Marijohn Wilkin
Encyclopedia
Marijohn Wilkin née Melson, was an American
songwriter
, famous in the country music
genre for writing a number of hits. Wilkin won numerous awards over the years and was referred to as "The Den Mother of Music Row," as chronicled in her 1978 biography from Word Books--Lord, Let Me Leave a Song (authored with Darryl E. Hicks).
and raised in Sanger
, north of Dallas. She became a teacher, and was widowed when her husband Bedford Russell was killed in World War II
. She remarried in 1946, with one son; her 1950 marriage to Art Wilkin, Jr. was her third.
Her father, a baker, had been a fiddle player. From 1955 she toured with Red Foley
, and in 1956 her songs were recorded by Mitchell Torok
and Wanda Jackson
. In 1958 she moved to Nashville
, and had major hits, written with John D. Loudermilk
, for Stonewall Jackson
(the number one country hit "Waterloo
", which also made the pop top ten) and Jimmy C. Newman
.
Wilkin also wrote "The Long Black Veil" for Lefty Frizzell
(with Danny Dill
), the classic "Cut Across Shorty
" for Eddie Cochran
, and "I Just Don't Understand" which became a pop hit for Ann-Margret
and was covered by The Beatles
. Although primarily a country songwriter, her songs have been recorded by several pop and rock acts, including Rod Stewart
and Mick Jagger
. Wilkin herself also recorded occasionally for Columbia Records
and Dot Records
in the 1960s and at times worked as a background vocalist. She is billed simply as "Marijohn" on a few of her recordings.
Marijohn Wilkin may be most famous for "One Day at a Time
", often considered the biggest gospel song of the 1970s. Wilkin wrote the song in 1973 with some assistance by her former protege, Kris Kristofferson
. The song won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association
in 1975 (see also: Dove Award for Song of the Year
). The song was a top 20 country single for Marilyn Sellars
in 1974 and hit #37 on Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart. The song also launched a career as a gospel recording artist for Wilkin, who released several albums on Word Records
. A remake became a No. 1 country hit for Cristy Lane
in 1980 and has since been recorded more than 200 times.
Johnny Duncan
and Ed Bruce
were among the many songwriters she helped get a foothold in the music business. Kris Kristofferson
was in the Army with one of her distant cousins. So he sent some of his work to her at Buckhorn, Marijohn's publishing company. She became the first to publish his songs, notably "For the Good Times." In 1970 it became a massive pop and country hit for Ray Price
. Hundreds have since recorded it. Marijohn Wilkin is credited for the discovery of Kris Kristofferson and being the first person to give him work as a legitimate songwriter.
Wilkin's son, John "Bucky" Wilkin, became the frontman of the 1960s surf rock group Ronny & the Daytonas
, whose 1964 debut single "G.T.O." reached #4 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.
Wilkin formed a new publishing company, 17th Avenue Music. It became profitable when its songs were recorded by LeAnn Rimes
. In 2005, Wilkin was honored by the SOURCE organization as a pioneering Music Row businesswoman. This was her last notable public appearance. She died of heart disease
in October 2006. Her last marriage was to the record producer
Clarence Selman in 1967.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, famous in the country music
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...
genre for writing a number of hits. Wilkin won numerous awards over the years and was referred to as "The Den Mother of Music Row," as chronicled in her 1978 biography from Word Books--Lord, Let Me Leave a Song (authored with Darryl E. Hicks).
Biography
Wilkin was born in Kemp, TexasKemp, Texas
Kemp is a city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,133 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kemp is located at ....
and raised in Sanger
Sanger, Texas
Sanger is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,534 at the 2000 census. The 2006 population was 6,200. -Geography:Sanger is located at ....
, north of Dallas. She became a teacher, and was widowed when her husband Bedford Russell was killed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She remarried in 1946, with one son; her 1950 marriage to Art Wilkin, Jr. was her third.
Her father, a baker, had been a fiddle player. From 1955 she toured with Red Foley
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
, and in 1956 her songs were recorded by Mitchell Torok
Mitchell Torok
Mitchell Torok is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1953 hit, "Caribbean".-Biography:...
and Wanda Jackson
Wanda Jackson
Wanda Lavonne Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who had success in the mid-1950s and 60s as one of the first popular female rockabilly singers and a pioneering rock and roll artist...
. In 1958 she moved to 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...
, and had major hits, written with John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk is an American singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born in Durham, North Carolina, 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...
, for Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson (musician)
Stonewall Jackson is an American country singer and musician who achieved his greatest fame during country's "golden" honky tonk era in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Early years:...
(the number one country hit "Waterloo
Waterloo (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...
", which also made the pop top ten) and Jimmy C. Newman
Jimmy C. Newman
Jimmy Yves Newman , better known as Jimmy C. Newman , is an American singer and a long time star of the Grand Ole Opry.-Biography:Newman was born near Big Mamou, Louisiana...
.
