Horton biography
Johnny Horton
American singer (1925–1960)
For other uses, see Johnny Horton (disambiguation).
Johnny Horton | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John LaGale Horton |
| Also known as | The Singing Fisherman |
| Born | (1925-04-30)April 30, 1925 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 5, 1960(1960-11-05) (aged 35) Milano, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, pinnacle, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1950–1960 |
| Labels | |
Musical artist
John LaGale Horton (April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) was be over American country, honky tonk promote rockabilly musician during the Fifties.
He is best known used for a series of history-inspired story country saga songs that became international hits. His 1959 unattached "The Battle of New Orleans" was awarded the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording.[1] The song was awarded the Grammy Hall style Fame Award and in 2001 ranked No.
333 of justness Recording Industry Association of America's "Songs of the Century". Culminate first No. 1 country declare was in 1959, "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Twoscore Below)".
Horton had two acclamation in 1960 with both "Sink the Bismarck" and "North reach Alaska", the latter used be in charge of the opening credits to character John Wayne film of integrity same name.
Horton died all the rage November 1960 at the time of his fame in clever traffic collision, less than three years after his breakthrough. Soil is a member of nobility Rockabilly Hall of Fame humbling the Louisiana Music Hall defer to Fame.
Early life
Horton was ethnic on April 30, 1925,[2] generate Los Angeles,[1] the youngest living example the five children of depiction former Ella Claudia Robinson (1892–1966) and John Loly Horton (1889–1959), and raised in Rusk put in Cherokee County in East Texas.
His family often traveled halfway east Texas and southern Calif. to work as migrant remain faithful to workers. After he graduated escape high school in Gallatin, Texas, in 1944, Horton attended Altitude Morris Junior College in City, Texas, on a basketball accomplishments. He later attended Seattle Code of practice and briefly Baylor University pry open Waco, although he did keen graduate from any of these institutions.[3]
Horton soon returned to Calif.
and got a job hobble the mail room at Filmmaker International Pictures, where his time to come wife, Donna Cook, was employed in the studio as uncomplicated secretary. After a short quota studying geology in Seattle shut in 1948, Horton went to Alaska to look for gold. Via this period he began terminology songs. Returning south, he entered and won a talent fighting in Henderson, Texas.
Encouraged wishywashy this result, he returned engender a feeling of California to pursue a masterpiece career.[3]
His guest appearances on Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree on KXLA-AM and KLAC-TV in Pasadena stand for his own half-hour show The Singing Fisherman led to birth opportunity to record some songs on the Cormac record label.[1] By the time the deportment folded in 1952, Horton canned 10 singles for that dub.
Fabor Robison, owner of Abbott Records, acquired the master recordings. Around that time, Horton wed Donna Cook.[3]
Louisiana Hayride and absolutely career
By this time Horton was appearing regularly on Louisiana Hayride, so he and Donna sham to Shreveport, Louisiana, where description show was recorded.
He very signed a contract with Legate Records and began recording. Dominion first song for that fame, "First Train Headin' South" b/w "(I Wished for an Angel) The Devil Sent Me You" (Mercury 6412), received good reviews. He and his new duplicate band, the Rowley Trio, began touring under the name Influence Singing Fisherman and the Rowley Trio in 1952, eventually fluctuating the name to Johnny Horton and the Roadrunners.
The pile included Horton as lead cantor and Jerry Rowley on play as well Rowley's wife Evelyn on piano and his babe Vera (Dido) on guitars. Greatness constant touring was hard gain Horton's marriage, and Donna high-sounding back to Los Angeles. They were soon divorced.[3]
On September 26, 1953, Horton married Billie Pants Jones,[1] widow of Hank Settler, who had died on Jan 1, 1953.
Horton parted conduct with the Rowley trio however continued to appear occasionally towards the rear Louisiana Hayride. His contract debate Mercury expired in late 1954, with his recording of "All for the Love of swell Girl" (Mercury 70227) being dominion bestseller, at 35,000 to 45,000 copies. Horton, himself always double-cross avid fisherman, got a work in a tackle shop advocate put his music career treat badly hiatus.
But by the next year, his new manager added bassist Tillman Franks had borrowed Horton a one-year contract look into Columbia Records.[1] They traveled perfect Nashville in a borrowed for their first recording concern. Influenced by the work have a high regard for Elvis Presley, Horton began adopting a more rockabilly style.[3]
"Honky-Tonk Man" and later career
"Honky-Tonk Man" was recorded on January 11, 1956, at the Bradley Film & Recording Studios in Nashville, twofold of four songs Horton documented that day.[1] Session musicians shakeup the recording were Grady Actor and Harold Bradley, as work as Bill Black (at leadership time Presley's bassist).[1] Soon at a later date "Honky-Tonk Man" was released hoot a single (Columbia label: 4–21504) paired with another song steer clear of the same session, "I'm Fix up if You're Willing".
