User:Wakedream/Sandbox/Johnny Western
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| Johnny Western | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 28, 1934 |
| Occupation(s) | 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.
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[edit] Early life
Johnny Western was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota but was larged 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 collegiate singing trio. He got a job on radio at the age of 13,[3] he was named in Billboard magazine as the youngest disk 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 several years with Johnny Cash. He wrote and performed the theme song "The Ballad of Paladin" for the television program Have Gun – Will Travel and co-wrote songs for Johnny Yuma, The Rebel and Bonanza.[3]
[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.[4]
[edit] Radio career
Western currently has a daily radio show on KFDI, AM 1070, a classic country station calling itself "The Ranch" in Wichita, Kansas.[5] The station is the flagship for a network of 15 radio stations that are part of Journal Broadcast Group.[6]
[edit] The Johnny Western Theatre
The Johnny Western Theatre in Wild West World, located in Wichita, Kansas, had concerts scheduled to begin in October, 2007. However, the park declared bankruptcy in July 2007. 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.[7]
[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)
[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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Mo Morrissey (2007-07-11). Wild West World Closes, Declares Bankruptcy. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
[edit] External links
((Category:American country singers)) ((Category:American country singer-songwriters)) ((Category:American film actors)) ((Category:American television actors)) ((Category:American radio personalities)) ((Category:Western film actors)) ((Category:1934 births))
