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Dateline: January 15, 2001
This week's article is for my most faithful reader. Sorry It took me so long to write.
Johnny Lee grew up on a dairy farm outside of Alta Loma, Texas. As with most youngsters of the day his music idols were Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis. In high school he formed his first band, "The Road Runners." After he graduated from high school and his band broke up, Johnny joined the United States Navy and was promptly sent to Vietnam.
After his time in the Navy was up, Johnny lived in California and Texas. It was
in Texas that he bluffed his way into Mickey Gilley's band, by convincing the piano player that they had met and performed together in Galveston. He joined the band as a backup singer. For the next ten years he was a very important part of the now famous Gilley's Honky Tonk. While Mickey (who was at the height of his career) was off frequently touring, Johnny was the headlining act at the club.
In 1975, Johnny signed a recording contract with ABC Dot records and had a minor hit with "Sometimes." In 1976, Johnny went over to GRT and had several minor hits including a remake of Rick Nelsons "Garden Party" called "Country Party."
I think that 1980 was probably the peak of Johnny Lees career. It was then that he appeared in the hit movie "Urban Cowboy" starring John Travolta and Debra Winger. Urban Cowboy
fired up an interest in country music and in cowboy honky tonks such as Gilley's. Johnny
had his first big hit with the song "Lookin' For Love" that was featured in the movie and on the soundtrack.
Due to the Urban Cowboy craze, Johnny Lee became more popular, and in 1980 he had a hit with "One In A Million," and "Pickin' Up Strangers" in 1981.
I can honestly say that success went to Johnny's head. He quit Gilley's, formed his own band "Western Union," and established his own nightclub "Johnny Lee's" right down the road from Gilley's.
Johnny was named The Academy Of Country Music's "Best New Artist of 1980." He also had a string of country hits including:
In the mid 1980s, due to bad management and bad material, Johnny's career began to fade. His songs stopped making the top 40. He lost his recording contract, and his marriage to actress Charlene Tilton broke up it's said due to his drinking and rumored domestic abuse.
In the 1990s and 2000s Johnny Lee continues to tour and play honky tonks and clubs.
Recommended CDs:
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