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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZDUNCAN, Johnny(b 5 October 1938, Dublin TX; d 14 August 2006) Country singer, successful songwriter. He learned guitar from his mother, and they played country dances with a family band in the early '50s, including his uncle, fiddler Ben Moroney, cousins Jimmy and Dan Seals (later of Seals and Croft and England Dan and John Ford Coley respectively). Moved to Clovis NM, did some pop demos for Norman Petty; had disc jockey jobs '60s. Appeared on Ralph Emery's WSM TV show as a singer '66, signed with Columbia, had several minor hits (including duets with June Stearns '68-9) but did well as a writer: 'Summer Sunday' (Chet Atkins), 'I'd Rather Lose You' (Charley Pride), others covered by Marty Robbins, Conway Twitty, Jim Ed Brown, etc. He toured with Pride's roadshow '69-72. Then he was produced by Billy Sherrill and had his own top 20 country hits including top ten 'Sweet Country Woman' '73. He went back to Texas after a marriage broke up, but was talked into coming back to do duets with then-unknown Janie Fricke for '75 hits 'Jo And The Cowboy' and 'Charley Is My Name', then no. 1 hits with her: 'Stranger', 'Thinkin' Of A Rendezvous' '76, 'It Couldn't Have Been Any Better' '77; 'Come A Little Bit Closer' gave Fricke credit, and she soon had her own hits. Dudley continued with top five hits 'She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime)', 'Hello Mexico (And Adios Baby To You)', 'Slow Dancing', 'He's Out Of My Life'. After 1979 he had remarried and returned to Texas but continued entertaining. Altogether he had 39 entries in Billboard's country chart including the duets. Another Johnny Duncan (b 7 September 1931, Oliver Springs TN; d 15 July 2000, Australia) was an American serviceman who settled in England in the '50s, replaced Lonnie Donegan in Chris Barber's skiffle group, went solo '57 with 'a high lonesome sound' and recorded until '73. Last Train To San Fernando '97 was a four-CD set on Bear Family named after his biggest UK hit. |