John Gale Horton (April 30,
1925 – November 5, 1960), known professionally as
Johnny Horton, was an American
country music singer who was most famous for
his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs" which launched the
"historical ballad" craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
With them, he had several major
crossover hits, most notably in 1959 with
"
The Battle of New
Orleans" which won the 1960
Grammy
Award for Best Country & Western Recording. The song won
the
Grammy Hall of Fame
Award and in 2001 was named number 333 of the
Songs of the Century. In 1960, Horton
had two other crossover hits with "
North to Alaska," in John Wayne's hit
film,
North to Alaska; and
"
Sink the Bismarck". Horton
was also a
rockabilly singer, and was
inducted into the
Rockabilly
Hall of Fame.
Biography
Horton was
born in Los
Angeles
to John and Claudia Horton, the youngest of five
siblings but raised in the town of Rusk
in East
Texas
. His family trekked back and forth from
California often as migrant fruit pickers but always returned to
the Rusk/Gallatin area in Texas.
After graduation from Gallatin High School
in 1944, he attended the Methodist-affiliated Lon Morris College (then called Lon
Morris Junior College) in Jacksonville, Texas
on a basketball
scholarship. Although he did not graduate from college, he
later attended Seattle University. He also briefly attended Baylor
University as well.
Thereafter, he worked in California
and Alaska
.
He
returned to Texas and won a talent contest hosted by then-radio
announcer Jim Reeves at the Reo Palm Isle
club in Longview
, the seat of
Gregg
County
, and soon starred in the popular Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport
. He remained a
Hayride member until
his death.
Horton was married twice. His first marriage was to Donna Cook,
which ended in a divorce granted in Rusk. In September 1953, he
married
Billie Jean Jones. Jones
was the widow of country music star
Hank
Williams, to whom she had been married for the two and a half
months prior to his death. With Billie Jean, Johnny had two
daughters, Yanina (Nina) and Melody. Billie Jean's daughter, Jerry,
was also part of the family.
Death
The Johnny Horton grave marker

Another Horton grave
inscription
On
November 5, 1960, Horton was killed in a head-on collision with a
drunk driver on
Highway 79 at Milano, Texas
while returning home from a performance at the
Skyline Club in Austin
. When
Johnny Cash, who was a good friend of
Horton's, learned about the accident he said, "[I] locked myself in
one of the hotel's barrooms, and cried." Cash also dedicated his
rendition of "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)" to
Horton on his album
Personal
File: "Johnny Horton was a good old friend of mine." He is
buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Haughton, Louisiana (near Bossier
City).
An
unfounded rumor was that Horton was on his way to Dallas
to meet
actor Ward Bond on the night of the crash
about a role on the NBC-TV series Wagon Train. Bond was attending a
football game and died of a heart
attack in Dallas hours after Horton died. A "Horton" did appear on
Wagon Train – actor
Robert Horton. One of Horton sisters
confirmed that the Ward Bond story was true. H
Horton is
buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Haughton
east of Bossier City
in northwestern Louisiana. He loved fishing
as much, if not more, than singing and was once billed as "The
Singing Fisherman." His favorite fishing holes were in the Piney
Woods of East Texas and northern Louisiana. His other passion was
spiritualism and he was devoted to the writings of Edgar
Cayce.
Horton was
posthumously inducted into the Delta Music Museum
Hall of Fame in Ferriday
, Louisiana.
Discography
Albums
| Year |
Single |
Chart Positions |
RIAA |
Label |
| US
Country |
US |
| 1959 |
The Spectacular Johnny Horton |
|
|
|
Columbia |
| 1960 |
Johnny Horton Makes History |
|
|
|
| 1961 |
Greatest Hits |
|
8 |
Platinum |
| 1962 |
Honky Tonk Man |
|
104 |
|
| 1965 |
I Can't Forget You |
|
|
|
| 1967 |
Johnny Horton On Stage |
37 |
|
|
| 1968 |
The Unforgettable Johnny Horton |
|
|
|
| 1970 |
On the Road |
|
|
|
| The Legendary Johnny Horton |
|
|
|
| 1971 |
The Battle of New Orleans |
|
|
|
| The World |
|
|
|
Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart Positions |
Album |
| US
Country |
US |
| 1956 |
"Honky Tonk Man" |
9 |
|
singles only |
| "I'm a One-Woman Man" |
7 |
|
| 1957 |
"I'm Coming Home" |
11 |
|
| "The Woman I Need" |
9 |
|
| 1958 |
"All Grown Up" |
8 |
|
| 1959 |
"When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)" |
1 |
|
The Spectacular Johnny Horton |
| "The Battle of New
Orleans" |
1 |
1 |
| "Johnny Reb" |
10 |
54 |
Johnny Horton Makes History |
| "Sal's Got a Sugar Lip" |
19 |
81 |
single only |
| 1960 |
"Sink the
Bismarck" |
3 |
6 |
Johnny Horton Makes History |
| "Johnny Freedom" |
|
69 |
| "North to Alaska" |
1 |
4 |
Greatest Hits |
| 1961 |
"Sleepy-Eyed John" |
9 |
54 |
Honky Tonk Man |
| 1962 |
"Honky Tonk Man" (re-release) |
11 |
96 |
| 1963 |
"All Grown Up" (re-release) |
26 |
|
single only |
Complete Discography
As per a current box set of his work here is a complete discography
of Johnny Horton's work.
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 01 - I'm A One Woman Man
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 02 - Honky Tonk Man
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 03 - I'm Ready If You're
Willing
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 04 - I Got A Hole In My
Pirogue
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 05 - Take Me Like I Am
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 06 - Sugar-Coated Baby
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 07 - I Don't Like I Did
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 08 - Hooray For That Little
Difference
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 09 - I'm Coming Home
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 10 - Over-Loving You
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 11 - She Knows Why
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 12 - Honky Tonk Mind (The
Woman I Need)
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 13 - Tell My Baby I Love
Her
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 14 - Goodbye Lonesome, Hello
Baby Doll
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 15 - I'll Do It
Everytime
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 16 - You're My Baby
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 17 - Let's Take The Long Way
Home
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 18 - Lover's Rock
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 19 - Honky-Tonk Hardwood
Floor
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 20 - The Wild One
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 21 - Everytime I'm Kissng
You
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 22 - Hot In The Sugarcane
Field
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 23 - Lonesome And
Heartbroken
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 24 - Seven Come Eleven
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 25 - I Can't Forget You
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 26 - Wise To The Ways Of A
Woman
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 27 - Out In New Mexico
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 28 - Tetched In The Head
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 29 - Just Walk A Little
Closer
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 30 - Don't Use My Heart For A
Stepping Stone
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 31 - I Love You Baby
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 1 / 32 - Wise To The Ways Of A
Woman
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 01 - Counterfeit Love
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 02 - Mister Moonlight
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 03 - All Grown Up
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 04 - Got The Bull By The
Horns
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 05 - When It's Springtime In
Alaska
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 06 - Whispering Pines
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 07 - The Battle Of New
Orleans
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 08 - All For The Love Of A
Girl
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 09 - Lost Highway
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 10 - Sam Magee
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 11 - Cherokee Boogie
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 12 - The Golden Rocket
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 13 - The Battle Of New
Orleans (British Version)
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 14 - Joe's Been A-Gittin'
There
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 15 - The First Train Headin'
South
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 16 - Got The Bull By The
Horns
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 17 - Sal's Got A
Sugerlip
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 18 - Words
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 19 - Johnny Reb
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 20 - Sal's Got A
Sugarlip
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 21 - Ole Slew Foot
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 22 - I'm Ready If Your
Willing
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 23 - Take Me Like I Am
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 24 - They Shined Up Rudolph's
Nose
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 25 - The Electrified
Donkey
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 26 - The Same Old Tale The
Crow Told Me
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 27 - Sink The Bismarck
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 28 - Sink The Bismarck
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 29 - The Same Old Tale The
Crow Told Me
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 30 - All Grown Up
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 2 / 31 - Got The Bull By The
Horns
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 01 - Ole Slew Foot
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 02 - Miss Marcy
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 03 - Sleepy Eyed John
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 04 - The Mansion You
Stole
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 05 - They'll Never Take Her
Love From Me
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 06 - The Sinking Of Reuben
James
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 07 - Jim Bridger
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 08 - The Battle Of Bull
Run
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 09 - Snow-Shoe Thompson
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 10 - John Paul Jones
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 11 - Comanche (The Brave
Horse)
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 12 - Young Abe Lincoln
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 13 - O'Leary's Cow
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 14 - Johnny Freedom
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 15 - Go North!
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 16 - North To Alaska
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 17 - North To Alaska
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 18 - I Just Don't Like This
Kind Of Livin'
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 19 - Rock Island Line
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 20 - Hank And Joe And Me
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 21 - The Golden Rocket
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 22 - A-Sleeping At The Foot
Of The Bed
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 23 - I Just Don't Like This
Kind Of Livin'
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 24 - Old Blind Barnabas
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 25 - Evil Hearted Me
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 26 - Hot In The Sugarcane
Field
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 27 - You Don't Move Me Baby
Anymore
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 28 - The Gosh-Darn Wheel
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 29 - Broken Hearted
Gypsy
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 3 / 30 - The Church By The Side
Of The Road
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 01 - The Vanishing Race
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 02 - Broken Hearted
Gypsy
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 03 - That Boy Got The
Habit
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 04 - Hot In The Sugarcane
Field
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 05 - You Don't Move Me Baby
Anymore
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 06 - The Church By The Side
Of The Road
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 07 - I Just Don't Like This
Kind Of Livin'
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 08 - Take It Like A Man
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 09 - Hank And Joe And Me
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 10 - The Golden Rocket
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 11 - Old Blind Barnabas
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 12 - Empty Bed Blues
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 13 - Rock Island Line
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 14 - Shake, Rattle And
Roll
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 15 - A-Sleeping At The Foot
Of The Bed
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 16 - Old Dan Tucker
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 17 - The Gosh Darn Wheel
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 18 - From Memphis To
Mobile
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 19 - Back Up Train
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 20 - Schottische In
Texas
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 21 - Take It LIke A Man
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 22 - That Boy Got The
Habit
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 23 - My Heart Stopped,
Trembled And Died
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 24 - Alley Girl Ways
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 25 - How You Gonna Make
It
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 26 - Witch Walking Baby
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 27 - Down That River
Road
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 28 - Big Wheels Rollin'
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 29 - I Got A Slow Leak In My
Heart
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 30 - You Don't Move Me Baby
Anymore
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 31 - What Will I Do Without
You
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 32 - Janey
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 33 - Streets Of Dodge
- Johnny Horton 1956-1960 - Vol 4 / 34 - Give Me Back My Picture
And You Can Keep The Frame
Notes
- CASH: The Autobiography
References
- Escott, Colin. (1998). "Johnny Horton". In The Encyclopedia
of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford
University Press. pp. 247-8.
External links