Johnny Lee
Encyclopedia
Johnny Lee is an American
country music singer. His 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love
" not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts, and Top 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary survey. He racked up a series of country hits in the early and mid-80s.
and served a tour of duty on the USS Chicago
, a guided missile cruiser. After his discharge, he played cover tunes in Texas
nightclub
s and bars through the 1960s.
Lee worked ten years with Mickey Gilley
both on tour and at Gilley’s Club in Pasadena, Texas
. The 1980 hit movie Urban Cowboy
was largely shot at Gilley's club. It was the soundtrack from the movie that catapulted Lee to fame. The record spawned several hit singles, one of which was Lee's "Lookin' for Love."
Lee had five songs reach the top of the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart. In addition to "Lookin' For Love," those songs are "One in a Million" (1980); "Bet Your Heart on Me" (1981); "The Yellow Rose" (1984, a duet with Lane Brody
and the theme song to the NBC TV-series
of the same name); and "You Could Have Heard a Heartbreak" (1984). His other major hits include "Pickin' Up Strangers
" (1981), "Prisoner of Hope" (1981); "Cherokee Fiddle," "Sounds Like Love" and "Hey Bartender" (1983); and "Rollin' Lonely" and "Save the Last Chance" (1985).
In the fall of 2008, Lee returned to Branson to perform.
^ Peaked at #20 on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and #54 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music singer. His 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love
Lookin' for Love
"Lookin' for Love" is the title of a song written by Wanda Mallette, Bob Morrison, and Patti Ryan. It was recorded by American country music singer Johnny Lee...
" not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts, and Top 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary survey. He racked up a series of country hits in the early and mid-80s.
Biography
Lee grew up in Alta Loma, Texas on a dairy farm. In high school he formed a rock n' roll band, "Johnny Lee and the Roadrunners". After school, Lee enlisted in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and served a tour of duty on the USS Chicago
USS Chicago (CA-136)
USS Chicago was a Baltimore class heavy cruiser laid down on 28 July 1943 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, by the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Launched on 20 August 1944 she was sponsored by Mrs. Edward J. Kelly, wife of the Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard...
, a guided missile cruiser. After his discharge, he played cover tunes in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s and bars through the 1960s.
Lee worked ten years with Mickey Gilley
Mickey Gilley
Mickey Leroy Gilley is an American country music singer and musician. Although he started out singing straight-up country and western material in the 1970s, he moved towards a more pop-friendly sound in the 1980s, bringing him further success on not just the country charts, but the pop charts as...
both on tour and at Gilley’s Club in Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in Harris County, 17th-largest in Texas, and 162nd largest in the United States. The area was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston....
. The 1980 hit movie Urban Cowboy
Urban Cowboy
Released as a 2× vinyl record album, re-released on CD in 1995.Side A:#Hello Texas – Jimmy Buffett #All Night Long – Joe Walsh #Times Like These – Dan Fogelberg #Nine Tonight – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band...
was largely shot at Gilley's club. It was the soundtrack from the movie that catapulted Lee to fame. The record spawned several hit singles, one of which was Lee's "Lookin' for Love."
Lee had five songs reach the top of the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart. In addition to "Lookin' For Love," those songs are "One in a Million" (1980); "Bet Your Heart on Me" (1981); "The Yellow Rose" (1984, a duet with Lane Brody
Lane Brody
Lane Brody is an American female singer-songwriter, active since the early 1980s, best known for her 1984 Billboard-topping country hit, "The Yellow Rose" , and for the Oscar nominated song "Over You" from the film "Tender Mercies". She is the first female in country music to have an...
and the theme song to the NBC TV-series
The Yellow Rose
The Yellow Rose is an American television series. It was broadcast on the NBC network during the 1983-1984 season. It was produced by Paul Freeman....
of the same name); and "You Could Have Heard a Heartbreak" (1984). His other major hits include "Pickin' Up Strangers
Pickin' Up Strangers
"Pickin' Up Strangers" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. The single was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the feature film "Coast To Coast", and was also included on Johnny Lee's album "Lookin' For Love". The song won an...
