John Jennings longtime producer of Mary Chapin Carpenter dies at 61

John Jennings November 22, 1953 - October 16, 2015 R.I.P

John Jennings singer-songwriter & longtime producer of Mary Chapin Carpenter has sadly died following his passing on Friday evening (Oct 16, 2015) after a long battle with cancer. He was 61.

The cause was kidney cancer, said Tamara Meyer, his companion of 17 years (diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer in March 2014).

Mr. Jennings was based in the Washington area throughout his career and had lived with Meyer in Potomac, Md., since 1998. 

Jennings and partner Tamara Meyer were nearly killed in 2003 when a rotting oak tree fell on their vehicle as they were driving home from a movie. 

Besides Meyer, survivors include a brother.

John Jennings Nov 22, 1953 - Oct 16, 2015
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Condolences To Family And Friends Of John Jennings

Mr.Jennings was most familiar to those in the Country format for his collaboration with Mary Chapin Carpenter, for whom he produced eight albums during her successful early 90s run, in addition to playing in her band.

A longtime member of Mary Chapin’s band, he produced and recorded 11 Top Ten singles and 2 Grammy winning albums

Including 1995 Best Country Album - "Stones in the Road" (Producers: Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Jennings)

He received a Grammy Award nomination for record of the year for co-producing “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” (1993).

A multi-instrumentalist, he also worked with a diverse list of artists that included Janis Ian (1995 “Revenge”; 2000 “God & the FBI”), Iris Dement (1996 The Way I Should) Indigo Girls and George Jones; projects on which he played, sang or produced.

ABOUT

Birth name: John Edward Jennings

Born: November 22, 1953 Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA

Died: October 16, 2015 (aged 61) Rockville, Maryland, USA

Raised in Virginia, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C., Jennings grew up listening to everything from classical music and big-band swing to country music and rock & roll. Although he took piano and trumpet lessons as a youngster, he steered toward the guitar after hearing the Beatles.

His performing debut came with a rock band in the sixth grade, and he continued to perform in the 1970s with Bill Holland & Rent's Due and Big Yankee Dollar, a group that mostly played his original songs.

John was also an exceptional hard rock guitarist. He was the lead guitarist in Pentagramin 1971 along with co-founder Geof O'Keefe. They were an American heavy metal band from Alexandria, Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of heavy metal, and the subgenre of doom metal in particula. Jennings left Pentagram to pursue a different musical path.

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER YEARS

Although he concentrated on writing advertising jingles in the early '80s, Jennings' musical career took off after Bill Danoff (of the Starland Vocal Band) introduced him to Mary-Chapin Carpenter in 1982.

Carpenter had just moved to Washington. Mr. Jennings was writing and recording commercial jingles after stints with local rock bands Rent’s Due and Big Yankee Dollar. The pair dated before realizing they worked better aesthetically than romantically. They played shows at local cafes, and Mr. Jennings encouraged the shy Carpenter to stop relying on covers and perform her own songs, which blended folk and country styles.

Mary Chapin (L) & John Jennings (R)

Performing together in the Washington, D.C., area, Jennings and Carpenter began to garner attention.
An album recorded to be sold at their shows was reissued by Columbia Records as Carpenter's 1987 debut album, HOMETOWN GIRL. 

The album didn’t chart as its folksy sound and long-running tunes never found a place on mainstream country radio, but Carpenter broke through with “STATE OF THE HEART” (1989; #28 Top Country Albums; GOLD) and SHOOTING STRAIGHT IN THE DARK (1990; #11 Top Country Albums; PLATINUM), up-tempo follow-ups that mixed country and pop. Both were co-produced with Mr. Jennings.

“Down at the Twist and Shout,” a single from “Shooting Straight,” became Carpenter’s first Grammy-winning track. She has since sold more than 12 million records.

STONES IN THE ROAD released: Oct 4, 1994 the fifth album by Mary Chapin Carpenter went 2× Platinum, co-produced with Jennings it was No.1 on U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums (#10 Billboard 200; #26 UK Albums)

Carpenter earned two Grammy Awards in 1995 for her work on the album: Best Country Album and Best Female Country Vocal Performance (for "Shut Up and Kiss Me"), the fourth straight year she won the latter category.

John Jennings speaks about his Collaborating with Mary Chapin and performs on the "Jubilee: Live at Wolf Trap" performance and found on the album "Come On, Come On".

Back in late 1998 early 1999 Mark Hagen the presenter of VH1 Country (Digital Cable TV; broadcast in the UK) made John Jennings the month’s special guest.

He interviewed John in Nashville talking to him about how he got started in music, producing records and about his then new 14 track album I BELONG TO YOU (released Oct 27, 1998; Vanguard ‎– 79515-2). The video for the 1997 video “Everybody Loves Me” from his album Buddy was also aired. Mr. Hagen is currently the producer of BBC Radio 2's "Bob Harris Country", a former board member of the Country Music Association and previously produced The Old Grey Whistle Test at 30 (2001) and Top of the Pops 2.

Mark Hagen (L)

This was part of the interview:

Did you feel completely part of the town [Nashville] or an outsider just going in for a bit?

In some respects I felt part of the town. I was here so little, I travel a great deal on tour with Mary Chapin Carpenter or whoever. I wasn’t here that much, I might have spent about a third of that time in town.

I am a quiet person for the most part so I’m just not the kind to go round to labels and knock on doors and say “Hi I’m John, nice to meet you, please hire me. I was always welcome wherever I went, people we’re uniformly friendly. Because of Chapin’s success I got into some doors I otherwise wouldn’t have got into had I of been anyone else.

It’s an incredibly competitive town. Nashville’s a funny place, what you’ve got it’s the buckle of the Bible belt, it’s a very conservative town. There are little pockets of creativity and culture. There’s radicalism, all that us from the East Coast live and breathe for! (Jokes).

Some of that stuff that makes it a very attractive town. It’s so disconnected that you can’t really find the pulse of the alternative stuff that’s happening, at least I couldn’t.

You do some many things, how do you sectionalize it all?

You can’t really, they all sort of overlap which is a good thing in the big music stew!

How did Freddie and the Dreamers and Gerry and the Pacemakers lead to Lyle Lovett?

Every time I hear “Ferry Cross the Mersey” I have to pull the car over. Or "Little Children" [Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas]. That’s the stuff I cut my teeth on in bands.

Was it the early Mersey Beat? Who were you playing in High School Bands?

Oh yes, It’s the best, I love it. Yardbirds, The Who, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Hollies whatever we could get our hands on. The best stuff you could get to play in POP bands

What was your route of entry into music?

I started playing in bands when I was a teenager. I guess about 12 years old playing bass.

Then went to Junior High and High School. I was thinking when I’d get out of High School I’d maybe be an English or Art teacher but I kept playing and going back to being in bands. I’d put down playing guitar for months at a time but I’d always come back to it. From the time I was 23/ 24 that was when I realised I’d be doing this the whole time.

My brother had a story from when I was a kid. He said that when I was 12 he asked me what I’d do when I grew up and I said I want to make a living playing music. So it’s been there for a long time. I started playing in bands and everything happened.

I started writing songs when I was 15. They were REALLY bad, worse than you can possibly imagine. I don’t think I knew what I was doing till I hit 25 or 26.

Only recently I’ve felt I’ve found my own voice which is kind of the key.

Was there a moment when you realised that had happened, was there a particular song or record, when you thought, oh yeah, it’s me?!

That’s a good question. It might have been “Willie Short” from my first record. The song was kind of handed to me philosophically speaking. Over the course of my two records I’ve felt more myself and not someone reiterating the lessons with those that I’d worked with and listened to.

Is it a strange experience putting yourself out there on your own after collaborating with other people?

It’s really strange because you find yourself talking a lot about them than I do talking about myself. It’s been a rich experience working with Mary Chapin [Carpenter], Iris Dement, Lucinda Williams, Janis Ian etc. They are people who can REALLY write songs, really revere. To be a singer-songwriter after working with them is fairly daunting.

What do you think you’ve brought to those collaborations?

John (laughed) then replied: I think the thing I do really well is PRODUCE. It’s fairly involved, part of it is making the artist feel comfortable and have their best interests at heart. The only thing in your world is to have them leave the studio at the end of the day feeling like they’re satisfied with what they’ve done. It’s also about configuring a budget which I think I’m really GOOD at. Getting a lot of BANG for a little bit of BUCK is a helpful thing. There’s no fire I can’t put out, save the death of an artist, the project which has never happened to me.

When it comes to doing a record there’s no prospect that’s too scary to me. There’s no thing that can happen I can’t handle.

Producing / promoting himself?

The critical detachment producing yourself is so difficult to achieve. I had a co-producer Bob Dawson which really helped me who engineered and mixed most of it. He was a really good firewall. 

He stopped me from doing something really stupid. I don’t make a lot of noise about what I do, I think it’s by temperament. If I’d be really smart I’d be taking out Billboard space everywhere!

The new record do you see it as a step up or as Buddy Part 2?

I think of it as a step up Buddy as the songs are by and large are better. Buddy was recorded over 3-4 years at different times. Everything on the new one was written in last 2 years. One thing that songwriters have to do is to stay open emotionally so they can be inspired to do things.

Treasured Memories
One of my all time favourite producers it was indeed a privilege to see John perform in Mary Chapin’s band several times in London. The first being in 1993 at Hammersmith Odeon on the Stones In The Road tour (support Jon Randall). As far as backing bands go I've never seen a better, tighter or more self-assured one. It was musicianship of the very highest order, with fantastic arrangements. Another occasion dated back to Nov 5, 1999 as part of playing an incredible 7 night run at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith on Mary Chapin's "Party Doll On Wheels Tour" playing to 350 people each night with Catie Curtis supporting! The ethereal beauty of songs like Swept Away with collaborater John Jennings on bass and the band eased smoothly into top gear. An unforgettable night!”

Listen on soundcloud to Mary Chapin performing Bruce Springsteen's "My Love Will Not Let You Down" at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith in London on November 1, 1999. Featuring John Jennings on bass.

In typical Mary Chapin fashion the songs on TIME SEX LOVE (#6 US, #57 UK; released May 29, 2001) explored the many facets of human relationships. 
The album's full title, time is the great gift; sex is the great equaliser; love is the great mystery, came from her long-time guitarist John Jennings that came about during a conversation he and she had. For the first time she recorded in London November 2000 with Jennings and Music Row's Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks). 
The song “This is Me Leaving You", a raucous declaration of independence found her working with Jennings.

Mary Chapin toured the album playing in the UK including the Hammersmith London Apolloon Saturday 9th June 2001 with special guest Shawn Colvin.

Jennings took a temporary hiatus from Carpenter's band in 1993 and began work on his solo album; co-produced with Bob Dawson, BUDDY (Vanguard records) released in 1997. This and later albums had limited sales but received widespread acclaim.

Reviewing IT’S ALL GOOD (2001), Mr. Jennings’s third solo record, music critic Mike Joyce wrote in The Washington Post that “the songs don’t attract attention so much as insinuate themselves, like a minor key blues or ancient Celtic air.”

Watch John Jennings: Everybody Loves Me shown in the UK on VH1 in 1997. This was the 1997 WAMMI video of the year. Features cameos by Raul Malo, Robert Reynolds (Mavericks) and Trisha Yearwood.

Jennings has remained one of Washington, D.C.'s most accomplished musicians, and has received area music awards (Wammies) as Producer of the Year (1987, 1989, 1991, and 1995), Best Folk/Bluegrass Instrumentalist (1991), Best Folk/Bluegrass Male Vocalist (1991), Best Contemporary Folk/Irish Instrumentalist (1992), Best Contemporary Folk/Irish Male Vocalist (1992), and Video of the Year ("Everybody Loves Me," 1997). I Belong to You followed in 1998.

Albums

Buddy (1997; Vanguard ‎– VCD 79496-2 | Artwork | Details) | I Belong To You (1998; Vanguard ‎– 79515-2 | Details) | More Noise From Nowhere (2007) | It's All Good (2007)

CREDITS         

“West One” (Shine on Me) writers: Paul Fox, John Jennings, Malcolm Owen, Glen Ruffy performer Ruts

“Guide Me” writer John Jennings performer Glen Campbell SOUTHERN NIGHTS (1977)

“Willie Short” writer John Jennings RED HOT + COUNTRY (1994) performer Mary Chapin Carpenter        

Co-writes with Mary Chapin Carpenter:

“A Road Is Just a Road” | Hometown Girl (1987)

“Never Had It So Good” | State of the Heart (1989)

“Going out Tonight” | Shooting Straight in the Dark (1990)

“This Is Me Leaving You” | Time* Sex* Love* (2001)

“Bells Are Ringing” | Today's Country Christmas (2001)/ Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas (2008)

Producer, Composer, Programming, Engineer, Vocal Harmony, Vocals (Background),

Bass (Upright), Bass, Clevenger Bass, Bouzouki, Dobro, Dulcimer, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Baritone), Guitar (Electric Baritone), Harmonica, Hi String Guitar, Lap Steel, Slide Guitar,

Credits: Artist Direct.com |Amazon UK - iTunes

Mr. Jennings played the bass, keyboard and not least the guitar — acoustic, electric, slide, lap, steel or baritone. “He could play anything,” Mary Chapin Carpenter said in an e-mail, “and his knowledge, talent and supreme great taste informed everything he did.”

 “He had a studio in his basement, and I’d start going over there on the weekends and diddling around,” Carpenter told the New York Times in 1993. “That’s the way John is. John is like, ‘Let’s do it.’ He doesn’t see hurdles. I see hurdles.”

Mr. Jennings said he was happy to see Carpenter make it big but never sought the same level of fame for himself. “While I want to be successful, it’s not something I’m going to go out of my way for,” he told The Washington Post in 1997. “I don’t really see it for me.”

After Mr. Jennings was diagnosed with cancer in spring 2014, a benefit concert was held at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club (7719 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, Md 20814) >> Tribute Concert

Almost $75,000 was raised through a crowdfunding site Indiegogo.com (John Jennings: Musician's Relief Love Campaign) to pay for his medical expenses.

John Jennings, Jim Henry & Mary Chapin Carpenter Taken on August 3, 2010

Of her longtime collaborator and friend, Carpenter commented, “I have been lucky enough to play music with John for many years. But I would say that what makes me even more fortunate is that he is also my dear friend. And I know that there are a great many people who would describe John the same way. I am in awe of his spirit as he works daily on the hard business of recovering from surgery and as he undergoes the important follow up medical procedures. It takes everything he’s got. I know that John would be the first person to offer his help to a friend in need. And the last person to ask for it on his own behalf. So that is why his friends are here to ask for your help…if you have ever been lucky enough in your life to have a friend like him, I am certain you will understand…”

Long-time MCC band member Jon Carroll wrote: Besides being a great guy, John Jennings is truly a renaissance musician and songwriter! A wonderfully gifted guitarist and performer who hits the note every time and a highly respected producer who understands the mojo of making great artists greater. Always loved his music and I'm proud to have him as my friend.

A seventh solo album was unfinished at the time of Mr. Jennings’s death, although one song, “I Believe Love Will Save My Life,” had been released. In an interview with WUSA-TV, Mr. Jennings said he began writing the song after his illness was diagnosed. “I thought I knew something about love before people started helping me,” he said. “I was wrong.”

Local musician John Jennings writes song about illness - www.wusa9.com

Because of his illness, he withdrew from touring with Carpenter last year.

TRIBUTES

Janis Ian on Facebook posted a photo and wrote: A moment of silence for producer and friend John Jennings, who died last night. John produced one of my favorite albums, Revenge, and taught me so much about recording and producing in the process. He asked me what my dream band would be, and got them to work for what I could afford. (Steve Gadd, Willie Weeks, Matt Rollings, Ciro Baptista, Jim Brock.) …

Lucy Kaplansky tweeted ‏@lucykaplansky Awful news: John Jennings passed away last night. He was an absolutely wonderful, smart, hilarious and supremely talented guy. So so sorry.

Catie Curtis shared a Facebook photo and posted: It's so hard to believe that the world lost John Jennings. I got to know him while touring with Mary Chapin Carpenter in the late 90's. in 2002 John convinced that we could still make Acoustic Valentine even though he had just been in a car accident, broken his neck and was wearing a halo (cage) around his head. We did it. When we played at the White House I thought it would be neat to make a record. John made a phone call and within hours we were at Bias recording studio (with Elana Arian and Ingrid Graudins.) I'm so glad to have those recordings now. John brought (and will always bring) so much joy to others with his divine guitar playing and harmonies. ..He just made everything sound amazing and memorable. He loved his friends, he made me feel special. He is so alive in my heart and will always be

John Gorka tweeted ‏@johngorka I'm so sorry to hear the news about John Jennings. I thought he was going to come through it.

Benmont Tench III ‏@benchten Sad, sad, sad. What a good man. Rest now.  John Jennings, guitarist and producer, dies at 61

Maura and Pete Kennedy performed at the Rose Garden Coffeehouse, Mansfield, Mass., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. Pete dedicated this instrumental tune to the late John Jennings.

Mary Chapin Carpenter acknowledged Jennings’ passing at acoustic concerts this weekend in Minnesota and Iowa.

Roses for John and a heart felt thank you to all in Des Moines last night ..."when we look back and say, those were halcyon days..." Instagram

She tweeted @M_CCarpenter 2nite all @MayoCivicCenter carried us through our tears. Why walk when you can fly? For John, now & always

MaryChapin Carpenter (Oct 17) Sunset and evening star,  And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar… Instagram

Why Walk When You Can Fly  R.I.P

OBITURIES

Music Row.com: LifeNotes: Producer/Guitarist John Jennings Passes

Washington Post: John Jennings, guitarist and producer, dies at 61

CMT(by Edward Morris)

Kenny Johnson country singer & BBC Radio Merseyside presenter dies aged 75

Updated (18 Oct 2015) Tribute interviews + expanded history

Kenny Johnson (b. 11 December 1939 – died 13 October 2015)

Former BBC Radio Merseyside presenter and country singer Kenny Johnson has died in Spain aged 75, on Tuesday night Oct 13, 2015. This apparently was at the end of a country music week that the group West Virginia put on.

Country music star was 'loved all over Merseyside'

Sad news circulated on the British Country Music grapevine regarding the passing ofKenny Johnson.

He was a veteran country broadcaster, 50 year bandleaderand two times BCMA Hall of fame member.

Kenny Johnson (BBC Photo)

He started in the Liverpool club and pub circuit as a rock 'n' roll band before forming the internationally renowned Hillsiderswith five other members. The band played the famous Wembley Festivals backing visiting American stars and in their own right. They landed regular spots on 1970s television and they played in America performing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville when it was still the Grand Ole Opry (1967).

He left the the Hillies in 1975 to form his own band Kenny Johnson and the Northwind (one of the UK¹s premier bands ) and continued to perform into the 1990's as a duo and solo artist.

His knowledge of Country music also got him the Country slot “Sounds Country” on BBC Radio Merseyside which broadcasts weekly. He had been with the BBC for 39 years. It’s believed to be the longest running country music  

Programme in the UK!

At the Country Western Clubs there was no need to introduce the BBC Radio Merseyside "Red Rose" Country presenter. He gave a good mixture of old and new tracks and confidently gave the dancers guidance on the appropriate dance to fit the songs. His Scouse humour and cheerful manner was always welcome.

Country Is Good for the Soul

In this archived spotlight weekend interview with UKCountryRadio.com CEO and CMA International Broadcaster award recepient Allan Watkiss, Kenny spoke about the 60s, touring under the RCA label umbrella backing the US country stars, presenting the Sounds Country show, being an "country legend" and his outside interests.
Listen here:

SONNY WEBB AND THE CASCADES

Kenny Johnson was a promising soccer player with the Liverpool school boys, but found that music took over and started in the music business as a semi-pro, playing Skiffle, Country and Rock 'n' Roll.

1958 saw Kenny Johnson forming Sonny Web and the Country Two, which then became the Country Four and then Sony Web and the Cascades in 1961 (a name he has used until this date for his Rock 'n' Roll shows), with Joe Butler on bass and Frank Wan on lead guitarist.

Sonny Webb & the Cascades

The band’s origins go back to 1959 when Kenny Johnson (b. 11 December 1939, Liverpool, England; lead vocals/guitar) formed the Country Three.

Johnson, was joined by Joe Butler (b. 12 January 1939, Liverpool, England, d. May 2007; guitar), who changed the group to Sonny Webb And The Country Four, taking his stage name from the American country stars Sonny James and Webb Pierce. 

In 1961, following an argument, Johnson regrouped as Sonny Webb And The Cascades.

Joe Butler played bass and they were joined by lead guitarist Frank Wan, who had been with Clinton Ford, and Brian ‘Noddy’ Redman, of the Fourmost and Kingsize Taylor And The Dominoes.

Playing the beat venues frequented by Merseybeat groups, they brought their tough environment to country music and so pioneered country rock before the Byrds.

Their publicity proclaimed, ‘For that country flavour and the best in pops’, and their repertoire can be gauged from recordings at the Rialto Ballroom in Liverpool for Oriole’s This Is Merseybeat albums. The songs included George Jones’ ‘Who Shot Sam?’, Bob Luman’s ‘You’ve Got Everything’, Hank Locklin’s ‘Border Of The Blues’ and Buck Owens’ ‘Excuse Me’.

Listen to Sonny Webb & the Cascades (The Hillsiders) UK Single "You've Got Everything / Border Of The Blues" (Oriole 45-CB 1873)

Although not a soft and gentle country band, they brought the natural environment of Liverpool to Nashville music, it must have worked as they had a big following from both beat music and country music fans.

THE HILLSIDERS

The Hillsiders played country when country was not cool in England - as the UK’s leading country band, they helped introduce 1000’s people to the music.

Kenny Johnson was also one of the first members & lead singer of The Hillsiders.

Kenny Johnson with The Hillsiders (1971)
Courtesy: StanLaundon.com

The Hillsiders were formed on May 5th, 1964 at Ozzie Wade’s country music club in Liverpool in May 1964, Sonny Webb And The Cascades became The Hillsiders. Brian Hilton from Group One joined as lead guitarist when Frank Wan switched to steel.

They started playing the type of music they liked, contemporary country and western and became the top country band in the UK, winning polls and awards all over Europe.

Their first gig was at Walton Lane Social Club, Liverpool. The Hillsiders career ran until 1999.

The original members were Kenny Johnson, (lead singer and rhythm guitar), Joe Butler, (b. 12 January 1939, Liverpool, England, d. May 2007; bass guitar and vocals), Brian Hilton, (lead guitar and vocals), Brian (Noddy) Redman, (drums), and Frankie Wan (steel guitar).

In Dec 1964 discussing their own position in the field, the Hillsiders said, "Our disc has been released in the States and we believe there is great interest over there regarding it - because people have never heard of a Liverpool C&W group before. We even received a phone call from Minnesota and fan letters from the States. One review in the American press said that we were the first British group to feature a pedal steel guitar."

Singles:

I Wonder If I Care As Much ‎(7") (Written-By – D. Everly*, P. Everly*) | Decca F.12026 | 1964

Please Be My Love ‎(7") (Sauceman, Fields) | Decca F 12161 | 1965 Image          

Almost Persuaded ‎(7", Single) (writers: Sherrill, Sutton) |  JH 322 |1966                

Sunday Mornin Comin Down ‎(7", Single, Promo, writer Kris Kristofferson) | RCA Victor RCA 2038| 1970

See More 45 Catalog - The Hillsiders

The Hillsiders were recognised as one of Britain's top Country bands for over 3 decades, playing major venues and touring the GI bases both at home and in Germany. They opened for many of Country Music's major artistes such as Marty Robbins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Watson and Glen Campbell.

The Bobby Bare tour was brilliant for them. Bobby liked the harmonies that the Hillsiders had (who had a #1 hit record at the same time). At the end of the tour they brought him back to do a show at The Grafton in Liverpool. And then after a party at my house, Bare said - "When I get back to the states, I'm gonna see Chet Atkins, and we're going to do an album together".  The man was true to his word, he went back to Nashville, saw Chet Atkins, got The Hillsiders a deal with RCA, and they flew out and recorded the album, and it was said it got to #17 (?) in the Billboard Hot 100 Album charts. 

