Johnny Duncan (August 2006)
Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east
Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as
'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2006 were most gracious with
their time & words. It is here, within this special
part of gene-watson.com, that you have an opportunity to
read
Johnny Duncan's
quote, which
he submitted to this site on Tuesday 1 August 2006.
I (Sean Brady)
would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Johnny Duncan who has made a special contribution to a unique part
of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
 Johnny
Duncan
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 1 August 2006
'Yes, I am happy to supply you with a
quote.
Gene Watson's a pure
country singer with a distinctive sound.
One of our best!'.
About Johnny Duncan...
Johnny Duncan,
who was born in Dublin, Texas on 5 October 1938, persuaded his mother, who was a
music teacher, to teach him to play the guitar when he turned twelve. A B+
high school student, Johnny majored in English & speech at Texas Christian
University, but he dropped out after a couple of years.
In 1959, he moved to Clovis, New Mexico where he worked with
Norman Petty, who had produced Buddy Holly (RIP). He
recorded in London & New York, but a pop approach to his music
did not work. By the mid-1960s, Johnny was performing live
on WSM Radio in Nashville. It was then that he received a
call from Don Law who gave him the opportunity to record for
Columbia Records. Johnny enjoyed his first minor hit in
1967 with the song 'Hard luck Joe'.
In 1970, he joined the
Charley
Pride
road-show. Charley saw the potential of
Johnny as a vocalist & let him use his band, the Pridesmen,
while on tour. Charley also recognised Johnny's talents as
a song-writer & recorded a number of his compositions, including
'I'd rather love you' (No.1 for 3 weeks in March 1971), 'She's
too good to be true' (No.1 for 3 weeks in November/December
1971) & 'I ain't all bad' (No.6 in late 1975).
 In 1975, Johnny left
Charley Pride
& was teamed with
Larry Gatlin as producer
& Janie Fricke as a
background vocalist, their first collaboration being 'Jo & the
cowboy' (No.26 in 1975).
A string of hit songs then followed; 'Stranger' (No.4 in 1976),
'Thinking of a rendezvous' (No.1 for 2 weeks in December 1976),
Ray Griff's
'It couldn't have been
any better' (No.1 for 1 week in April
1977), 'A song in the night' (a Top 5 hit in August 1977), 'Come
a little bit closer' with Janie Fricke (a Top 5 hit in late
1977), and 'She can put her shoes under my bed anytime' (No.1
for 1 week in May 1978).
Johnny's last Top 10
appearances came in 1979 with 'Slow dancing' & 'The lady in the
blue Mercedes', after which his commercial momentum abruptly
halted. He & Columbia Records parted ways in 1982, and he
subsequently remarried and returned to Texas. Johnny
recorded a little for small labels during the 1980s & the 1990s.
Johnny Duncan's final album, 'The Thing to Do', was released on
JRD Records in 2004.
Visit Johnny Duncan's Official Website
On Monday 14 August 2006, some thirteen days after
the acquisition of this quote, Johnny Duncan passed
away.
Johnny Duncan's memorial service took place at
3.00pm on Thursday 17 August 2006 at the First
Baptist Church of Stephenville, 334 W. Green,
Stephenville, Texas 76401.
Johnny Duncan
5 October 1938 - 14 August 2006
Rest in Peace
Gene Watson's Peers...
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