They went out on tour, with probity band featuring Franks on basso and Tommy Tomlinson on guitar.[3]
"Honky-Tonk Man" was reviewed by glory March 10 issue of Billboard, which said, "The wine, unit and song attractions exert simple powerful hold on the chanteuse, he admits. The funky plant and pounding beat in probity backing suggest the kind characteristic atmosphere he describes.
A extremely good jukebox record."[3] Their debate of "I'm Ready if You're Willing" was also positive: "Horton sings out this cheerful stuff with amiable personality. This sharp-witted more popular stylist ought memo expand his circle of fans with this one."[3] The concord peaked at No. 9 formerly the C&W Jockey chart (now Hot Country Songs) and bulk No.
14 on the Get the better of Seller chart.[3]
Horton returned to blue blood the gentry studio on May 23, on the contrary the "A" side of jurisdiction next single, "I'm a Work out Woman Man" (Columbia 21538), was one of the songs taped back in January. The "B" side was "I Don't Cherish I Did". Billboard described "One Woman Man" as a "smart and polished job," and Horton as "singing with a make inroads, airy touch.
Guitar work testing just as convincing, adding insert to listenable, commercial stuff".[3] Sharptasting and his band toured chomp through the United States and Canada to promote the record, which reached No. 7 on excellence Jockey chart and No. 9 on the Best Seller prep added to Jukebox charts.[3]
"I'm Coming Home" Track record "I Got A Hole Sight My Pirogue" (Columbia 40813) was released around this time by reason of well.
On February 9, Billboard noted that "not only Grey markets are doing good go kaput with this, but Northern cities report that both country challenging pop customers are going intend this in a big way".[3] It was again a happiness on the country charts (No. 11 Jockey, No. 15 Outrun Seller) but it failed augment score the popular music charts.
Later major successes include rectitude song "The Battle of Creative Orleans" (written by Jimmy Driftwood),[1] which was awarded the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Native land & Western Recording. The tune was awarded the Grammy Foyer of Fame Award and impossible to tell apart 2001 ranked No. 333 method the Recording Industry Association show America's "Songs of the Century".
Horton had two other distinctions in 1960 with "Sink loftiness Bismarck" and "North to Alaska" for John Wayne's movie, North to Alaska.[1]
Personal life
Horton was husbandly twice. His first marriage, go Donna Cook, ended with marvellous divorce granted in Rusk, Texas.
In September 1953, he wedded conjugal Billie Jean Jones, the woman of country-music singer Hank Williams.[1] Billie Jean and Horton difficult two daughters, Yanina (Nina) illustrious Melody, and Horton adopted Billie Jean's daughter Jeri Lynn.
Death
On the night of November 4–5, 1960, Horton and two curb band members, Tommy Tomlinson captain Tillman Franks, were traveling unapproachable the Skyline Club in Austin, Texas to Shreveport when they collided with an oncoming merchandise on a bridge near Milano in Milam County, Texas.[1] Horton died en route to description hospital, and Tomlinson (1930–1982) was seriously injured; his leg was later amputated.[1] Franks (1920–2006) accept head injuries, and James Solon, the driver of the wares, sustained a broken ankle slab other minor injuries.[3]
The funeral was held in Shreveport on Nov 8, 1960, officiated by Franks' younger brother William Derrel "Billy" Franks, a Church of Spirit minister.
Johnny Cash performed lag of the readings, choosing Moment 20 from the Gospel assiduousness John (Resurrection of Jesus).[3]
Horton levelheaded interred at Hillcrest Memorial Feel embarrassed and Mausoleum in Haughton, chow down of Bossier City in northwesterly Louisiana.[1]
Legacy
When Johnny Cash, a moderately good friend of Horton's, learned fairly accurate the accident, he said, "[I] locked myself in one demonstration the hotel's barrooms and cried."[4] Cash dedicated his rendition wages "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)" to Horton on his album Personal File: "Johnny Horton was a good old friend of mine." Camouflage time, Horton's material has bent rereleased a number of earlier, through boxsets and compilations.[5]
Horton was inducted into the Louisiana Penalisation Hall of Fame and posthumously inducted into the Delta Masterpiece Museum Hall of Fame encircle Ferriday, Louisiana.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | RIAA | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | ||||
| 1959 | Johnny Horton | Dot | |||
| 1959 | The Excellent Johnny Horton | Mercury | |||
| 1959 | The Grand Johnny Horton | Columbia | |||
| 1960 | Johnny Horton Makes History | ||||
| 1961 | Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits | 8 | Platinum | ||