Bare and The Hillsiders recorded an album "The English Countryside" (LP, Mono | RCA Victor LPM 3896 (M); LSP 3896) in 1967 with him on the RCA Nashville label, produced by the renowned Chet Atkins. "The English Countryside" made a debut at No.44 (chart dated Dec 23, 1967), then climbed to #31 and peaked at #29 (chart dated Jan 13, 1968) for 3 weeks on the US Billboard Hot Country Album Charts and received a silver disk for sales. The novel combination of one of America's top country singers and a Liverpool quintet made for fine versions of songs such as Tom T. Hall's "I Wash My Face in the Morning Dew." The 8 cuts that featured Bare with the Hillsiders were the best numbers. Other gems included "Six Days on the Road,", “You all Come" and "Sweet Dreams".

The English Country Side (RCA Victor RD7918) stood for many years as a well-crafted example of Liverpool-recorded country music. George Hamilton IV and The Hillsiders became firm friends and performed together on Hamilton's BBC TV Series and recorded an album together in 1971 HERITAGE (RCA Victor | LDP4609). 
In 1971 The Hillsiders signed a two album deal with Polydor and albums “By Request” (1972; Amazon UK | Image) and 12 track Vinyl “Our Country” (1973; Image) surfaced.

Due to their great popularity the Hillsiders were invited on to the Grand Ole Opry in 1967, when it was held at the famous Ryman Auditorium and Kenny held onto the program that includes the bands name.

Guitarist Joe Butler shared "Yes! we were invited to appear on The Grand Ol' Opry. Now this is something that Kenny and I when we first started, we used to dream about, but never believed would ever happen".

Johnson was proud to say that the Hillsiders are probably the only British band to be invited to play on the hallowed stage of the Ryman, where such great names has Hank Williams has stood before.

The Hillsiders: LP Cover Play Their Country Hits (1965)

Both Kenny Johnson and the Hillsiders had written and recorded a large number of songs and have won numerous country awards and became well known through the radio programmes “Country Meets Folk and Up Country”. The packaging for 1972’s By Request featured genuine requests and included the band’s most popular stage numbers - ‘Proud Mary’, ‘Crying In The Rain’ and ‘Me And Bobby McGee’.

However, they were also writing more and more of their own material, leading to 1973’s self-penned “Our Country”, which included the excellent ‘Across The Mountain’ and ‘Blue Kentucky Morning’, a song the band had written for Patsy Powell.

The promising Butler-Johnson partnership ceased when Johnson left the Hillsiders in January 1975 to be replaced by Kevin McGarry from another Liverpool band, the Westerners....  Butler then went on to play in a well-established part-time band, Hartford West.

In a Liverpool interview in 1994 Joe Butler said "Well, when Kenny was due to leave the band, we were all very saddened by it as we didn't really want him to leave, and I don't think Kenny really wanted to leave to be honest, but we had some problems with our management at the time that had put a wedge between us, which was wrong. Kenny and I are still great mates to this day, and he still considers himself to be a part of the Hillsider family, as I do still, you know".

Another major Country artist that The Hillsiders recorded with was George Hamilton IV. Hillsiders ("The finest band in the land") with George Hamilton IV (* Kevin McGarry by that time had replaced Kenny) >> YouTube

The Hillsiders were notable for being the first UK band to pick up on the potential of the Mavericks; says McGarry, ‘We were performing their songs long before anyone had heard of them and then they got known through CMT. People have said to us “That American act is doing your songs”.’ In 1997, the Hillsiders received the Ambassador Award at the British Country Music Awards.

The Original Line Up From 1964-1975:
This is The Hillsiders reunionfor their 32 years in Showbusiness, in 1996:

NORTHWIND

Kenny left The Hillsiders band in 1974-75, forming his band Northwind, which has had several changes in the line-up over the years  and continued to perform into the 1990’s.

For many years they were regarded as one of the best bands on Merseyside. Johnson’s passionate vocals were enhanced by Bobby Arnold’s driving electric guitar.
Northwind played contemporary country music, often written by Johnson, but occasionally performed oldies gigs as Sonny Webb And The Cascades.

Mr. Johnson signed a singles deal with EMI Internationaland one single to emerge in 1977 was titled "City Lights" (INT545; Amazon UK | Image), a minor hit and the nearest that a Liverpool country act came to a genuine hit single. It eventually sold 1000s of copies but not enough in one chart week to break into the national charts.

