CountryMusicSweden

A  nonprofit organisation to promote country music

Email:   steelguitar@swipnet.se

Nyhetsbrev nr. 11      20 februari 2003

(Titta tillbaka på tidigare nyhetsblad på http://home.bip.net/peruno )

 

Det är med tårar i ögonen jag sänder er det här nyhetsbrevet! En av mina favoritartister har gått ur tiden!

 

Janne Lindgren

 

** HOT BULLETIN...!!!

GRAND OLE OPRY STAR...

JOHNNY PAYCHECK PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT...WSM 650 AM Radio

 

 

SINGLETARY'S DREAM UNKNOWINGLY PROVIDES FINAL TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY JOHNNY PAYCHECK

 

Posted by Webster and Associates Public Relations on February 19, 2003 at 19:49:36:

WEBSTER & ASSOCIATES PRESS RELEASE

for immediate release
February 19, 2003


Nashville, TN - At a time when all of Country Radio is gathered in Music City to attend Country Radio's largest annual convention, Country Radio Seminar (CRS) - Daryle Singletary was filled with pride to be among all of Country Music's finest entertainers as they promoted their music to radio. Daryle's pride soon turned to sadness.

News spread quickly amongst the thousands of radio industry attendees of the passing of legendary singer, songwriter and entertainer, Johnny Paycheck. For Daryle, the focus of his interviews suddenly shifted to his thoughts on Paycheck, as his current record (on Audium/Koch Records), "That's Why I Sing This Way," bears Paycheck's last recording, which Paycheck recorded from his hospital bed, while being treated at a medical center located in Nashville.

Paycheck contributed to Singletary's rendition of "Old Violin," making a recitation on what was originally a hit for Johnny himself in 1965. Paycheck also penned the famed song.

"Having Paycheck on my record was unbelievable. I've always been a huge fan. I'll never forget the first time I met him; we were in Ocala, Florida at a fair; we were playing together there. The neat thing about it was, I got to know Johnny as a real person, not (an artist) on stage. He was on his bus, with his teeth out, in a pair of sweat pants and eatin' Ramen noodles. That was the way I met him; it was neat thing because he was a real person.

"This is the first song that I brought to the label for the new record. Nick Hunter (President of Audium Records) is dear friends with Johnny, and he asked me about having Johnny do the recitation on "Old Violin." I told him that would be the most awesome thing. I knew Johnny had been very ill, and there's no tellin' how many things he'd been asked to do since he'd been in the hospital, so I didn't see it as a real possibility at the time. We went to Marty Martell, his manager, and asked him if Johnny would consider it. A very short time went by; Marty called back. Marty actually referred to Johnny as 'the old man' - He told Nick, 'I haven't seen the old man this happy in a long time.' It was very exciting to me; to have him be on the record, but then to learn of his excitement ..it was just amazing to me; it still is.

"I learned of his passing this morning.and it was hard. It's still hard. I don't think it's even sunk in yet - the reality of him being such a great artist and such a great singer - the unfortunate part is, he's been a great singer forever and just now, we're talking about Johnny Paycheck. He became family - because he went above and beyond to do this for me. I was very honored.and still am. We knew, when we made the record - we knew then, how special it was - we recognized the gift he was giving us then, and I truly value that today, and will always. I see "Old Violin" as a tribute now, to a departed friend and inspiration who will never be forgotten. It's a very sad day - For me, for the country music family - for the world."

 

I knew Johnny in Miami
before he became "Johnny Paycheck",
and I met him quite often in Nashville.
He was always friendly and kind to people around him,
whether they were big shots or not.
Everybody was important to him.
Johnny Paycheck...
a great talent
but most of all...
one of the good guys.
Jack Blanchard

Thanks for all the great music, Johnny.