Updated (18 Oct 2015) Tribute interviews + expanded history
Kenny Johnson (b. 11 December 1939 – died 13 October
2015)
Former BBC Radio Merseyside presenter and country
singer Kenny Johnson has died in Spain aged 75, on Tuesday night Oct 13, 2015.
Country music star was 'loved all over Merseyside'
Sad news circulated on the British Country Music grapevine regarding the passing of
Kenny Johnson.
He was a veteran
country broadcaster, 50 year bandleader
and two times BCMA Hall of fame member.
 |
| Kenny Johnson (BBC Photo) |
He started in the Liverpool club and pub circuit as a
rock 'n' roll band before forming the internationally renowned Hillsiders
with five other members. The band played the famous Wembley Festivals backing visiting American stars and in their own
right. They landed regular spots on 1970s television and they played in America
performing at the Ryman Auditorium in
Nashville when it was still the Grand Ole Opry (1967).
He left the the Hillies in 1975 to form his own band Kenny Johnson and
the Northwind (one of the UK¹s
premier bands ) and continued to perform into the 1990's as a duo and solo
artist.
His knowledge of Country music also got him the
Country slot “Sounds
Country” on BBC Radio
Merseyside which broadcasts weekly. He had been with the BBC for 39 years.
It’s believed to be the longest running country music
Programme in the UK!
At the Country Western Clubs there was no need to
introduce the BBC Radio Merseyside "Red Rose" Country presenter. He
gave a good mixture of old and new tracks and confidently gave the dancers
guidance on the appropriate dance to fit the songs. His Scouse humour and
cheerful manner was always welcome.
Country Is Good for the Soul
In this archived spotlight weekend interview with UKCountryRadio.com CEO and CMA
International Broadcaster award recepient Allan
Watkiss, Kenny spoke about the 60s, touring under the RCA label umbrella
backing the US country stars, presenting the Sounds Country show, being an
"country legend" and his outside interests.
Listen here:
Listen here:
SONNY WEBB AND
THE CASCADES
Kenny Johnson was a promising soccer player with the
Liverpool school boys, but found that music took over and started in the music
business as a semi-pro, playing Skiffle, Country and Rock 'n' Roll.
1958 saw Kenny Johnson forming Sonny Web and the
Country Two, which then became the Country Four and then Sony Web and the
Cascades in 1961 (a name he has used until this date for his Rock 'n' Roll
shows), with Joe Butler on bass and Frank Wan on lead guitarist.
 |
| Sonny Webb & the Cascades |
The band’s origins go back to 1959 when Kenny Johnson (b. 11 December 1939, Liverpool, England; lead vocals/guitar) formed the Country Three.
Johnson, was joined by Joe Butler (b. 12 January 1939, Liverpool, England, d. May 2007;
guitar), who changed the group to Sonny Webb And The Country Four, taking his stage
name from the American country stars Sonny
James and Webb Pierce.
In 1961,
following an argument, Johnson regrouped as Sonny Webb And The Cascades.
Joe Butler played bass and they were joined by lead
guitarist Frank Wan, who had been
with Clinton Ford, and Brian ‘Noddy’
Redman, of the Fourmost and Kingsize Taylor And The Dominoes.
Playing the beat venues frequented by Merseybeat
groups, they brought their tough environment to country music and so pioneered
country rock before the Byrds.
Their publicity proclaimed, ‘For that country flavour and the best in pops’, and their
repertoire can be gauged from recordings at the Rialto Ballroom in Liverpool
for Oriole’s This Is Merseybeat albums. The songs included George Jones’ ‘Who
Shot Sam?’, Bob Luman’s ‘You’ve Got Everything’, Hank Locklin’s ‘Border Of The Blues’ and
Buck Owens’ ‘Excuse Me’.
Listen to Sonny Webb & the Cascades (The
Hillsiders) UK Single "You've Got Everything / Border Of The Blues"
(Oriole 45-CB 1873)
Although not a soft and gentle country band, they brought the natural environment of Liverpool to Nashville music, it must have worked as they had a big following from both beat music and country music fans.
THE HILLSIDERS
The Hillsiders played country
when country was not cool in England - as the UK’s leading country band, they helped
introduce 1000’s people to the music.
Kenny Johnson was also one of the first members &
lead singer of The Hillsiders.
 |
| Kenny Johnson with The Hillsiders (1971) Courtesy: StanLaundon.com |
The Hillsiders were formed on May 5th, 1964 at Ozzie Wade’s country music club in Liverpool in May 1964, Sonny Webb And The Cascades became The Hillsiders. Brian Hilton from Group One joined as lead guitarist when Frank Wan switched to steel.
