Johnny Tillotson

Johnny Tillotson (April 20, 1938 – April 1, 2025) was an American singer-songwriter. He enjoyed his greatest success in the early 1960s, when he scored nine top-10 hits on the pop, country, and adult contemporary Billboard charts, including "Poetry in Motion", the self-penned "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin'", "Talk Back Trembling Lips", and "Without You".

Early life Tillotson was the son of Doris and Jack Tillotson, who owned a small service station on the corner of 6th and Pearl in Jacksonville, Florida; his father acted as the station's mechanic. At the age of nine, Johnny was sent to Palatka, Florida, to take care of his grandmother. He returned to Jacksonville each summer to be with his parents when his brother Dan would go to his grandmother.

Career

1950s Johnny began to perform at local functions as a child, and by the time he was at Palatka Senior High School, he had developed a reputation as a talented singer. Tillotson became a semiregular on WJXT's McDuff Hayride, hosted by Toby Dowdy, and soon landed his own show on WFGA-TV. In 1957, while Tillotson was studying at the University of Florida, local disc jockey Bob Norris sent a tape of Johnny's singing to the Pet Milk talent contest, and he was chosen as one of six national finalists. This gave Johnny the opportunity to perform in Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM on the Grand Ole Opry, which led Lee Rosenberg, a Nashville publisher, to take a tape to Archie Bleyer, owner of the independent Cadence Records. Bleyer signed Tillotson to a three-year contract and issued his first single, "Dreamy Eyes" / "Well I'm Your Man" in September 1958. Both songs were written by Tillotson, and both made the Billboard Hot 100, "Dreamy Eyes" peaking at number 63. After graduating in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and communications, Tillotson moved to New York City to pursue his music career.

From late 1959, a succession of singles – "True, True Happiness", "Why Do I Love You So" (recorded October 1959), and a double-sided single covering the rhythm and blues hits "Earth Angel" and "Pledging My Love" – all reached the bottom half of the Hot 100. with session musicians, including saxophonist Boots Randolph and pianist Floyd Cramer. Released in September 1960, it went to number two on the Hot 100 in the U.S. and number one on the UK's Record Retailer chart in January 1961. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America. On Bleyer's advice, Tillotson focused on his recording career, also appearing on television and being featured as a teen idol in magazines. His follow-up record, "Jimmy's Girl", While his fortunes waned with changing musical tastes in the late 1960s, he continued to record before moving to California in 1968. Besides concerts and recording, he appeared in several films, such as in the 1963 British music film Just for Fun; the 1966 camp comedy The Fat Spy starring Jayne Mansfield; the Japanese movie Namida Kun Sayonara, named after his Japanese hit of the same name; and the 1976 made-for-TV film The Call of the Wild. and during the '80s, his hits in Southeast Asia had him appear in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand on a regular basis, with tours in Japan and Hong Kong. In 1990, he signed with Atlantic Records and released "Bim Bam Boom", which received significant airplay on country music stations.

In the 1990s, Tillotson recorded several Christmas songs with Freddy Cannon and Brian Hyland for the Children's Miracle Network, produced by Michael Lloyd. He also recorded with Tommy Roe and Brian Hyland, again for Michael Lloyd for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998), "We Can Make It".

After a decade-long absence, in 2010, Tillotson released a single titled "Not Enough", a tribute to the military, police, fire, and all uniformed personnel of the United States. Their plaques are on permanent display in the Florida State Capitol.

Personal life and death On May 19, 1991, his 22-year-old daughter Kelli, who was a model and lived in Encinitas, California, died in a traffic accident in Parker, Arizona.

Tillotson died on April 1, 2025, from complications of Parkinson's disease, as was announced by fellow singer Fabian Forte on his Instagram. He was 86.

