Johnny Russell (singer)
| Johnny Russell | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John Bright Russell |
| Born | January 23, 1940 |
| Origin | Moorhead, Mississippi |
| Died | July 3, 2001 (aged 61) |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1971–2000 |
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.
Biography
Born in Moorhead, Mississippi, 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.
Leon Russell (no relation) was 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.
In 1987, Russell hosted his first annual concert in Moorhead, MS at the MS Delta Community College Coliseum. These went on for 13 years, his final on April 29, 2000.
By 2001, Russell's health had been 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 July 3, 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 61 from diabetes-related complications.
Discography
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 | 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" | 12 | 3 | ||
| 1973 | "Chained" | 31 | 35 | |
| "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer" | 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 Burnt 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" | 57 | — | |
| "Here's to the Horses" | 49 | — | ||
| 1982 | "George" | — | — | |
| 1987 | "Butterbeans" (w/ Little David Wilkins) | 72 | — | |
| "It's Quittin' Time" (w/ Little David Wilkins) | — | — | ||
References
- Roy, Don. (1998). "Johnny Russell." In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Ed. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 462–463.