Johnny Standley

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Johnny Standley (December 6, 1912 – May 27, 1992) was an American musician, actor, and comedian.

Early life and career

Born in

USO. Standley frequently worked with Horace Heidt, touring with the bandleader and occasionally appearing on his television program.[1]

"It's in the Book"

In 1952, Standley wrote (with Art Thorsen) a song/comedy routine called "

Billboard charts in October and raced all the way to the number-one spot for the week ending November 22, 1952. Aided by radio airplay and TV appearances, the record sold over two million copies, making it perhaps the mostly unlikely recording ever to receive a gold record.[2]

Standley continued touring with Heidt's stage show, but would release only two more records, neither of them hits: "Proud New Father" b/w "Clap Your Hands" (Capitol 2569) in 1953, and "Get Out and Vote" (with Jimmy Sheldon's Orchestra; Capitol 3544) in 1956. (The latter was later re-released by the California Republican Party, of which Horace Heidt Jr. was a member.)

"It's in the Book" would attract further attention in 1971, when filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich used it in his movie The Last Picture Show, playing in the background in the film's final scene.

In 1992, Standley died of pneumonia at the age of 79, in Los Angeles.

References

  1. ^ "Johnny Standley; Retired Actor, Comedian - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. 1992-05-29. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  2. ISBN 0-214-20512-6
    .

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