Recognition 2014: Inducted into the America's Pop Music Hall of Fame 2014: BrandLaureate International Legendary Award 2011: Inductee into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame 2008 : Inductee into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame 2006: Alumnus of Distinction College of Journalism and Communications University of Florida Gainesville

Discography Studio albums YearAlbum Peak positionsUS BB US CB 1959 This Is Johnny Tillotson — — 1960 Johnny Tillotson (EP) — — 1962 It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin' 8 10 1963 You Can Never Stop Me Loving You — 71 1964 Talk Back Trembling Lips 48 31 The Tillotson Touch — 87 She Understands Me 148 — 1965 That's My Style — — Johnny Tillotson Sings — — 1966 No Love at All — — The Christmas Touch — — Johnny Tillotson Sings Tillotson — — 1967 Here I Am — — 1969 Tears on My Pillow — — 1970 Johnny Tillotson — — 1977 Johnny Tillotson — —

Compilations

US 1962 Johnny Tillotson's Best

1968 The Best of Johnny Tillotson

1972 The Very Best of Johnny Tillotson

1977 Greatest

1984 Scrapbook

1986 20 Greatest Hits

1990 All the Early Hits – and More!!!!

1995 Poetry in Motion: Best of Johnny Tillotson

1998 Country Hits Collection

2001 25 All-Time Greatest Hits

2003 Sings Love Songs & Standards

2011 Outtakes

Poetry in Motion

Johnny Tillotson's Best

It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin'''