" (1981), "Prisoner of Hope" (1981); "Cherokee Fiddle," "Sounds Like Love" and "Hey Bartender" (1983); and "Rollin' Lonely" and "Save the Last Chance" (1985).
In the fall of 2008, Lee returned to Branson to perform.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | RIAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
CAN Country |
|||
| 1977 | For Lovers Only | — | — | — |
| 1980 | Lookin' for Love | 8 | 6 | Gold |
| 1981 | Bet Your Heart on Me | 9 | — | — |
| 1982 | Sounds Like Love | 32 | — | — |
| 1983 | Hey Bartender | 15 | — | — |
| Greatest Hits | 41 | — | — | |
| 1984 | Til' the Bars Burn Down | 23 | — | — |
| 1985 | Keep Me Hangin' On | 36 | — | — |
| Workin' for a Livin | 23 | — | — | |
| 1989 | New Directions | — | — | — |
| 1990 | The Best of Johnny Lee | — | — | — |
| 1995 | Country Party | — | — | — |
| 1996 | Ramblin' Rose | — | — | — |
| 1999 | Live at Gilley's | — | — | — |
| 2001 | At His Best | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Live at Billy Bob's Texas | — | — | — |
| 2003 | The 13th of July | — | — | — |
| Greatest Hits | — | — | — | |
| 2005 | Santa Claus Is Lookin' for Love | — | — | — |
| 2006 | Country Candy Store | — | — | — |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country |
|||
| 1976 | "Sometimes" | 59 | — | — | single only |
| "Red Sails in the Sunset Red Sails in the Sunset (song) "Red Sails in the Sunset" is a popular song.Published in 1935, its music was written by Hugh Williams with lyrics by prolific songwriter Jimmy Kennedy... " |
22 | — | — | Country Party | |
| 1977 | "Ramblin' Rose" | 37 | — | — | |
| "Country Party Country Party (song) Country Party is the title of a song written by Rick Nelson and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in May 1977 as the third single from the album of the same name, Country Party. It is a slight re-write of Rick Nelson's song, Garden Party... " |
15 | — | 50 | ||
| "Dear Alice" | 58 | — | — | ||
| 1978 | "This Time" | 43 | — | — | |
| 1980 | "Lookin' for Love Lookin' for Love "Lookin' for Love" is the title of a song written by Wanda Mallette, Bob Morrison, and Patti Ryan. It was recorded by American country music singer Johnny Lee... "[A] |
1 | 5 | 18 | Lookin' for Love |
| "One in a Million One in a Million (Johnny Lee song) "One in a Million" is the title of a song written by Chick Rains and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in October 1980 as the second single from the album Lookin' for Love. "One in a Million" would be Johnny Lee's second number one on the country chart... " |
1 | 102 | 8 | ||
| 1981 | "Pickin' Up Strangers Pickin' Up Strangers "Pickin' Up Strangers" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. The single was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the feature film "Coast To Coast", and was also included on Johnny Lee's album "Lookin' For Love". The song won an... " |
3 | — | 4 | |
| "Prisoner of Hope Prisoner of Hope "Prisoner of Hope" is the title of a song written by Sterling Whipple and Gerald Metcalf, and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in May 1981 as the fourth single from the album Lookin for Love. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks... " |
3 | — | 4 | ||
| "Rode Hard and Put Up Wet" | 52 | — | — | Urban Cowboy 2 | |
| "Bet Your Heart on Me Bet Your Heart on Me "Bet Your Heart on Me" is the title of a song written by Jim McBride and recorded by Johnny Lee. It was released in September 1981 as the lead single from the album of the same name, Bet Your Heart on Me. "Bet Your Heart on Me" would be Johnny Lee's third number one on the country chart... " |
1 | 54 | 5 | Bet Your Heart on Me | |
| 1982 | "Be There for Me Baby Be There for Me Baby "Be There for Me Baby" is the title of a song written by Tommy Rocco and Charlie Black, and recorded by American Country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in January 1982 as the second single from the album Bet Your Heart on Me. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &... " |
10 | — | 5 | |
| "When You Fall in Love When You Fall in Love "When You Fall in Love" is the title of a song written by John Scott Sherrill and Steve Earle, and recorded by American Country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in May 1982 as the third and final single from the album Bet Your Heart on Me... " |
14 | — | 46 | ||
| "Cherokee Fiddle Cherokee Fiddle "Cherokee Fiddle" is the title of a song written by Michael Martin Murphey and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in October 1982 as the first single from the album Sounds Like Love. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart... " |
10 | — | 24 | Sounds Like Love | |
| 1983 | "Sounds Like Love Sounds Like Love "Sounds Like Love" is the title of a song written by Tommy Rocco and Charlie Black, and recorded American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in January 1983 as the second single and title track from the album Sounds Like Love. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles... " |
6 | — | 9 | |
| "Hey Bartender Hey Bartender "Hey Bartender" is the title of a song written by Floyd Dixon in 1954, covered and recorded live by the Blues Brothers in 1978 and recorded American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in June 1983 as the first single from his album Hey Bartender... " |
2 | — | 1 | Hey Bartender | |
| "My Baby Don't Slow Dance My Baby Don't Slow Dance My Baby Don't Slow Dance is the title of a song written by Bill Lamb and Peter Wood, and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in September 1983 as second and final single from the album Hey Bartender... " |
23 | — | 13 | ||
| 1984 | "The Yellow Rose The Yellow Rose (song) "The Yellow Rose" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singers Johnny Lee and Lane Brody, set to the tune of the folk song "The Yellow Rose of Texas." It was recorded as the theme song to the NBC television series The Yellow Rose starring Cybill Shepherd, and was... " (with Lane Brody Lane Brody Lane Brody is an American female singer-songwriter, active since the early 1980s, best known for her 1984 Billboard-topping country hit, "The Yellow Rose" , and for the Oscar nominated song "Over You" from the film "Tender Mercies". She is the first female in country music to have an... ) |
1 | — | 1 | Til the Bars Burn Down |
| "One More Shot" | 42 | — | 26 | ||
| "You Could've Heard a Heart Break You Could've Heard a Heart Break "You Could've Heard a Heart Break" is the title of a song written by Marc Rossi and recorded by American country music artist, Johnny Lee. It was released in August 1984 as the lead single from the album Workin' for a Livin. "You Could've Heard a Heart Break" would be Johnny Lee's fifth and final... " |
1 | — | 2 | Workin' for a Livin | |
| 1985 | "Rollin' Lonely Rollin' Lonely Rollin' Lonely is the title of a song written by J.D. Martin and Gary Harrison, and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in December 1984 as the second single from the album Workin' for a Livin. The song reached #9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks... " |
9 | — | 9 | |
| "Save the Last Chance Save the Last Chance Save the Last Chance is the title of a song written by Walt Aldridge and Robert Byrne, and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in April 1985 as lead single from the album Keep Me Hangin' On. The song reached #12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart... " |
12 | — | 12 | Keep Me Hangin' On | |
| "They Never Had to Get Over You" | 19 | — | 57 | ||
| 1986 | "The Loneliness in Lucy's Eyes (The Life Sue Ellen Is Living)" |
56 | — | — | singles only |
| "I Could Get Used to This" (with Lane Brody) | 50 | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Maybe I Won't Love You Anymore" | 59 | — | — | New Directions |
| "I'm Not Over You" | 69 | — | — | ||
| "I Can Be a Heartbreaker Too" | 53 | — | — | ||
| "You Can Fly Like an Eagle" | 66 | — | — | ||
B-sides
| Year | B-side | Chart Positions | Original A-side |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|||
| 1984 | "Say When" | flip | "The Yellow Rose" |
^ Peaked at #20 on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and #54 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada.