John D. Loudermilk
Encyclopedia
John D. Loudermilk is an American
singer
and songwriter
.
, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army
faith and was influenced by the church
singing. His cousins
Ira
and Charlie Loudermilk
were known professionally as the Louvin Brothers
. Loudermilk is a graduate of Campbell College (now Campbell University
), a private North Carolina Baptist Convention-owned college in Buies Creek, North Carolina
.
As a young boy he learned to play the guitar
, and while still in his teens wrote a poem
that he set to music
, A Rose and a Baby Ruth
. The owners of the local television station
, where he worked as a handyman, allowed him to play the song on-air, resulting in country
musician
George Hamilton IV
putting it on record in 1956. After Eddie Cochran
had his first hit record
with Loudermilk's song, "Sittin' in the Balcony", Loudermilk's career path was firmly set.
Loudermilk recorded
some of his songs, including "Sittin' in the Balcony", under the stage name
Johnny Dee (reaching #38 on the pop charts in 1957).
His recording label was RCA Victor, where he had a number of hits:
But it was as a songwriter that he made his mark. In 1963 he wrote another all-time hit for George Hamilton IV, Abilene
. Working out of country music capital Nashville
, Tennessee
, Loudermilk became one of the most productive songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s, penning country
and pop music
hits for the Everly Brothers, Johnny Tillotson
, Chet Atkins
, The Nashville Teens
, Paul Revere & the Raiders
, Johnny Cash
, Marianne Faithfull
, Stonewall Jackson
, Sue Thompson
and others.
"Midnight Bus" was recorded by several singers, and he commented that the best was by Betty McQuade in Melbourne, Australia.
Loudermilk was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
in 1976.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Biography
Born in Durham, North CarolinaDurham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
faith and was influenced by the church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
singing. His cousins
Cousins
Cousins may refer to:* Cousins * Cousins * Cousins * Cousins * More than one cousin* Cousins , people with the surname Cousins...
Ira
Ira Louvin
Ira Lonnie Loudermilk , known professionally as Ira Louvin, was an American country music singer, mandolinist and songwriter. He was a cousin of songwriter John D. Loudermilk.-Biography:...
and Charlie Loudermilk
Charlie Louvin
Charles Elzer Loudermilk , known professionally as Charlie Louvin, was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known as one of the Louvin Brothers, and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1955.-Biography:Born in Henagar, Alabama, Louvin was one of 7 children...
were known professionally as the Louvin Brothers
Louvin Brothers
The Louvin Brothers were an American country music duo composed of brothers Ira Lonnie Loudermilk and Charlie Elzer Loudermilk , better known as Ira and Charlie Louvin. They helped popularize close harmony, a genre of country music.-History:The brothers adopted the name Louvin Brothers in the...
. Loudermilk is a graduate of Campbell College (now Campbell University
Campbell University
Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...
), a private North Carolina Baptist Convention-owned college in Buies Creek, North Carolina
Buies Creek, North Carolina
Buies Creek is a census-designated place located in the Neills Creek Township of Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,215 at the 2000 census.-Incorporation:...
.
As a young boy he learned to play the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and while still in his teens wrote a poem
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
that he set to music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, A Rose and a Baby Ruth
A Rose and a Baby Ruth
"A Rose and a Baby Ruth" is the title of a song written by John D. Loudermilk. The song was published in 1956. The best-known version was recorded by George Hamilton IV...
. The owners of the local television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
, where he worked as a handyman, allowed him to play the song on-air, resulting in country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
George Hamilton IV
George Hamilton IV
George Hege Hamilton IV is an American country musician. He began performing in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.-Biography:Hamilton was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
putting it on record in 1956. After Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
had his first hit record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
with Loudermilk's song, "Sittin' in the Balcony", Loudermilk's career path was firmly set.
Loudermilk recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
some of his songs, including "Sittin' in the Balcony", under the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Johnny Dee (reaching #38 on the pop charts in 1957).
His recording label was RCA Victor, where he had a number of hits:
- He’s Just a Scientist in 1961.
- Language Of Love (US #32/ UK Top 20) in 1961.
- Thou Shalt Not Steal (US #73) in 1962
- Callin' Doctor Casey (US #83) in 1962
- Road Hog (US #65) in 1962.
But it was as a songwriter that he made his mark. In 1963 he wrote another all-time hit for George Hamilton IV, Abilene
Abilene (song)
Abilene is the title of a song written by Bob Gibson and John D. Loudermilk, and recorded by American country music artist George Hamilton IV. The song reached number one on the U.S. country music chart for four weeks, and peaked at number 15 on the pop music charts...
. Working out of country music capital Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Loudermilk became one of the most productive songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s, penning country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
hits for the Everly Brothers, Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson is an American singer and songwriter. He enjoyed his greatest success in the early 1960s, when he scored 9 top-ten hits on the pop, country and adult contemporary billboard charts including "Poetry In Motion" and the self-penned "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'"...
, Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, The Nashville Teens
The Nashville Teens
The Nashville Teens are a British pop band formed in Weybridge, Surrey in Summer 1962.-History:Arthur Sharp began his career in music as the manager of Aerco Records in Woking, Surrey...
, Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders is an American rock band that saw considerable U.S. mainstream success in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s with hits such as "Kicks" , "Hungry" , "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" and the 1971 No...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
, Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
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, Sue Thompson
Sue Thompson
Sue Thompson is an American pop and country music singer. She is best known for the million selling hits "Sad Movies " and "Norman", both pop hits for her in the 1960s.-Early life:...
and others.
"Midnight Bus" was recorded by several singers, and he commented that the best was by Betty McQuade in Melbourne, Australia.
Loudermilk was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
in 1976.
Notable compositions
- "Abilene" (a hit for George Hamilton IV)
- "Angela Jones" (a hit in the US for Johnny Ferguson and in the UK for Michael Cox)
- "A Rose and a Baby RuthA Rose and a Baby Ruth"A Rose and a Baby Ruth" is the title of a song written by John D. Loudermilk. The song was published in 1956. The best-known version was recorded by George Hamilton IV...
" (a hit for George Hamilton IVGeorge Hamilton IVGeorge Hege Hamilton IV is an American country musician. He began performing in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.-Biography:Hamilton was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
) - "Break My Mind" (covered by Sammy Davis, Jr, Glen CampbellGlen CampbellGlen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
, Linda Rondstadt, Roy OrbisonRoy OrbisonRoy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Gram ParsonsGram ParsonsGram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
, Jerry Lee LewisJerry Lee LewisJerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
and The Box TopsThe Box TopsThe Box Tops were a Memphis rock group of the second half of the 1960s. They are best known for the hits "The Letter," "Neon Rainbow," "Soul Deep," "I Met Her in Church," and "Cry Like A Baby," and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period...
) - "Ebony EyesEbony Eyes (John D. Loudermilk song)"Ebony Eyes" is a song written by John D. Loudermilk, recorded in 1961 by The Everly Brothers , and reached #8 on the US charts. The lyrics tell a young man's tragic story of losing his beloved fiancee in an airplane crash during the dark, long nighttime, which reminds him of her "ebony eyes".The...
" (a hit for The Everly BrothersThe Everly BrothersThe Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
) - "Google Eye" (a hit for The Nashville TeensThe Nashville TeensThe Nashville Teens are a British pop band formed in Weybridge, Surrey in Summer 1962.-History:Arthur Sharp began his career in music as the manager of Aerco Records in Woking, Surrey...
) - "The Great Snowman"
- "He's Just a Scientist" (a notable recording by John D. Loudermilk himself)
- "I'll Never Tell" (recorded by Roy OrbisonRoy OrbisonRoy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
) - "Indian Reservation" (a hit for Don FardonDon FardonDon Fardon is an English pop singer.-Career:His biggest success was to be his cover version of John D. Loudermilk's "Indian Reservation" . The global sales were estimated at over one million copies...
and later for Paul Revere and The Raiders; also included in "Indian OutlawIndian Outlaw"Indian Outlaw" is the title of a song written by Tommy Barnes, Jumpin' Gene Simmons and John D. Loudermilk. It was recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw as the first single from his 1994 album Not a Moment Too Soon. It was his first Top 40 country hit , and his fourth single overall...
") - "Norman" (a hit for Sue ThompsonSue ThompsonSue Thompson is an American pop and country music singer. She is best known for the million selling hits "Sad Movies " and "Norman", both pop hits for her in the 1960s.-Early life:...
) - "Paper Tiger" (a hit for Sue ThompsonSue ThompsonSue Thompson is an American pop and country music singer. She is best known for the million selling hits "Sad Movies " and "Norman", both pop hits for her in the 1960s.-Early life:...
) - "Road Hog" (1962, A portuguese version called "O Calhambeque" released in 1963 by brazilian singer Roberto CarlosRoberto CarlosRoberto Carlos may refer to:*Roberto Carlos , Brazilian singer**Roberto Carlos *Roberto Carlos , Brazilian footballer*Roberto Carlos , Spanish footballer...
is a very big hit in Brazil, well known to the public till today; same story in France with Joe DassinJoe DassinJoseph Ira Dassin , more commonly known as Joe Dassin, was an American singer-songwriter best known for his French songs of the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
's version "Bip bip" in 1964) - "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)"Sad Movies " is a 1961 pop song by the American singer Sue Thompson. The song was written by John D. Loudermilk and appears on Thompson's 1962 Hickory Records album Meet Sue Thompson....
" (a hit for Sue ThompsonSue ThompsonSue Thompson is an American pop and country music singer. She is best known for the million selling hits "Sad Movies " and "Norman", both pop hits for her in the 1960s.-Early life:...
