John Bright "Johnny" Russell (born January 23, 1940, Sunflower County, Mississippi; died July 3, 2001, Nashville, Tennessee) was an American country singer, songwriter, and comedian famous 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, Tamra Rosanes, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt.Contents [hide] 1 Biography 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 2.2 Singles 3 References 4 External links
[edit] Biography
Born in 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.
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 at the age of 61 from diabetes-related complications. [edit] Discography [edit] AlbumsYear 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
[edit] SinglesYear 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 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" 57 — "Here's to the Horses" 49 — 1982 "George" — — 1987 "Butterbeans" (w/ Little David Wilkins) 72 — "It's Quittin' Time" (w/ Little David Wilkins) — —