Johnnie Wright
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Johnnie Wright | |
---|---|
Born | Johnnie Robert Wright Jr. May 13, 1914 Mount Juliet, Tennessee, U.S. |
Died | September 27, 2011 Madison, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 97)
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Years active | 1939–2000 |
Spouse | |
Children | 3, including Ruby and Bobby |
Musical career | |
Genres | Country |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Labels | Decca, Rubocca |
Formerly of | Johnnie & Jack |
Johnnie Robert Wright Jr. (May 13, 1914[1] – September 27, 2011)[2] was an American country music singer-songwriter, who spent much of his career working with Jack Anglin as the popular duo Johnnie & Jack, and was also the husband of country music star Kitty Wells.
Biography
Early life and career
Born in
In 1952, Johnnie & Jack's "Poison Love" took them to the Grand Ole Opry, where the duo, along with Wells, were invited to join and where they remained for 15 years. Following Anglin's death in an automobile accident in 1963, Wright continued performing and releasing records.[1] After his name was misspelled on a record label, Wright changed his name from Johnnie to Johnny.[3]
Johnnie Wright was a founding member of the
In 1964, he and his
Later years
In 1983, Wright and Wells opened the Family Country Junction Museum and Studio in their hometown of Madison, Tennessee. They closed the museum in October 2000, but their grandson, John Sturdivant Jr. kept the Junction Recording Studio operating.
Director Stanley Kubrick included Wright's song "Hello Vietnam" in the soundtrack for the 1987 film, Full Metal Jacket.
Wright joined producers
On December 31, 2000, the duo performed their farewell concert at the Nashville Nightlife Theater in Nashville, Tennessee. They played to a full house of fans, family and friends that included Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Leona Williams, Tommy Cash, Jack Greene, Jean Shepard and comedian-impressionist, Johnny Counterfit.
Personal life
Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright were married on October 30, 1937.[1] Together they had three children, Ruby (1939–2009), Bobby.,[4] and Carol Sue. Each of their children enjoyed minor success individually as recording artists. Ruby, with a hit called "Dern 'Ya", an "answer song" to Roger Miller's "Dang Me"; and Bobby, with a series of country-pop hits in the early to mid-1970s, including "Seasons in the Sun" (covering Terry Jacks' No. 1 pop hit from 1974). Carol Sue, on a mid-1950s duet with Wells, titled "How Far is Heaven". Carol Sue and Ruby also had success with a pop hit as The Wright Sisters with "That's Ok" in the early 1960s. All three children performed as part of their parents' road show, while growing up.[1]
Johnnie Wright died at his home of
Wright's widow Kitty Wells followed him in death less than ten months later on July 16, 2012.[5][6]
Discography
Albums
Year | Album details | US Country |
---|---|---|
1965 | Hello Vietnam
|
5 |
1966 | Country Music Special
|
40 |
1967 | Country… The Wright Way
|
— |
1968 | Johnnie Wright Sings Country Favorites
|
— |
We'll Stick Together (with Kitty Wells)
|
30 | |
1972 | Kitty Wells & Johnny Wright Sing Heartwarming Gospel Songs (with Kitty Wells)
|
— |
1980 | Johnnie Wright
|
— |
Singles
Year | Single | US Country | US Cash Box Country | Album |
---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | "Sweet Snow Dear" | — | 40 | Hello Vietnam |
1964 | "Walkin', Talkin', Cryin', Barely Beatin' Broken Heart" | 22 | 41 | |
"Don't Give Up the Ship" | 37 | — | ||
1965 | "Blame It on the Moonlight" | 28 | 31 | |
"Hello Vietnam" | 1 | 1 | ||
"Keep the Flag Flying" | 31 | 9 | Country Music Special | |
1966 | "Nickels, Quarters and Dimes" | 31 | 28 | |
"I'm Doing This for Daddy" | 53 | 44 | Country… The Wright Way | |
"Mama's Little Jewel" | 50 | 42 | ||
1967 | "Ole Honky Tonk" | — | 50 | Johnnie Wright Sings Country Favorites |
"American Power" | 66 | 32 | non-album single | |
"Music to Cry By" | 69 | — | Johnnie Wright Sings Country Favorites | |
1968 | "Atlanta Georgia Baby" | — | — | |
"We'll Stick Together" (with Kitty Wells) | 54 | 25 | We'll Stick Together | |
"(They Always Come Out) Smellin' Like a Rose" | 66 | 58 | non-album singles | |
1969 | "Love Ain't Gonna Die (I'm Gonna Have to Kill It)" | — | — | |
"Sing a Song About Love" | — | — | ||
1970 | "A Dear John Letter" | — | — | |
"Love Everybody" | — | — | ||
"Where the Heart Aches Hang Around" | — | — | ||
1971 | "Old Honky Tonk" | — | — | |
"High Cost of Livin'" | — | — | ||
"South in New Orleans" | — | — | ||
1972 | "Doo-Hickey" | — | — | |
"Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" | — | — | ||
1973 | "Ode to a Country Bar" | — | — | |
1974 | "Wild Passionate Lover" | — | — | |
1976 | "I Never Told Him I Loved You" | — | — | |
1980 | "Pressure" | — | — | Johnnie Wright |
1982 | "Just a Simple Bouquet" | — | — | non-album singles |
1984 | "The King Went on a Journey" | — | — |
References
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-726-6.
- ^ a b Cooper, Peter (September 27, 2011). "Johnnie Wright, country star and husband of Kitty Wells, dies at 97". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Johnnie Wright Obituary". Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery. September 27, 2011. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ "'Queen of Country Music' Kitty Wells Dies". WKRN-TV. July 16, 2012. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012.
- ^ "Kitty Wells Obituary". Austin & Bell Funeral Home. July 16, 2012. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
External links
- Biography of Johnnie & Jack on allmusic.com
- Johnnie Wright Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2004)
- Johnnie Wright recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings