rowlf", a singing piano playing Muppet was on September 19, 1963. Jimmy Dean said Rowlf was so popular that the show received 2000 fan letters a week because of him. Rowlf also appeared in Purina Dog commercials and was the very first Muppet to have a weekly television series.
Jimmy Dean later became a millionaire from sales of his records and his also successful line of pork sausages.
In addition to being the premier of any muppet, Dean's radio program, Town and Country Time, debuted both Patsy Cline and Roy Clark; however, Clark was fired for constant tardiness. Still, that did effect their mutual respect. Clark, arguably a better guitarist than, even, Glen Campbell, was never invited on the "Tonight Show", until Jimmy Dean was guest host.