OBIT: Johnny Russell dead at 61

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: tar_heel
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 01:49 PM

dang,another hero gone...yes johnny russell is dead,too!...but all those great songs will go forever and those listed in this thread by other members are great songs,but.....the one i loved best was,"catfish john!" dang,that song grabbed me the first time i remember hearing it...and i still love....even perform it from time to time....but johnny russell had away of making it sound so real and honest.."walking in his foot steps,in the sweet delta dawn..."

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: M.Ted
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 11:03 PM

Country Singer Johnny Russell Dies

Updated: Tue, Jul 03 1:54 PM EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Grand Ole Opry star Johnny Russell, whose song "Act Naturally" was recorded by Buck Owens and the Beatles, died Tuesday. He was 61.

The singer, songwriter and comedian, who had battled leukemia, diabetes and other ailments, was surrounded by his family and friends when he died, said Baptist Hospital spokeswoman Jessica Etz.

Russell once said that it took him two years to get someone to record "Act Naturally," co-written with Voni Morrison.

When Owens recorded a version in 1963, it went to No. 1 on the country charts. Two years later, it was recorded by the Beatles, with Ringo Starr singing the vocal. In 1989, Starr and Owens recorded a duet of the song that was nominated for Grammy and Country Music Association awards.

"They (the Beatles) were so big, and it was such a big point in Buck's career, that it has been very satisfying to have been a part of it," Russell said in a 1988 Associated Press interview.

"It was a once in a lifetime thing. I'm just a little ol' country songwriter."

Russell's own recording career took off in the 1970s. His biggest hit was the working class anthem "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer," which went to No. 4 in 1973 and was nominated for a Grammy.

Russell joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1985, and over the years became its regular closing act. A jolly, 275-pound man, he would joke to audiences in his opening line: "Can everybody see me all right?"

Russell also wrote the No. 1 hit "Let's Fall to Pieces Together," recorded in 1984 by George Strait, and "Making Plans," which was recorded by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt on their "Trio" album in 1987.

Born in Moorhead, Miss., in 1940, Russell began recording as a teen-ager in California. One of his early songs, "In a Mansion Stands My Love," was later recorded by Jim Reeves and became the flip side to Reeves' No. 1 hit "He'll Have to Go."

Russell is survived by his son, John Jr.; daughter, Julie Morris; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: GUEST,khandu
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 10:09 PM

I remember when Johnny had an afternoon TV show on WABG-TV in Greenwood, MS, 1966-? I think. He also had a night club there.

His show was just him playing and singing. At first, I thought he was silly, but I came to look forward to his program.

Moorhead, a small Delta town, boasted of being his birthplace, and have had an annual JR festival, to which Johnny would come.

He was a great guy and will be sadly missed.

The 'heavenly band' seems to growing too rapidly.

Johnny, when you sit with Chet and all the others, just "Act Naturally", as you always have!

khandu

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: Banjer
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 06:29 PM

Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet, seems like the Lord done filled a bushel basket this week!!
To paraphrase some other lyrics, "If their ain't no beer in heaven, Then I don't want to go!"
Johnny Russel always was a symbol of perserverance to me. His up beat spirit (at least on stage, I don't know how he was off stage) was always an inspiration to all. He will be missed greatly. I have some of the Country Family Reunion tapes swhich feature him among others and they will get a lot of play time tommorow...Good bye, Johnny!

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: Mark Clark
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 06:16 PM

Yeah, we don't fit in with the white collar crowd,
We're a little too rowdy and a little too loud...

Pass Johnny a PBR and make him feel at home. Oh wait... In heaven there is no beer.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: Francy
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 06:12 PM

So many great songs came from the pen of Johhny Russell..One of my favorites was "Making Plans"......

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 05:34 PM

I'd guess there is and Johnny Russell would be not only singing the songs, but telling the jokes as well. He had a number of songs that were the grist of the Nashville machine and was indeed a favorite of Chet Atkins, so I'm sure Chet isn't lonely tonight.

One of his humor songs always gave me a laugh as it was artfully written and demeaned everyone and no one in equal measure. If you never heard "Rednecks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer" you missed something.

Goodbye Johnny and many thanks.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: Hollowfox
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 05:06 PM

There must be a grand jam session in Heaven right now.

Subject: RE: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 04:46 PM

Seems as there is no end to the bad news lately.

Subject: Johnny Russell dead at 61
From: Kim C
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 04:12 PM

I was searching the news for something else and found that Johnny Russell has died, apparently just today. He had been ill for a long while and just had his legs amputated not long ago from diabetes complications. For those of you who may not know, Johnny Russell wrote "Act Naturally," which, as he used to say on the Opry, put a lot of taters on his plate.