They started playing the type of music they liked,
contemporary country and western and became the top country band in the UK,
winning polls and awards all over Europe.
Their first gig was at Walton Lane Social Club,
Liverpool. The Hillsiders career ran until 1999.
The original members were Kenny Johnson, (lead singer and rhythm guitar), Joe Butler, (b. 12 January 1939,
Liverpool, England, d. May 2007; bass guitar and vocals), Brian Hilton, (lead guitar and vocals), Brian (Noddy) Redman, (drums), and Frankie Wan (steel guitar).
In Dec 1964 discussing their own position in the field, the Hillsiders said, "Our disc has been released in the States and
we believe there is great interest over there regarding it - because people
have never heard of a Liverpool C&W group before. We even received a phone
call from Minnesota and fan letters from the States. One review in the American
press said that we were the first British group to feature a pedal steel guitar."
Singles:
I Wonder If I Care As Much (7") (Written-By – D.
Everly*, P. Everly*) | Decca F.12026 | 1964
Please Be My Love (7") (Sauceman, Fields) |
Decca F 12161 | 1965 Image
Almost Persuaded (7", Single) (writers:
Sherrill, Sutton) | JH 322 |1966
Sunday Mornin Comin Down (7", Single, Promo,
writer Kris Kristofferson) | RCA Victor RCA 2038| 1970
See More 45 Catalog - The Hillsiders
The Hillsiders were recognised as one of Britain's top
Country bands for over 3 decades, playing major venues and touring the
GI bases both at home and in Germany. They opened for many of Country Music's
major artistes such as Marty Robbins,
Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Watson and Glen
Campbell.
The Bobby Bare tour was
brilliant for them. Bobby liked the harmonies that the Hillsiders had (who had
a #1 hit record at the same time). At the end of the tour they brought him back
to do a show at The Grafton in Liverpool. And then after a party at my house,
Bare said - "When I get back to the
states, I'm gonna see Chet Atkins, and we're going to do an album together". The man was true to his word, he went back to
Nashville, saw Chet Atkins, got The Hillsiders a deal with RCA, and they flew out and recorded
the album, and it was said it got to #17 (?) in the Billboard Hot 100
Album charts.
Bare and The Hillsiders recorded an album "The English Countryside" (LP, Mono
| RCA Victor LPM 3896 (M); LSP 3896) in 1967 with him on the RCA Nashville
label, produced by the renowned Chet Atkins. "The English Countryside"
made a debut at No.44 (chart dated Dec 23, 1967), then climbed to #31 and
peaked at #29 (chart dated Jan 13,
1968) for 3 weeks on the US Billboard
Hot Country Album Charts and received a silver disk for sales. The novel
combination of one of America's top country singers and a Liverpool quintet
made for fine versions of songs such as Tom T. Hall's "I Wash My Face in
the Morning Dew." The 8 cuts that featured Bare with the Hillsiders were
the best numbers. Other gems included "Six Days on the Road,", “You
all Come" and "Sweet Dreams".
The English Country Side (RCA Victor RD7918) stood for
many years as a well-crafted example of Liverpool-recorded country music.
George Hamilton IV and The Hillsiders became firm friends and performed
together on Hamilton's BBC TV Series and recorded an album together in 1971
HERITAGE (RCA Victor | LDP4609).
In 1971 The Hillsiders signed a two album deal with Polydor and albums “By Request” (1972; Amazon UK | Image) and 12 track Vinyl “Our Country” (1973; Image) surfaced.
In 1971 The Hillsiders signed a two album deal with Polydor and albums “By Request” (1972; Amazon UK | Image) and 12 track Vinyl “Our Country” (1973; Image) surfaced.
Due to their great popularity the Hillsiders were
invited on to the Grand Ole Opry in
1967, when it was held at the famous Ryman
Auditorium and Kenny held onto the program that includes the bands name.
Guitarist Joe Butler shared "Yes! we were invited to appear on The Grand Ol' Opry. Now this is
something that Kenny and I when we first started, we used to dream about, but
never believed would ever happen".
Johnson was proud to say that the Hillsiders are
probably the only British band to be invited to play on the hallowed
stage of the Ryman, where such great names has Hank Williams has stood before.
 |
| The Hillsiders: LP Cover Play Their Country Hits (1965) |
Both Kenny Johnson and the Hillsiders had written and
recorded a large number of songs and have won numerous country awards and became well known through the radio programmes “Country
Meets Folk and Up Country”. The packaging for 1972’s By Request featured
genuine requests and included the band’s most popular stage numbers - ‘Proud
Mary’, ‘Crying In The Rain’ and ‘Me And Bobby McGee’.
However, they were also writing more and more of their
own material, leading to 1973’s self-penned “Our Country”, which included the
excellent ‘Across The Mountain’ and ‘Blue Kentucky Morning’, a song the band
had written for Patsy Powell.
The promising Butler-Johnson partnership ceased when Johnson
left the Hillsiders in January 1975 to be replaced by Kevin McGarry from another Liverpool band, the Westerners.... Butler then went on to play in a
well-established part-time band, Hartford West.
In a Liverpool interview in 1994 Joe Butler said "Well,
when Kenny was due to leave the band, we were all very saddened by it as we
didn't really want him to leave, and I don't think Kenny really wanted to leave
to be honest, but we had some problems with our management at the time that had
put a wedge between us, which was wrong. Kenny and I are still great mates to
this day, and he still considers himself to be a part of the Hillsider family,
as I do still, you know".
Another major Country artist that The Hillsiders
recorded with was George Hamilton IV.
Hillsiders ("The finest band in the land") with George Hamilton IV (*
Kevin McGarry by that time had replaced Kenny) >> YouTube
The Hillsiders were notable for being the first UK
band to pick up on the potential of the Mavericks; says McGarry, ‘We were
performing their songs long before anyone had heard of them and then they got
known through CMT. People have said to us “That
American act is doing your songs”.’ In 1997, the Hillsiders received the
Ambassador Award at the British Country Music Awards.
The Original Line Up From
1964-1975:
This is The Hillsiders reunion for their 32 years in Showbusiness, in 1996:
This is The Hillsiders reunion for their 32 years in Showbusiness, in 1996:
NORTHWIND
Kenny left The Hillsiders band in 1974-75, forming his
band Northwind,
which has had several changes in the line-up over the years and continued to perform into the 1990’s.
For many years they were regarded as one of the best
bands on Merseyside. Johnson’s passionate vocals were enhanced by Bobby Arnold’s driving electric guitar.
Northwind played contemporary country music, often written by Johnson, but occasionally performed oldies gigs as Sonny Webb And The Cascades.
Northwind played contemporary country music, often written by Johnson, but occasionally performed oldies gigs as Sonny Webb And The Cascades.
Mr. Johnson signed a singles deal with EMI International
and one single to emerge in 1977 was titled "City Lights" (INT545; Amazon UK | Image), a minor hit and the nearest that a
Liverpool country act came to a genuine hit single. It eventually sold 1000s
of copies but not enough in one chart week to break into the national
charts.
Johnson re-released the song for OBM Records in 1980.
One of Liverpool's finest country bands of the mid-late 70s were West Virginia. They formed in 1976 and
by 1978 the band appeared at the Wembley Country Music Festival, toured with
Marty Robbin, and guested with Don Everly on BBC TV. They won top band award in
the Great Britain Country Music Awards
broadcast on BBC Radio 2 they also appeared on television in Pebble Mill and on
Scottish television. In the early 90s they went to Nashville to record the
album " BLUE RENDEZVOUS " which soon became album of the year. The
title cut “Blue Rendezvous” was written for the band by Kenny Johnson
and won Song of the Year
Even with Johnson writing good original country songs
it was feared that the country music conformist would simply not purchase an
album of material that he/ she didn't know. By comparison artists on the 60s
raided Nashville songwriters for material. Ken
Dodd's "Happiness", "Still" and "Eight By
Ten" were all Bill Anderson songs. Jazzsinger Cleo Laine scored a hit single with country song "You'll
Answer To Me", Tom Jones
recorded the Porter Wagoner and Bobby Bare hit "The Gren, Green Grass of
Home".
Pye Records released The Hillsiders "Children's
Song" and "Please Be My Love" on a short-lived subsidiary Lucky
Records. That project did not continue beyond 1972 with the inescapable problem
of Brit country fans not willing to purchase recorded British country music in
sufficient quantities. Country music was a "minority" music and
British country fans were'nt buying many British records.
Johnson’s song ‘Today’
was a favourite on request shows and at Merseyside weddings.
Kenny Johnson and Northwind perform "Today":
Johnson took his time over his recordings but the set SUMMER NIGHTS featured 16 of his own
compositions with no fillers. John Fogerty and John Anderson influences are
apparent on the album, but there was also much of Johnson’s own originality
including a touching song about growing up on Merseyside titled “Old Hutte Lane”.
Johnson wrote for West Virginia and he produced Julie Finney’s Something Called
Love.
At the end of 2002 Kenny Johnson and Northwind decided to
disband, but up to that date they were one of the top outfits on the
British Country scene.
 |
Photo: Entertaining at
the C&W night, The Kenny Johnson Duo,
Kenny on the left and Ronnie Westhead
in July 2004
Courtesy (BBC Radio
Merseyside)
|
AVAILABLE MUSIC
29 Oct 2007 Kenny
Johnson - The Best Of (White Cloud Music)
News of Kenny's death prompts fresh UK iTunes sales
He has released many albums and CDs, his biggest hit
is his song, “City Lights” - Amazon UK
AWARDS
Kenny Johnson was a double winner of Cross Country Magazine British Country Music Hall Of Fame.
A 2007 Inductee inductee No 5: View Certificate
However well done
"Webby" Johnson for being another record breaker – (Brian Ahern; UK Country Journalist)
At the Southern
Country UK Country Radio Awards held on Feb 4, 2007 Mr, Kenny Johnson was
presented with The Services Award,
for presenters who work hard to promote the British product as well as the International.
At that time Mr.Johnson had been presenting country
music for over 30 years and very well known as an excellent singer/songwriter
(Kenny Johnson and Northwind)
BBC RADIO
MERSEYSIDE
Kenny Johnson’s weekly programme on BBC Radio
Merseyside had the highest listening figures for any regional country
show. He took over the show named “Sounds Country” 3 to 4 years after its birth.
His programme, Sounds Country, was a huge hit among
country music fans, featuring tracks from the latest albums and older classics.
Over the years, Kenny interviewed Dr Hook, Billy Jo
Spears, Steve Earle, Geo Hamilton IV, Bobby Bare, Albert Lee, and the late
Tommy Collins, to name a few.
Back in 2010 Kenny stated that his show was the
longest running in the UK with an incredbile 34 years !
As a listener what I liked was that it was refreshing
to hear a UK DJ actually state his honest opinions about the new releases being
sent from America. No DJ can please all of the people all of the time but he
mixed things up with new music, specials, Local Hero spots, Bluegrass spots (he
admired the amazing musicianship of the “Bluegrass Cats”) and a listener “Recall
Spot” (offering loyal listeners to pick out their favourites) and helped to
promote local country events & shows with a gig guide.
Kenny escaped the BBC cuts: Back in 2012 the BBC Trust were making decisions
about scrapping the specialized music shows including the country music shows.
Country Routes Blog campaigned online to try and save them and Kenny encouraged
his listeners to help by making their feelings known to the BBC.
Although other country programmes on BBC Radio Sheffield,
BBC Radio Cambridge, BBC Suffolk, BBC Kent and BBC Cornwall disappeared “Sounds Country” continued on!
Sounds Country, broadcast every Sunday evening (6-8pm) it then moved to afternoons (1400 - 1600) on
BBC Radio Merseyside. It gave BBC Merseyside listeners and beyond on the internet comprehensive
coverage on what country music is all about with a local gig guide, interviews
and great music.
Kenny seemed to not always present the show in later
years. Spencer Leigh sat in and the BBC Radio Merseyside website shows that Kenny last presented the programme on June 28, 2015.
Mr. Johnson signed
off on air saying:
“I’ve had 39
years of playing the music I love and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s
been absolutely tremendous and I thank you for that”
Billy Butler on his Tuesday afternoon show (14 Oct,
2015; BBC Page) paid tribute to former BBC
Radio Merseyside presenter and friend Kenny Johnson in this recorded
interview. This special 'Career in 5
minutes' was dedicated to all the great bands he was in. Replayed is the interview
with Billy from June 2015 when Kenny retired from Sounds Country. Kenny spoke
fondly on touring with the late George Hamilton IV.
Listen here:
Listen here:
Mike Shepherd took over the show from 5 July 2015 (see
BBC Homepage) sharing his knowledge and musical
influences from George Jones, Conway Twitty and Hank Marvin to Luke Bryan, Eric
Church and everything in between.