Johnson re-released the song for OBM Records in 1980. One of Liverpool's finest country bands of the mid-late 70s were West Virginia. They formed in 1976 and by 1978 the band appeared at the Wembley Country Music Festival, toured with Marty Robbin, and guested with Don Everly on BBC TV. They won top band award in the Great Britain Country Music Awardsbroadcast on BBC Radio 2 they also appeared on television in Pebble Mill and on Scottish television. In the early 90s they went to Nashville to record the album " BLUE RENDEZVOUS " which soon became album of the year. The title cut “Blue Rendezvous” was written for the band by Kenny Johnsonand won Song of the Year

Even with Johnson writing good original country songs it was feared that the country music conformist would simply not purchase an album of material that he/ she didn't know. By comparison artists on the 60s raided Nashville songwriters for material. Ken Dodd's "Happiness", "Still" and "Eight By Ten" were all Bill Anderson songs. Jazzsinger Cleo Laine scored a hit single with country song "You'll Answer To Me", Tom Jonesrecorded the Porter Wagoner and Bobby Bare hit "The Gren, Green Grass of Home".

Pye Records released The Hillsiders "Children's Song" and "Please Be My Love" on a short-lived subsidiary Lucky Records. That project did not continue beyond 1972 with the inescapable problem of Brit country fans not willing to purchase recorded British country music in sufficient quantities. Country music was a "minority" music and British country fans were'nt buying many British records.

Johnson’s song ‘Today’ was a favourite on request shows and at Merseyside weddings.

Kenny Johnson and Northwind perform "Today":

Johnson took his time over his recordings but the set SUMMER NIGHTS featured 16 of his own compositions with no fillers. John Fogerty and John Anderson influences are apparent on the album, but there was also much of Johnson’s own originality including a touching song about growing up on Merseyside titled “Old Hutte Lane”. Johnson wrote for West Virginia and he produced Julie Finney’s Something Called Love.

At the end of 2002 Kenny Johnson and Northwind decided to disband, but up to that date they were one of the top outfits on the British Country scene.

Photo: Entertaining at the C&W night, The Kenny Johnson Duo, 

Kenny on the left and Ronnie Westhead in July 2004

Courtesy (BBC Radio Merseyside)

AVAILABLE MUSIC

29 Oct 2007 Kenny Johnson - The Best Of (White Cloud Music)

14 Tracks/ Time: 42:48 Genres: Country/ Pop Amazon UK | UK iTunes  | Spotify

News of Kenny's death prompts fresh UK iTunes sales

He has released many albums and CDs, his biggest hit is his song, “City Lights” - Amazon UK

AWARDS

Kenny Johnson was a double winner of Cross Country Magazine British Country Music Hall Of Fame.

A 2007 Inductee inductee No 5: View Certificate

However well done "Webby" Johnson for being another record breaker – (Brian Ahern; UK Country Journalist)

At the Southern Country UK Country Radio Awards held on Feb 4, 2007 Mr, Kenny Johnson was presented with The Services Award, for presenters who work hard to promote the British product as well as the International.

At that time Mr.Johnson had been presenting country music for over 30 years and very well known as an excellent singer/songwriter (Kenny Johnson and Northwind) 

BBC RADIO MERSEYSIDE

Kenny Johnson’s weekly programme on BBC Radio Merseyside had the highest listening figures for any regional country show. He took over the show named “Sounds Country” 3 to 4 years after its birth.

His programme, Sounds Country, was a huge hit among country music fans, featuring tracks from the latest albums and older classics.

Over the years, Kenny interviewed Dr Hook, Billy Jo Spears, Steve Earle, Geo Hamilton IV, Bobby Bare, Albert Lee, and the late Tommy Collins, to name a few.

Back in 2010 Kenny stated that his show was the longest running in the UK with an incredbile 34 years !

As a listener what I liked was that it was refreshing to hear a UK DJ actually state his honest opinions about the new releases being sent from America. No DJ can please all of the people all of the time but he mixed things up with new music, specials, Local Hero spots, Bluegrass spots (he admired the amazing musicianship of the “Bluegrass Cats”) and a listener “Recall Spot” (offering loyal listeners to pick out their favourites) and helped to promote local country events & shows with a gig guide.

Kenny escaped the BBC cuts: Back in 2012 the BBC Trust were making decisions about scrapping the specialized music shows including the country music shows. Country Routes Blog campaigned online to try and save them and Kenny encouraged his listeners to help by making their feelings known to the BBC.

Although other country programmes on BBC Radio Sheffield, BBC Radio Cambridge, BBC Suffolk, BBC Kent and BBC Cornwall disappeared “Sounds Country” continued on!

Sounds Country, broadcast every Sunday evening (6-8pm) it then moved to afternoons (1400 - 1600) on BBC Radio Merseyside. It gave BBC Merseyside listeners and beyond on the internet comprehensive coverage on what country music is all about with a local gig guide, interviews and great music.

Kenny seemed to not always present the show in later years. Spencer Leigh sat in and the BBC Radio Merseyside website shows that Kenny last presented the programme on June 28, 2015.