2015

Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album US US Cashbox US R&B US Country US AC CANCHUM /RPM CAN Country UK 1958 "Dreamy Eyes" /"Well I'm Your Man" (from Words and Music by Johnny Tillotson EP) 6387 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— Johnny Tillotson's Best "I'm Never Gonna Kiss You" (with Genevieve) — — — — — — — — Non-album single 1959 "True True Happiness"b/w "Love Is Blind" (non-album track) 54 49 — — — — — —Johnny Tillotson's Best 1960 "Why Do I Love You So"b/w "Never Let Me Go" (non-album track) 42 31 — — — 25 — — "Earth Angel" / "Pledging My Love"* 5763* 6173 —— —— —— —— —— —— "Poetry in Motion"b/w "Princess Princess" 2 2 27 — — 6 — 1 1961 "Jimmy's Girl"b/w "(Little Sparrow) His True Love Said Goodbye" 25 24 — — — 29 — 43 "Without You"b/w "Cutie Pie" 7 12 — — — 15 — — 1962 "Dreamy Eyes" (re-issue)b/w "Well I'm Your Man" (from Words and Music by Johnny Tillotson EP) 35 46 — — — 14 — — "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin'"b/w "She Gave Sweet Love to Me" (non-album track) 3 5 6 4 — 10 — 31 It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" / 17 14 — 11 5 37 — 21 "What'll I Do" 106 — — — — — — — "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" / 89 94 — — — — — — "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" 24 29 — — 8 23 — 41 1963 "Out of My Mind"b/w "Empty Feelin'" (from You Can Never Stop Me Loving You) 24 23 — — 11 28 — 34 Non-album single "You Can Never Stop Me Loving You"b/w "Judy, Judy, Judy" 18 18 — — 4 12 — — You Can Never Stop Me Loving You "Talk Back Trembling Lips"b/w "Another You" 7 7 — — 6 — — — Talk Back Trembling Lips "Funny How Time Slips Away"b/w "A Very Good Year for Girls" 50 62 — — 16 — — — It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin 1964 "I'm a Worried Guy" / 37 38 — — — 39 — — Talk Back Trembling Lips "Please Don't Go Away" 112 122 — — — — — — "I Rise, I Fall"b/w "I'm Watching My Watch" 36— 44125 —— —— —— —— —— —— The Tillotson Touch "Worry"b/w "Sufferin' from a Heartache" 45 45 — — 5 36 — — "She Understands Me"b/w "Tomorrow" 31 29 — — 4 25 — — She Understands Me 1965 "Angel"b/w "Little Boy" (from She Understands Me) 51 53 — — — 33 — — Johnny Tillotson Sings "Then I'll Count Again"b/w "One's Yours, One's Mine" (from Johnny Tillotson Sings) 86 67 — — — – — — That's My Style "Heartaches by the Number"b/w "Your Mem'ry Comes Along" 35 32 — — 4 14 — — "Our World"b/w "(Wait Till You See) My Gidget" 70 54 — — — 23 — — Johnny Tillotson Sings 1966 "Hello Enemy"b/w "I Never Loved You Anyway" (from Johnny Tillotson Sings) 128 104 — — — — — — Non-album single "Me, Myself and I"b/w "Country Boy" — — — — — — — — That's My Style "No Love at All"b/w "What Am I Gonna Do" (from Talk Back Trembling Lips) — — — — — — — — No Love at All "Open Up Your Heart"b/w "More Than Before" — — — — — — — — Non-album single "Christmas Is the Best of All"b/w "Christmas Country Style" — — — — — — — — The Christmas Touch 1967 "Tommy Jones"b/w "Strange Things Happen" (from Johnny Tillotson Sings) — 91 — — — — — — Here I Am "Don't Tell Me It's Raining"b/w "Takin' It Easy" — — — — — — — — "You're the Reason"b/w "Countin' My Teardrops" (from That's My Style) — — — 48 — — 24 — The Best of Johnny Tillotson 1968 "I Can Spot a Cheater"b/w "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin'" (from The Best of Johnny Tillotson) — — — 63 — — — — Non-album singles "Why So Lonely"b/w "I Haven't Begun to Love You Yet" — — — — — — — — "Letter to Emily"b/w "Your Memory Comes Along" — — — — — — — — 1969 "Tears on My Pillow"b/w "Remember When" 119 98 — — — 94 — — Tears on My Pillow "Joy to the World"b/w "What Am I Living For" — — — — — — — — "Raining in My Heart"b/w "Today I Started Loving You Again" — — — — — — — — 1970 "Susan"b/w "Love Waits for Me" — — — — — — — — Non-album singles "I Don't Believe in If Anymore"b/w "Kansas City, Kansas" — — — — — — — — 1971 "Apple Bend"b/w "Star Spangled Bus" (non-album track) 127 — — — — — — — Johnny Tillotson (1970) "Welfare Hero"b/w "The Flower Kissed the Shoes That Jesus Wore" — — — — — — — — "Make Me Believe"b/w "The Flower Kissed the Shoes That Jesus Wore" — — — — — — — — 1973 "Your Love's Been a Long Time Comin'"b/w "Apple Bend" — — — — — — — — "If You Wouldn't Be My Lady"b/w "The Sunshine of My Life" — — — — — — 77 —Non-album singles "I Love How She Needs Me"b/w "So Much of My Life" — — — — — — — — 1974 "Till I Can't Take It Anymore"b/w "A Sunday Kind of Woman" — — — — — — — — 1975 "Big Ole Jean"b/w "Mississippi Lady" — — — — — — — — "Right Here in Your Arms"b/w "Willow County Request Line" — — — — — — — — 1976 "Summertime Lovin'"b/w "It Could Have Been Nashville" — — — — — — — — Johnny Tillotson (1977) 1977 "Toy Hearts"b/w "Just an Ordinary Man" — — — 99 — — — — 1979 "Poetry in Motion" (re-issue) b/w "Princess Princess" — — — — — — — 67 Johnny Tillotson's Best 1984 "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone"b/w "What's Another Year" — — — 91 — — — —Non-album singles 1990 "Bim Bam Boom"b/w "I Was Born a Dreamer" — — — — — — — — 2010 "Not Enough" — — — — — — — — "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Video releasesBest of Johnny Tillotson (2003) K-telRock'n Roll Legends (2005) MVD VisualJohnny Tillotson Sings His All-time Greatest Hits'' (2006) Varese Sarabande