Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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BUSH, Johnny

(b 17 February 1935, Houston TX) Honky tonk country singer and songwriter. He learned to play drums because 'drummers work full time.' He met Willie Nelson in the early 1950s and they became life-long friends; Bush toured with Nelson, then Ray Price playing drums; Price recorded his 'Eye For An Eye'. Nelson set up Bush's first recording session; Sound Of A Heartache album and single attracted attention, then ten hits leased to the Stop label '67-71 included 'You Gave Me A Mountain' '69; he switched to RCA for more hits and was back on small labels in the late 1970s. He had a minor hit with his own song 'Whiskey River' in 1981, and it became a staple of Nelson's act. Albums included Bush Country on Stop, Here's Johnny Bush '72 on Starday, Whiskey River/There Stands The Glass and Here Comes The World Again '73, both on RCA.