Johnny Russell
Encyclopedia
John Bright "Johnny" Russell (January 23, 1940, – July 3, 2001) was an American country
singer, songwriter, and comedian best-known for his song "Act Naturally
", which was made famous by Buck Owens
, who recorded it in 1963, and The Beatles
in 1965. His songs have been recorded by Burl Ives
, Jim Reeves
, Jerry Garcia
, Dolly Parton
, Emmylou Harris
, and Linda Ronstadt
.
, he moved with his family at age 11 to Fresno, California
, where he began writing songs and entering talent contests while still in high school, graduating in 1958. He had his first song published that year, In a Mansion Stands My Love, which was recorded by Jim Reeves as the "B" side of his 1960 hit He'll Have to Go
.
His recording of his song Rednecks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer was his only top 10 hit, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
chart in October 1973. The song was nominated later that year for a Grammy Award
. Russell is also known for hits such as The Baptism of Jesse Taylor, Catfish John
, and Hello, I Love You.
He is also known for being the first one to record He Stopped Loving Her Today
, in some surveys named as the greatest country song of all time and the biggest hit for George Jones
in 1980, but his label refused to release it.
Years later, George Strait
topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs
chart with Russell's song Let's Fall to Pieces Together
.
By 2001, Russell's health was in a state of decline (for years, he had used his obesity
as a running joke on the Grand Ole Opry
), and in April 2001, both of his legs were amputated because of diabetes. Russell died in Nashville, Tennessee
at the age of 61 from diabetes-related complications.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer, songwriter, and comedian best-known for his song "Act Naturally
Act Naturally
"Act Naturally" is a song written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, originally recorded by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, whose version reached number 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1963, his first chart-topper...
", which was made famous by Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
, who recorded it in 1963, and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
in 1965. His songs have been recorded by Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
, Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
, Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
, Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, and Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
.
Biography
Born in Moorhead, MississippiMoorhead, Mississippi
Moorhead is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,573. The city includes the legendary blues crossroads "where the Southern cross the Dog"...
, he moved with his family at age 11 to Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, where he began writing songs and entering talent contests while still in high school, graduating in 1958. He had his first song published that year, In a Mansion Stands My Love, which was recorded by Jim Reeves as the "B" side of his 1960 hit He'll Have to Go
He'll Have to Go
"He'll Have to Go" is an American country and pop hit recorded on October 15, 1959 by Jim Reeves. The song, released in the fall of 1959, went on to become a massive hit in both genres early in 1960.-Background:...
.
His recording of his song Rednecks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer was his only top 10 hit, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
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...
chart in October 1973. The song was nominated later that year for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. Russell is also known for hits such as The Baptism of Jesse Taylor, Catfish John
Catfish John
"Catfish John" is the title of a song written by Bob McDill and Allen Reynolds, and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Russell. It was released in November1972 as the fourth single from the album, Catfish John / Chained...
, and Hello, I Love You.
He is also known for being the first one to record He Stopped Loving Her Today
He Stopped Loving Her Today
"He Stopped Loving Her Today" is the title of a song by American country music artist George Jones that has been named in several surveys as the greatest country song of all time. It was released in April 1980 as the lead single from the album I Am What I Am. The song was Jones's first No. 1 single...
, in some surveys named as the greatest country song of all time and the biggest hit for George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
in 1980, but his label refused to release it.
Years later, George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs
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...
chart with Russell's song Let's Fall to Pieces Together
Let's Fall to Pieces Together
"Let's Fall to Pieces Together" is the title of a song recorded by American country singer George Strait in 1984. It was released in May 1984 as the third and final single from the album, Right or Wrong...
.
By 2001, Russell's health was in a state of decline (for years, he had used his obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
as a running joke on the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
), and in April 2001, both of his legs were amputated because of diabetes. Russell died in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
at the age of 61 from diabetes-related complications.
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Mr. and Mrs. Untrue | — | RCA Victor |
| 1973 | Catfish John / Chained | 32 | |
| Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer | 19 | ||
| 1974 | She's in Love with a Rodeo Man | — | |
| 1975 | Here Comes Johnny Russell | 45 | |
| 1979 | Perspectives | — | Mercury |
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... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1971 | "Open Up the Door to Your Heart" | — | — | single only |
| "Mr. and Mrs. Untrue" | 64 | — | Mr. and Mrs. Untrue | |
| 1972 | "What a Price" | 57 | — | Catfish John / Chained |
| "Mr. Fiddle Man" | 59 | — | ||
| "Rain Falling On Me" | 36 | — | ||
| "Catfish John Catfish John "Catfish John" is the title of a song written by Bob McDill and Allen Reynolds, and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Russell. It was released in November1972 as the fourth single from the album, Catfish John / Chained... " |
12 | 3 | ||
| 1973 | "Chained" | 31 | 35 | |
| "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer" is the title of a song written by Bob McDill and Wayland Holyfield, and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Russell. It was released in July 1973 as the first single from his album Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer. The song peaked... " |
4 | 1 | Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer | |
| "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor" | 14 | 21 | ||
| 1974 | "She's in Love with a Rodeo Man" | 39 | — | She's in Love with a Rodeo Man |
| "She Burn't the Little Roadside Tavern Down" | 38 | 42 | ||
| 1975 | "That's How My Baby Builds a Fire" | 23 | 32 | Here Comes Johnny Russell |
| "Hello I Love You" | 13 | 29 | ||
| "Our Marriage Was a Failure" | 45 | — | ||
| 1976 | "I'm a Trucker" | 57 | — | |
| "This Man and Woman Thing" | 45 | — | singles only | |
| 1977 | "The Son of Hickery Holler's Tramp" | 32 | 36 | |
| "I Wonder How She's Doing Now" | flip | — | ||
| "Obscene Phone Call" | 91 | — | ||
| 1978 | "Leona" | 64 | — | |
| "You'll Be Back (Every Night in My Dreams)" | 24 | — | Perspectives | |
| "How Deep in Love Am I?" | 29 | — | ||
| 1979 | "I Might Be Awhile in New Orleans" | 57 | — | |
| "Ain't No Way to Make a Bad Love Grow" | 56 | — | singles only | |
| 1980 | "While the Choir Sang the Hymn (I Thought of Her)" | 57 | — | |
| "We're Back in Love Again" | 59 | — | ||
| 1981 | "Song of the South Song of the South (song) "Song of the South" is the title of a song written by Bob McDill. First recorded by American country music artist Johnny Russell, it reached number 57 on the U.S. Billboard country chart in 1981. Covered by Tom T. Hall and Earl Scruggs, it was a number 72 country single for them in 1982 from the... " |
57 | — | |
| "Here's to the Horses" | 49 | — | ||
| 1982 | "George" | — | — | |
| 1987 | "Butterbeans" (w/ Little David Wilkins Little David Wilkins Little David Wilkins is an American country music singer and pianist. Between 1969 and 1977, he recorded for MCA Records.... ) |
72 | — | |
| "It's Quittin' Time" (w/ Little David Wilkins) | — | — |