Johnny Tillotson, the Grammy-nominated former teen idol whose work was covered by the likes of Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson, died April 1 at age 86.
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Nancy Tillotson announced her husband’s death on April 2 in a heartbreaking social media post. “He was funny, generous and kind. A gentleman through and through,” she wrote. “He loved and was grateful to his fans, as he once said, they made every dream I ever had come true. Once again on his behalf I say thank you for that.”
Tillotson found chart success in the early ’60s. He landed a string of nine top 10 hits on Billboard’s pop, country, and adult contemporary charts. Additionally, Tillotson spent some time on the silver screen, appearing in movies such as 1966’s The Fat Spy, starring Jayne Mansfield.
Johnny Tillotson Was a Two-Time Grammy Nominee
Born April 20, 1938, in Jacksonville, Florida, Johnny Tillotson began making the local performance circuits as a child. By age 16, he had landed his own TV show and a contract with Cadence Records.
After sending a string of singles to the lower half of the Billboard Hot 100, the teen idol struck gold with 1960’s “Poetry in Motion,” which peaked at No. 2.
Two years later, Tillotson made his first appearance on the country chart with the self-penned “It Keeps Right on A-Hurtin’.” Inspired by his own father’s terminal illness, the song earned Tillotson a Grammy nod for Best Country & Western Recording. Since then, more than 100 artists—including Elvis Presley and Billy Joe Royal—have offered their take on the downtempo ballad.
[RELATED: 3 of the Best Songs About Elvis Presley]
More Than Just a Teen Idol
Many artists who fall into the “teen idol” category risk getting pigeonholed. Fortunately, Johnny Tillotson was able to parlay that early success into a decades-long career.
“When I started my career, I wasn’t looking for money,” the “Without You” crooner said during a 2019 interview. “I was looking for longevity, because doing show business and singing and writing and meeting people is fun. I mean, it’s like getting to play baseball forever. It’s from the heart, it makes you feel good. It’s just wonderful.”
Featured image courtesy of Instagram
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