) - "Talk Back Trembling Lips" (a hit for Johnny TillotsonJohnny TillotsonJohnny Tillotson is an American singer and songwriter. He enjoyed his greatest success in the early 1960s, when he scored 9 top-ten hits on the pop, country and adult contemporary billboard charts including "Poetry In Motion" and the self-penned "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'"...
) - "The Language of Love"
- "Then You Can Tell Me GoodbyeThen You Can Tell Me Goodbye"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" is the title of a doo-wop song written by John D. Loudermilk. It was first released in 1962 by Don Cherry, and again in 1967 by the group The Casinos on its album of the same name, becoming a #6 pop hit that year...
" (a hit for The CasinosThe CasinosThe Casinos was a nine-member doo-wop group from Cincinnati, Ohio, led by Gene Hughes. They are best-known for their John D. Loudermilk-penned song "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye," which hit number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1967, well after the end of the doo-wop era.The group was based...
) - "This Little Bird" (a hit for Marianne FaithfullMarianne FaithfullMarianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
and The Nashville TeensThe Nashville TeensThe Nashville Teens are a British pop band formed in Weybridge, Surrey in Summer 1962.-History:Arthur Sharp began his career in music as the manager of Aerco Records in Woking, Surrey...
) - "Thou Shalt Not Steal" (a hit for Dick and Dee Dee)
- "Tobacco RoadTobacco Road (song)"Tobacco Road" is a song written and first recorded by John D. Loudermilk in 1960 that was a hit for The Nashville Teens in 1964 and has since become a standard across several musical genres....
" (a hit for The Nashville TeensThe Nashville TeensThe Nashville Teens are a British pop band formed in Weybridge, Surrey in Summer 1962.-History:Arthur Sharp began his career in music as the manager of Aerco Records in Woking, Surrey...
(1964); also recorded by Blue Magoos (1966), Edgar Winter's White Trash (1970), and David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
(1985) - "Top 40, News, Weather and Sports" recorded 1961 by Mark DinningMark DinningMax Edward Dinning was an American pop music singer. In February 1960, the song "Teen Angel", written by his sister Jean and her husband Red Surrey, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Charts...
- "Torture" (a hit for Kris JensenKris JensenKris Jensen is an American singer and guitarist.Jensen began his career in music cutting records for Colpix, for whom he recorded his first single in 1959. He graduated from high school in Fort Lauderdale in 1960 and then recorded with Kapp Records and its subsidiary, Leader Records...
) - "Turn Me OnTurn Me On (Norah Jones song)"Turn Me On" is a song by John D. Loudermilk that was first recorded by Mark Dinning in 1961. Other notable versions are by Nellie Rutherford and Nina Simone.Norah Jones released her version as the last single of her debut album Come Away with Me....
" - "WaterlooWaterloo (Stonewall Jackson song)"Waterloo" was a number-one hit for country singer Stonewall Jackson in 1959. It was written by John D. Loudermilk and Marijohn Wilkin. The single was the most successful of Jackson's career, spending five weeks at number one on the U.S. country music chart. The B-side of "Waterloo", "Smoke Along...
" (a hit for Stonewall Jackson) - "Windy and Warm"
- "You Call It Joggin' (I Call It Runnin' Around) (recorded by Mose AllisonMose AllisonMose John Allison, Jr. is an American jazz blues pianist and singer.-Biography:...
)
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Language of Love | RCA |
| 1962 | Twelve Sides of John D. Loudermilk | |
| 1966 | A Bizarre Collection of the Most Unusual Songs | |
| 1967 | Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse | |
| 1968 | Country Love Songs | |
| 1969 | The Open Mind of John D. Loudermilk | |
| 1970 | The Best of John D. Loudermilk | |
| 1971 | Volume 1-Elloree | Warner |
| 1979 | Just Passing Through | MIM |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
|||
| 1957 | "Sittin' in the Balcony" | — | 38 | single only |
| 1961 | "Language of Love" | — | 32 | Language of Love |
| 1962 | "Thou Shalt Not Steal" | — | 73 | singles only |
| "Callin' Dr. Casey" | — | 83 | ||
| "Road Hog" | — | 65 | Twelve Sides | |
| 1963 | "Bad News" | 23 | — | singles only |
| 1964 | "Blue Train (Of the Heartbreak Line)" | 44 | 132 | |
| "Th' Wife" | 45 | — | ||
| 1965 | "That Ain't All" | 20 | — | |
| 1966 | "Silver Cloud Talkin' Blues" | — | — | A Bizarre Collection of the Most Unusual Songs |
| "You're the Guilty One" | — | — | single only | |
| 1967 | "It's My Time" | 51 | — | Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse |
| 1968 | "Old Folks of Okracoke" | — | — | single only |
| 1969 | "Brown Girl" | — | — | The Open Mind of John D. Loudermilk |
| 1971 | "Lord Have Mercy" | — | — | Volume 1-Elloree |
| 1979 | "Every Day I Learn a Little More About Love" | — | — | Just Passing Through |
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | US Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | "Chet's Tune" | Some of Chet's Friends | 38 |