Listen to Kenny
Johnson presenting "Sounds Country" on BBC Radio Merseyside first broadcast on Sunday March 25, 2012 as he
paid tribute to the late British country artist John McCane (Southern Country UK Country Radio Award Song of the
year 2007 winner). Listen to the Audio tribute
TRIBUTES
VIDEO
Published on Oct 14, 2015
This video
tribute, requested by the family, is a thank you to “Webby” from everyone.
This is the original Kenny Johnson and Northwind band, the track is called " I've Never Loved Anyone More" and
the original members were Kenny Johnson (Lead Vocals & Rythm Guitars), John
Hodgson (Lead Guitars and Vocals), Bobby Peters (Drums), John "Fez"
Ferrington (Bass and Vocals) and Kenny Berry (Keyboards).
It this was recorded in 1976 and is from the Album
"Lakeside Highway".
Radio Merseyside paid tribute to their former presenter,
described by friends as a “lovely bloke”
and an “iconic local voice”.
North West Tonight @BBCNWT tweeted Sad News. Former
@bbcmerseyside country music presenter, Kenny Johnson has died.
Sad news. Former @bbcmerseyside country music presenter, Kenny
Johnson has died pic.twitter.com/8TGtsHFVHO
— North West Tonight (@BBCNWT) October
14, 2015
BBC Radio Merseyside Editor Sue Owen said: “Kenny was a
first-class broadcaster and a wonderful musician who was loved all over
Merseyside. “We have had many warm tributes from listeners and fans of his band
who want to express their sadness, and remember how their lives were touched by
him. “We send his family and friends our deepest condolences.”
One listener, Ross, said: “Kenny WAS country music and Merseyside was lucky to have him”.
Another, Stevie, said: “My love of Country Music goes right back to the ‘60s thanks to Kenny
and his Band The Hillsiders.
“When he became a presenter
at Radio Merseyside the promotion of local Country Music was phenomenal.
Radio Tributes
BIG Respect: BBC Radio 2's "Country King" Bob Harris OBE took time out to pay
tribute to Kenny Johnson on Thursday's Bob Harris Country on Oct 15, 2015 (BBC Page)
Remembering Kenny Johnson: BBC Radio Norfolk's Keith Greentree on paid tribute on his
Saturday morning show Rodeo Norfolk (Oct 17, 2015 BBC
Page) to the British country singer and shared his memories
of The Hillsiders:
Mr. Lee Williams President of the British Country Music
Awards (BCMAwards) and CEO of CMR Nashville "Europe's #1 Country Music
Radio Station" spoke of his meetings with Kenny and the legacy he left
behind. First broadcast on Friday Oct 16, 2015.
Presenter and musician Steve Cherelle on his Big Country show (Sunday Oct 18, 2015 | BBC Page) on BBC Radio Essex and Marie
Crichton on her Country show on BBC
Radio Shropshire (Sat Oct 17, 2015 | BBC
Page) paid tribute to Kenny and played his popular hit
"City Lights":
BBC Merseyside Facebook Tributes are numerous:
Photo (Left)
A lovely fan photo taken with
Northwind's Kenny Johnson in the 80s
Mike Shepherd on BBC
Radio Merseyside the new presenter of "Sounds Country" paid
tribute to Kenny Johnston on his show Sunday Oct 18, 2015 (BBC Page) .
 |
| Mike Shepherd |
Mike selected music from
Northwind and Johnson's solo music also reading out tributes from listeners
and played recorded highlights from the very last show Kenny presented on June
28, 2015.
This included a medley of spins from Kenny’s favourite artists Hank
Williams, Clay Walker, Mike Reid, The Dixie Chicks and going out with Poco's
"Rose of Cimarron". Over the 39 years Kenny probably played
approaching 45,000 - 50,000 songs on Sounds Country.
On Facebook Mike shared: "In Just 8 years of broadcasting, today's
'Sounds Country' was the most emotional and most difficult programme I have
ever done... R.I.P Kenny Johnson x"
BBC Merseyside Facebook Tributes are numerous:
Example: RIP
kenny you will be sadly missed,loved your great voice,and times we seen you
with the HILLSIDERS,my daughter was married in CYPRUS walking to take her vows
to your record TODAY, wonderful memories thanks kenny
Photo (Left)
A lovely fan photo taken with
Northwind's Kenny Johnson in the 80s
Adios Amigo
R.I.P Kenny Johnson
SOURCES:
The Hillsiders Blog | BCM Hall of Fame | Liverpool Echo
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