Johnny Horton was one of the most popular and influential country music singers of the 1950s and early 1960s. He is best known for his history-inspired narrative songs, such as “The Battle of New Orleans”, “Sink the Bismarck”, and “North to Alaska”. He also had a distinctive honky-tonk and rockabilly style that appealed to both country and rock fans. However, his promising career was cut short by a fatal car accident in 1960, when he was only 35 years old. What caused Johnny Horton’s death, and what were the circumstances surrounding it? Here is a brief overview of his life, his music, and his tragic demise.
Early Life and Career
Johnny Horton was born on April 30, 1925, in Los Angeles, California, but he grew up in Rusk, Texas, where his family moved when he was a child. He was interested in fishing and hunting from an early age, and he traveled to Alaska and California to work as a fisherman. He also developed a passion for music and began writing songs. He returned to Texas and won a talent contest in Henderson, which encouraged him to pursue a music career.
He moved to California again and performed on radio shows such as Cliffie Stone’s Hometown Jamboree and his own show The Singing Fisherman. He recorded his first songs for the Cormac label in 1951, but they did not achieve much success. He married Billie Jean Jones, the widow of Hank Williams, in 1953, and she helped him promote his career. He moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he became a regular on the Louisiana Hayride radio show. He also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
He signed with Columbia Records in 1956 and had his first hit with “Honky Tonk Man”, a song that showcased his energetic and upbeat style. He followed it with other successful songs such as “I’m a One-Woman Man”, “I’m Coming Home”, and “When It’s Springtime in Alaska (It’s Forty Below)”. He also collaborated with other artists such as Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Elvis Presley.
The Saga Songs
Johnny Horton’s most famous songs were his saga songs, which were based on historical events or figures. He was inspired by folk songs, western movies, comic books, and his own interest in history. He wrote or co-wrote most of these songs, which combined factual details with fictional elements and humor. His saga songs were catchy, patriotic, and appealing to a wide audience.
His first saga song was “The Battle of New Orleans”, which was released in 1959. It was based on an 1814 battle between American and British forces during the War of 1812. The song used a folk tune called “The 8th of January” and added humorous lyrics from the perspective of an American soldier. The song was a huge hit, reaching No. 1 on both the country and pop charts. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording in 1960.
He followed it with other saga songs such as “Johnny Reb”, which was about a Confederate soldier during the Civil War; “Sink the Bismarck”, which was about a British naval mission during World War II; and “North to Alaska”, which was about the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century. The latter song was also used as the theme song for the John Wayne movie of the same name.
The Car Accident
Johnny Horton’s career was at its peak in 1960, when he had several hits and planned to start a movie career. However, he also had a premonition that he would die young in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. He was known to be superstitious and psychic, and he often told his friends and family that he would contact them from the afterlife.
On November 4, 1960, he performed at the Skyline Club in Austin, Texas, the same venue where Hank Williams had his last show before his death in 1953. He was accompanied by his bassist Tommy Tomlinson and his manager Tillman Franks. After the show, they decided to drive back to Shreveport instead of staying overnight in Austin.
On November 5, around 1:30 a.m., they were driving on Highway 79 near Milano, Texas, when they encountered a pickup truck driven by James Evan Davis, who had been drinking. Davis crossed the center line and hit Horton’s car head-on. Horton was thrown from the car and suffered severe head injuries. He was still alive when the ambulances arrived but died on the way to the hospital. Tomlinson and Franks were injured but survived. Davis was charged with intoxication and manslaughter.
Johnny Horton’s death shocked and saddened his fans and fellow musicians. He was buried in Hillcrest Memorial Park in Haughton, Louisiana, next to his wife’s first husband, Hank Williams. He left behind his wife and two daughters from his previous marriage. He also left behind a legacy of music that influenced many artists and genres. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. His songs are still played and enjoyed by millions of people around the world.
