Johnny Western
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Johnny Western | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 28, 1934 |
| Occupation(s) | singer-songwriter, actor, radio show host (current) |
| Associated acts | Gene Autry, Johnny Cash |
| Website | http://www.johnnywestern.com/ |
Johnny Western (born October 28, 1934) is an American country singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and radio show host. He's a member of the Western Music Association Hall of Fame and the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame.
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[edit] Early life
Johnny Western was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota but was primarily raised in Northfield, Minnesota.[1] His father was an instructor and officer in several Civilian Conservation Corps camps, which is where he spent many of his earlier years. He also lived on Indian reservations along the Canada–United States border.[2]
While five years old, Western's parents took him to see the western film Guns and Guitars, which starred the actor and singer Gene Autry. The young boy decided he wanted to be a singing cowboy. At the age of 12, he received a guitar. Within a year, he was performing professionally.[2]
[edit] Musical career
His professional career began as a young teenager, singing and playing rhythm guitar with a collegiate singing trio. He got a job on radio at the age of 13,[3] which got him named in Billboard magazine as the youngest disc jockey and singer on American radio.[2] At age 16, he started playing on bills with the Sons of the Pioneers.
He performed with Gene Autry and for nearly 30 years was a part of the Johnny Cash road show. He wrote and performed the theme song "The Ballad of Paladin" for the television program Have Gun – Will Travel and co-wrote songs for TV shows The Rebel and Bonanza.[3]
His albums include Have Gun – Will Travel (1962), Johnny Western (1980), The Gunfighter (1981), Gunfight at O.K. Corral (1989), and Heros and Cowboys (1993).[4]
[edit] Acting career
Western has appeared in several television programs and movies. He was seen in the television programs Tales of Wells Fargo, Have Gun – Will Travel, Flight, and Boots and Saddles. He's had roles in several movies including The Night Rider, Fort Bowie, and The Dalton Girls.[5]
[edit] Radio career
Western currently has a daily country music radio show on KFTI, AM 1070, (the former KFDI) a classic country station calling itself "The Ranch" in Wichita, Kansas.[6] The station and KFDI, which is now FM 101.3, are a part of Journal Broadcast Group.[7][8]
[edit] The Johnny Western Theatre
The Johnny Western Theatre in Wild West World, a theme park located in Park City, Kansas near Wichita, had concerts scheduled to begin in October, 2007. However, the park declared bankruptcy in July 2007.[9] Reasons given included a tornado that struck Greensburg, Kansas on May 4, 2007, one day before the park's official opening, and foul weather that continued for 50 days of the park's three month run.
[edit] Awards and honors
- TV Theme Hall of Fame (1993)
- Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame (2000)
- Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame (2000)
- Western Music Association Hall of Fame (2001)
- Wichita Professional Broadcasters Hall of Fame (2002)
- Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame (2004)
- Kansas Western Swing Hall of Fame (2004)
[edit] References
- ^ Country Music & Western Heroes. KFDI. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
- ^ a b c Artists: Biography, Johnny Western. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
- ^ a b Johnny Western, Cowboy Entertainer. Boot Hill Museum & Front Street. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
- ^ Albums. Country Music Television, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- ^ Johnny Western. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
- ^ The Ranch Hands. KFDI. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
- ^ Johnny Western. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
- ^ AM 1070 Morning Newsradio Debuts Monday. Journal Broadcast Group (2008-01-14). Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
- ^ Arthur Levine. Wild West World Theme Park. About.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
