Fans Of Song Writer Johnny Horton

Johnny Horton (April 30, 1925 � November 5, 1960) was an American country music singer who was most famous for his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs". With them, he had several major crossover hits, most notably in 1959 with "The Battle of New Orleans" which won the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. The song won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award and in 2001 was named number 333 of the Songs of the Century. In 1960, Horton had two other crossover hits with "Sink the Bismarck" and "North to Alaska".

Horton was also a rockabilly singer, and was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Horton was born John Gale Horton in Los Angeles but raised in the town of Rusk in East Texas. His family trekked back and forth from California often as migrant fruit pickers but always returned to the Rusk/Gallatin area in Texas. After graduation from Gallatin High School in 1944, he attended on a basketball scholarship the Methodist-affiliated Lon Morris College (then called "Lon Morris Junior College") in Jacksonville, Texas, the oldest junior college in the state. Although he did not graduate from Lon Morris or any other college, he later attended Seattle University. Thereafter, he worked in California and Alaska. He returned to Texas and won a talent contest hosted by then-radio announcer Jim Reeves at the Reo Palm Isle club in Longview, the seat of Gregg County, and soon starred in the popular Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana. He remained a member of the Hayride until his death.

In September 1953, he married Billie Jean Jones, who, in late 1952, had also been married to country music star Hank Williams for two and a half months prior to his death. Horton's first marriage to Donna Cook ended in a divorce, granted in Rusk. With Billie Jean, Johnny had two daughters, Yanina (Nina) and Melody. Billie Jean's daughter, Jerry, was also part of the family.

Horton was killed instantly in a head-on collision with a drunk driver on Highway 79 at Milano, Texas while he was returning home from a performance at the Skyline Club in Austin on November 5, 1960.

There is no truth to the rumor that Horton was on his way to Dallas to meet actor Ward Bond about a role on the NBC television series Wagon Train. Bond was in Dallas at the time attending a football game. Bond died of a heart attack in Dallas just hours after Horton perished in the vehicular accident. A "Horton" did appear on Wagon Train � the actor Robert Horton, who portrayed the fictitious scout "Flint McCullough."

Horton is buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Haughton east of Bossier City, Louisiana. He loved fishing as much, if not more, than singing and was once billed as "The Singing Fisherman." His favorite fishing holes abound through the Piney Woods of East Texas and northern Louisiana.

Some songs with racist titles and content by Johnny Rebel are often falsely attributed to Horton. The confusion may have arisen because Horton had a hit named "Johnny Reb".


[edit] Coincidences
Johnny Cash was a good friend of Horton. When he learned about the collision, he said "[I] locked myself in one of the hotel's barrooms, and cried." [1] Cash also dedicates his rendition of " When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)" to Horton on his Personal File "Johnny Horton was a good old friend of mine."
Johnny Horton reportedly had experienced premonitions several months before his own death about the possibility of dying in a car crash caused by a drunk driver. He always said that if he was in a head-on situation to drive into the ditch. His accident took place on a bridge so there was no ditch for which to head.
Also in connection with these premonitions, a story circulates that Horton, known to detest musicians who drank, had agreed to send his friend Merle Kilgore a message from beyond the grave. Ten years later, Kilgore heard from a group of psychics from New York of an apparition in a cowboy hat, whose message was "the drummer is a rummer and he can't keep the beat." (recounted in "The View From Nashville", by Ralph Emery)
Both Horton and Hank Williams were married to the same woman at the time of their death, and played their last shows at the Skyline Club in Austin, Texas.
Both Horton and Hank Williams died in Cadillacs.
Johnny and the Rowley Trio, (Jerry, Evelyn, and Vera), were returning from a performance when they heard over the radio about the death of Hank Williams. They were on Highway 79 going through the town of Milano, Texas � the same town where Johnny would lose his life seven years later.

[edit] Top 40 Country Hits

Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits"Honky-Tonk Man" (1956)
"I'm a One-Woman Man" (1956)
"I'm Coming Home" (1957)
"The Woman I Need" (1957)
"All Grown Up" (1958)
"When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)" (1959) **First #1 Hit**
"The Battle of New Orleans" (1959) **Second #1 Hit**
"Johnny Reb" (1959)
"Sal's Got a Sugar Lip" (1959)
"Sink the Bismark" (1960) (the correct spelling of the meant battleship is Bismarck)
"North to Alaska" (1960) **Third and last #1 hit - It topped the charts after his death**
"Sleepy-Eyed John" (1961)
"Honky-Tonk Man" (1962) re-release
"All Grown Up" (1963) re-release

[edit] Complete Discography
As per a current box set of his work here is a complete discography of Johnny Horton's work.

Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 01 - I'm A One Woman Man
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 02 - Honky Tonk Man
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 03 - I'm Ready If You're Willing
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 04 - I Got A Hole In My Pirogue
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 05 - Take Me Like I Am
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 06 - Sugar-Coated Baby
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 07 - I Don't Like I Did
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 08 - Hooray For That Little Difference
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 09 - I'm Coming Home
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 10 - Over-Loving You
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 11 - She Knows Why
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 12 - Honky Tonk Mind (The Woman I Need)
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 13 - Tell My Baby I Love Her
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 14 - Goodbye Lonesome, Hello Baby Doll
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 15 - I'll Do It Everytime
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 16 - You're My Baby
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 17 - Let's Take The Long Way Home
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 18 - Lover's Rock
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 19 - Honky-Tonk Hardwood Floor
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 20 - The Wild One
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 21 - Everytime I'm Kissng You
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 22 - Hot In The Sugarcane Field
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 23 - Lonesome And Heartbroken
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 24 - Seven Come Eleven
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 25 - I Can't Forget You
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 26 - Wise To The Ways Of A Woman
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 27 - Out In New Mexico
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 28 - Tetched In The Head
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 29 - Just Walk A Little Closer
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 30 - Don't Use My Heart For A Stepping Stone
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 31 - I Love You Baby
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 32 - Wise To The Ways Of A Woman
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 01 - Counterfeit Love
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 02 - Mister Moonlight
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 03 - All Grown Up
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 04 - Got The Bull By The Horns
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 05 - When It's Springtime In Alaska
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 06 - Whispering Pines
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 07 - The Battle Of New Orleans
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 08 - All For The Love Of A Girl
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 09 - Lost Highway
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 10 - Sam Magee
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 11 - Cherokee Boogie
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 12 - The Golden Rocket
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 13 - The Battle Of New Orleans (British Version)
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 14 - Joe's Been A-Gittin' There
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 15 - The First Train Headin' South
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 16 - Got The Bull By The Horns
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 17 - Sal's Got A Sugerlip
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 18 - Words
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 19 - Johnny Reb
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 20 - Sal's Got A Sugarlip
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 21 - Ole Slew Foot
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 22 - I'm Ready If Your Willing
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 23 - Take Me Like I Am
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 24 - They Shined Up Rudolph's Nose
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 25 - The Electrified Donkey
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 26 - The Same Old Tale The Crow Told Me
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 27 - Sink The Bismarck
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 28 - Sink The Bismarck
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 29 - The Same Old Tale The Crow Told Me
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 30 - All Grown Up
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 31 - Got The Bull By The Horns
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 01 - Ole Slew Foot
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 02 - Miss Marcy
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 03 - Sleepy Eyed John
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 04 - The Mansion You Stole
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 05 - They'll Never Take Her Love From Me
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 06 - The Sinking Of Reuben James
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 07 - Jim Bridger
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 08 - The Battle Of Bull Run
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 09 - Snow-Shoe Thompson
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 10 - John Paul Jones
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 11 - Comanche (The Brave Horse)
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 12 - Young Abe Lincoln
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 13 - O'Leary's Cow
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 14 - Johnny Freedom
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 15 - Go North!
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 16 - North To Alaska
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 17 - North To Alaska
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 18 - I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin'
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 19 - Rock Island Line
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 20 - Hank And Joe And Me
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 21 - The Golden Rocket
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 22 - A-Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 23 - I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin'
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 24 - Old Blind Barnabas
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 25 - Evil Hearted Me
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 26 - Hot In The Sugarcane Field
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 27 - You Don't Move Me Baby Anymore
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 28 - The Gosh-Darn Wheel
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 29 - Broken Hearted Gypsy
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 30 - The Church By The Side Of The Road
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 01 - The Vanishing Race
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 02 - Broken Hearted Gypsy
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 03 - That Boy Got The Habit
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 04 - Hot In The Sugarcane Field
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 05 - You Don't Move Me Baby Anymore
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 06 - The Church By The Side Of The Road
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 07 - I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin'
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 08 - Take It Like A Man
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 09 - Hank And Joe And Me
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 10 - The Golden Rocket
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 11 - Old Blind Barnabas
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 12 - Empty Bed Blues
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 13 - Rock Island Line
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 14 - Shake, Rattle And Roll
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 15 - A-Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 16 - Old Dan Tucker
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 17 - The Gosh Darn Wheel
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 18 - From Memphis To Mobile
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 19 - Back Up Train
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 20 - Schottische In Texas
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 21 - Take It LIke A Man
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 22 - That Boy Got The Habit
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 23 - My Heart Stopped, Trembled And Died
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 24 - Alley Girl Ways
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 25 - How You Gonna Make It
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 26 - Witch Walking Baby
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 27 - Down That River Road
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 28 - Big Wheels Rollin'
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 29 - I Got A Slow Leak In My Heart
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 30 - You Don't Move Me Baby Anymore
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 31 - What Will I Do Without You
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 32 - Janey
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 33 - Streets Of Dodge
Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 34 - Give Me Back My Picture And You Can Keep The Frame

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