Wilkin also wrote "The Long Black Veil" for Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
(with Danny Dill
Danny Dill
Horace Eldred Dill , known professionally known as Danny Dill, was an American country music singer and songwriter...
), the classic "Cut Across Shorty
Cut Across Shorty
"Cut Across Shorty" is a song written by Marijohn Wilkin and Wayne P. Walker, made popular by Eddie Cochran. It was the B-side of his number 1 UK hit Three Steps To Heaven.-Personnel:* Eddie Cochran: vocal and rhythm guitar* Sonny Curtis: guitar...
" for 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...
, and "I Just Don't Understand" which became a pop hit for Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret Olsson is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer whose professional name is Ann-Margret. She became famous for her starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid, Carnal Knowledge, and Tommy...
and was covered by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Although primarily a country songwriter, her songs have been recorded by several pop and rock acts, including Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
and Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
. Wilkin herself also recorded occasionally for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and Dot Records
Dot Records
Dot Records was an American record label and company that was active between 1950 and 1977. It was founded by Randy Wood. In Gallatin, Tennessee, Wood had earlier started a mail order record shop, known for its radio ads on WLAC in Nashville and its R&B air personality Bill "Hoss" Allen...
in the 1960s and at times worked as a background vocalist. She is billed simply as "Marijohn" on a few of her recordings.
Marijohn Wilkin may be most famous for "One Day at a Time
One Day at a Time (song)
"One Day at a Time" is a popular Country and Western-style Christian song written by Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson. It has been recorded by over 200 artists and has reached No.1 in several territories.- Marilyn Sellars version :...
", often considered the biggest gospel song of the 1970s. Wilkin wrote the song in 1973 with some assistance by her former protege, Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
. The song won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
in 1975 (see also: Dove Award for Song of the Year
Dove Award for Song of the Year
The following is a list of recipients of the GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year:* 2011 "Sometimes I Cry" * 2010 "By Your Side" * 2009 "Give Me Your Eyes" * 2008 "East to West"...
). The song was a top 20 country single for Marilyn Sellars
Marilyn Sellars
Marilyn Sellars is an American country music and gospel singer who had several hits during the mid 1970s on Mega Records, most notably the original version of "One Day At A Time" in 1974.-Early career:...
in 1974 and hit #37 on Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart. The song also launched a career as a gospel recording artist for Wilkin, who released several albums on Word Records
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
. A remake became a No. 1 country hit for Cristy Lane
Cristy Lane
Eleanor Johnston, known by her professional name as Cristy Lane is an American country music and gospel music singer, best known for a number of major country hits in the late 70s and the early 1980s, including her cover version of the song, "One Day at a Time".Lane's career began to take shape in...
in 1980 and has since been recorded more than 200 times.
Johnny Duncan
Johnny Duncan
Johnny Duncan was an American skiffle star. He was born in the Windrock coal mining camp overlooking the town of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, and became a British skiffle star in 1957 with the hit record "Last Train to San Fernando",-Brief biography:Johnny Duncan entered the United States Army and...
and Ed Bruce
Ed Bruce
William Edwin "Ed" Bruce, Jr. is an American country music songwriter and singer. He is known for penning the 1975 song "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" .-Early life & songwriting career:...
were among the many songwriters she helped get a foothold in the music business. Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
was in the Army with one of her distant cousins. So he sent some of his work to her at Buckhorn, Marijohn's publishing company. She became the first to publish his songs, notably "For the Good Times." In 1970 it became a massive pop and country hit for Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
. Hundreds have since recorded it. Marijohn Wilkin is credited for the discovery of Kris Kristofferson and being the first person to give him work as a legitimate songwriter.
Wilkin's son, John "Bucky" Wilkin, became the frontman of the 1960s surf rock group Ronny & the Daytonas
Ronny & the Daytonas
Ronny & the Daytonas were an American surf rock group of the early 1960s, whose members included Paul Jensen , Thomas Ramey , Lynn Williams , Lee Kraft and John "Bucky" Wilkin , with contributions from many more such as Larry Butler Ronny Clark and Buzz Cason.-History:The group...
, whose 1964 debut single "G.T.O." reached #4 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.
Wilkin formed a new publishing company, 17th Avenue Music. It became profitable when its songs were recorded by LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
. In 2005, Wilkin was honored by the SOURCE organization as a pioneering Music Row businesswoman. This was her last notable public appearance. She died of heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
in October 2006. Her last marriage was to the record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Clarence Selman in 1967.
Discography
- Ballads of the Blue and Gray (Columbia, 1962)
- Country and Western Songs (Columbia Harmony, c. 1963)
- I Have Returned (Word, 1974)
- Isn't it Wonderful (Word, 1975)
- Where I'm Going (Word, 1975)
- Reach Up and Touch God's Hand (Word, 1976)
- Higher Than High (Word, 1977)
- Lord, Leave Me a Song (Word, 1978)
- One Day at A Time (Word, 1980)
- A Little Bit of Jesus (Word, 1981)
- His Kind of Love (Buckhorn Music Publishers, UNK date)