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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 ZLOUDERMILK, John D.(b 31 March 1934, Durham NC; d 21 September 2016, Christiana TN) Songwriter, singer. His first musical experience was banging a drum for the Salvation Army; he also learned guitar, ukulele, trumpet and saxophone, and made his TV debut at twelve with Tex Ritter; as Johnny Dee he had a radio show at 13. He attended the U. of North Carolina, and was on the music staff at WTVD in Durham, where he sang 'A Rose And A Baby Ruth', recorded by George Hamilton IV for a no. 6 hit USA '56. As Johnny Dee he recorded his own 'Sittin' In The Balcony' on the Colonial label; Eddie Cochran had the bigger hit but both went top 40 '57. He went to Nashville for a year, ready to go to work in his father-in-law's hardware store if music didn't work out, but it worked out in spades, first with Jim Denny's Cedarwood Music, then with Acuff-Rose. His best-known song is 'Abilene', popularized by Hamilton but now a country standard. Others were 'Waterloo' (Stonewall Jackson), 'Bad News' (Johnny Cash), 'Ebony Eyes' (Everly Bros), 'Stayin' In' (Bobby Vee), 'Talk Back Trembling Lips' (no. 1 country hit for Ernie Ashworth '63 on Hickory, Acuff's label; also a songwriter, the Grand Old Opry regular Ashworth d 2 March 2009 in Hartsville TN at age 80), 'Tobacco Road' (Nashville Teens and about 40 others), 'Break My Mind' (Gram Parsons, Richard Thompson), 'Indian Reservation' (Paul Revere in USA, Don Fardon in UK), 'Language Of Love' (Loudermilk's only top 40 pop hit under his own name, '61). Loudermilk's own country hits '63-7 included 'Bad News', 'Blue Train (Of The Heartbreak Line)', 'Th' Wife', 'That Ain't All' and 'It's My Time'. Artists covering Loudermilk's songs also included Kitty Wells, Anne Murray, Lonnie Donegan, Boxcar Willie, Chet Atkins (once his boss), many more. A large and engaging figure and a popular performer, he appeared with no frills, just a guitar; especially popular in the UK, where he appeared at Wembley '72, but he disliked touring. His songs are still making an impact; Tim McGraw's 'Indian Outlaw' includes phrases from 'Indian Reservation', Neal McCoy top ten country hit with 'Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye' '96. Loudermilk's albums included Language Of Love, Twelve Sides Of Loudermilk, A Bizarre Collection Of The Most Unusual Songs '66, Suburban Attitudes In Country Verse '67, The Open Mind Of John D. Loudermilk '69, all on RCA; Elloree '71 on WB, Encores '75 and Just Passin' Through on MIM. |