Mr. Johnson signed off on air saying:

“I’ve had 39 years of playing the music I love and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s been absolutely tremendous and I thank you for that”

Billy Butler on his Tuesday afternoon show (14 Oct, 2015; BBC Page) paid tribute to former BBC Radio Merseyside presenter and friend Kenny Johnson in this recorded interview. This special 'Career in 5 minutes' was dedicated to all the great bands he was in. Replayed is the interview with Billy from June 2015 when Kenny retired from Sounds Country. Kenny spoke fondly on touring with the late George Hamilton IV. 
Listen here:

Mike Shepherd took over the show from 5 July 2015 (see BBC Homepage) sharing his knowledge and musical influences from George Jones, Conway Twitty and Hank Marvin to Luke Bryan, Eric Church and everything in between.

Listen to Kenny Johnson presenting "Sounds Country" on BBC Radio Merseyside first broadcast on Sunday March 25, 2012 as he paid tribute to the late British country artist John McCane (Southern Country UK Country Radio Award Song of the year 2007 winner). Listen to the Audio tribute

TRIBUTES

VIDEO

Published on Oct 14, 2015

This video tribute, requested by the family, is a thank you to “Webby” from everyone.

This is the original Kenny Johnson and Northwind band, the track is called " I've Never Loved Anyone More" and the original members were Kenny Johnson (Lead Vocals & Rythm Guitars), John Hodgson (Lead Guitars and Vocals), Bobby Peters (Drums), John "Fez" Ferrington (Bass and Vocals) and Kenny Berry (Keyboards).

It this was recorded in 1976 and is from the Album "Lakeside Highway".

Radio Merseyside paid tribute to their former presenter, described by friends as a “lovely bloke” and an “iconic local voice”.

North West Tonight @BBCNWT tweeted Sad News. Former @bbcmerseyside country music presenter, Kenny Johnson has died.

Sad news. Former @bbcmerseyside country music presenter, Kenny Johnson has died pic.twitter.com/8TGtsHFVHO

— North West Tonight (@BBCNWT) October 14, 2015

BBC Radio Merseyside Editor Sue Owen said: “Kenny was a first-class broadcaster and a wonderful musician who was loved all over Merseyside. “We have had many warm tributes from listeners and fans of his band who want to express their sadness, and remember how their lives were touched by him. “We send his family and friends our deepest condolences.”

One listener, Ross, said: “Kenny WAS country music and Merseyside was lucky to have him”.

Another, Stevie, said: “My love of Country Music goes right back to the ‘60s thanks to Kenny and his Band The Hillsiders.

“When he became a presenter at Radio Merseyside the promotion of local Country Music was phenomenal.

Radio Tributes

BIG Respect: BBC Radio 2's "Country King" Bob Harris OBE took time out to pay tribute to Kenny Johnson on Thursday's Bob Harris Country on Oct 15, 2015 (BBC Page)

Remembering Kenny Johnson: BBC Radio Norfolk's Keith Greentree on paid tribute on his Saturday morning show Rodeo Norfolk (Oct 17, 2015 BBC Page) to the British country singer and shared his memories of The Hillsiders:

Mr. Lee Williams President of the British Country Music Awards (BCMAwards) and CEO of CMR Nashville "Europe's #1 Country Music Radio Station" spoke of his meetings with Kenny and the legacy he left behind. First broadcast on Friday Oct 16, 2015.

Presenter and musician Steve Cherelle on his Big Country show (Sunday Oct 18, 2015 | BBC Page) on BBC Radio Essex and Marie Crichton on her Country show on BBC Radio Shropshire (Sat Oct 17, 2015 | BBC Page) paid tribute to Kenny and played his popular hit "City Lights":

Mike Shepherd on BBC Radio Merseyside the new presenter of "Sounds Country" paid tribute to Kenny Johnston on his show Sunday Oct 18, 2015 (BBC Page) . 

Mike Shepherd

Mike selected music from Northwind and Johnson's solo music also reading out tributes from listenersand played recorded highlights from the very last show Kenny presented on June 28, 2015.

This included a medley of spins from Kenny’s favourite artists Hank Williams, Clay Walker, Mike Reid, The Dixie Chicks and going out with Poco's "Rose of Cimarron". Over the 39 years Kenny probably played approaching 45,000 - 50,000 songs on Sounds Country. 

On Facebook Mike shared: "In Just 8 years of broadcasting, today's 'Sounds Country' was the most emotional and most difficult programme I have ever done... R.I.P Kenny Johnson x"

BBC Merseyside Facebook Tributes are numerous:

Example: RIP kenny you will be sadly missed,loved your great voice,and times we seen you with the HILLSIDERS,my daughter was married in CYPRUS walking to take her vows to your record TODAY, wonderful memories thanks kenny

“British Country Music has lost an Icon. RIP Kenny.”

Memories of Kenny Johnson:
Facebook Fan Page

Photo (Left) 
A lovely fan photo taken with
Northwind's Kenny Johnson in the 80s

Adios Amigo

R.I.P Kenny Johnson

SOURCES:

BBC Obituary | StanLaundon.com | Mersey Beat Nostalgia

The Hillsiders Blog | BCM Hall of Fame | Liverpool Echo