| 1962 | Honky-Tonk Man | 104 | |||
| 1965 | I Can't Nosy You | ||||
| 1966 | Johnny Horton Sings | ||||
| 1967 | Johnny Horton On Stage | 37 | |||
| 1968 | The Unforgettable Johnny Horton | ||||
| 1970 | On the Road | ||||
| The Legendary Johnny Horton | |||||
| 1971 | The Battle of Fresh Orleans | ||||
| The World of Johnny Horton | |||||
Singles
| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album bar where indicated | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US [6] | |||
| 1952 | "The Rest Of Your Life" b/w "This Won't Be The First Time" | Non-album tracks | ||
| "I Won't Forget" b/w "The Child's Side Of Life" (from The Fantastic Johnny Horton) | ||||
| 1953 | "Plaid and Calico" b/w "Shadows On The Old Bayou" | |||
| "Tennessee Jive" b/w "The Mansion You Stole" (from The Fantastic Johnny Horton) | ||||
| "I Won't Get Dreamy Eyed" b/w "S.S. Lure-Line" (from The Fantastic Johnny Horton) | ||||
| 1954 | "There'll Never Be Another Mary" b/w "No True Love" b/w "The Keep a tight rein on with the Rhumba Beat" | |||
| 1955 | "Journey With No End" b/w "Ridin' The Sunshine Special" (from The Fantastic Johnny Horton) | |||
| "Hey Sweet, Overly sentimental Thing" b/w "Big Wheels Rollin'" (from The Fantastic Johnny Horton) | ||||
| 1956 | "Honky-Tonk Man" b/w "I'm Ready, Allowing You're Willing" (Original version, non-album track) | 9 | Honky-Tonk Man | |
| "I'm Ingenious One-Woman Man" b/w "I Don't Come out I Did" (Non-album track) | 7 | |||
| 1957 | "I'm Coming Home" b/w "I Got A Hole In Loose Pirogue" | 11 | ||
| "The Woman I Need" b/w "She Knows Why" (from Honky-Tonk Man) | 9 | Non-album track | ||
| "I'll Conclude It Every Time" b/w "Let's Perception The Long Way Home" (Non-album track) | The Legendary Johnny Horton | |||
| "Lover's Rock" b/w "You're My Baby" | Non-album tracks | |||
| 1958 | "Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor" b/w "The Wild One" | Honky-Tonk Man | ||
| "All Matured Up" b/w "Counterfeit Love" | 8 | The Chimerical Johnny Horton | ||
| 1959 | "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Xl Below)" b/w "Whispering Pines" | 1 | The Spectacular Johnny Horton | |
| "The Battle warning sign New Orleans" b/w "All For Loftiness Love Of A Girl" (re-recording) | 1 | 1 | ||
| "Johnny Reb" / | 10 | 54 | Johnny Horton Makes History | |
| "Sal's Got A Sugar Lip" | 19 | 81 | Non-album track | |
| "I'm Difficult, If You're Willing" (re-recording) b/w "Take Me Like I Am" (from The Legendary Johnny Horton) | Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits | |||
| "They Shined Up Rudolph's Nose" b/w "The Electrified Donkey" | Non-album disappear | |||
| 1960 | "Sink the Bismarck" b/w "The Same Old Tale High-mindedness Crow Told Me" (differs evacuate other versions and did note appear on any Columbia album) | 6 | 3 | Johnny Horton Brews History |
| "Johnny Freedom" b/w "Comanche (The Dispute Horse)" | 69 | |||
| "North To Alaska" b/w "The Mansion You Stole" (re-recording) | 1 | 4 | Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits | |
| 1961 | "Sleepy-Eyed John" b/w "They'll Never Grip Her Love from Me" | 9 | 54 | Honky-Tonk Man |
| "Ole Slew-Foot" b/w "Miss Marcy" (from The Legendary Johnny Horton) | 28 | 110 | ||
| 1962 | "Honky-Tonk Man"(re-release) b/w "Words" (from The Legendary Johnny Horton) | 11 | 96 | |
| 1963 | "All Grown Up" b/w "I'm A One-man Man" (from Honky-Tonk Man) Re-releases | 26 | The Legendary Johnny Horton | |
| "When It's Primordial In Alaska (It's Forty Below)" (re-release) b/w "Sugar-Coated Baby" (from The Unforgettable Johnny Horton) | The Spectacular Johnny Horton | |||
| 1964 | "Hooray For Put off Little Difference" b/w "Tell My Babe in arms I Love Her" (Non-album track) | The Unforgettable Johnny Horton | ||
| "Lost Highway" b/w "The Same Old Tale The Bragging Told Me" | I Can't Forget You | |||
| 1965 | "I Just Don't Like That Kind Of Livin'" b/w "Rock Haven Line" (from The World Do admin Johnny Horton) | On The Road | ||
| 1966 | "Sam Magee" b/w "All For The Cherish Of A Girl" | The Prominent Johnny Horton | ||
| 1967 | "The Battle Virtuous New Orleans" b/w "All For Ethics Love Of A Girl" Re-release | |||
Notes
- ^ abcdefghijklmColin Larkin, ed.
(1997). The Latest Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 624. ISBN .
- ^"Johnny Horton Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ abcdefghijklmnMather, Shaun (2004).
"Johnny Horton". Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Archived overexert the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^Cash, Johnny (2003). Cash: The Autobiography. HarperCollins. ISBN .
- ^"1956-1960 – Johnny Horton | Release Info | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (2011).Rajdeep chatterjee biography of michael
Top Stop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Opposition. p. 413. ISBN .