Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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JOHNNIE and JACK

Vocal duo with country hits in '50s. Johnnie Wright (b 13 May 1914, Mount Juliet TN, d 27 September 2011) and Jack Anglin (b 13 May 1916, Columbia TN; d 8 March 1963). Wright went to Nashville '33, married Kitty Wells '37 and began working with Jack (who also played guitar) '38. They toured with a band '40s; all three were on the Grand Ole Opry c.1947, Johnnie and Jack were stars on the Louisiana Hayride but returned to the Opry with Wells '52. The duo recorded for Apollo ('Jole Blon', 'Paper Boy'), then RCA: their first big hit was 'Poison Love' '51 (no. 5 in the country chart) with a Latin beat; this was bassist Ernie Wright's idea: he played a maracas and a wire brush as well as the bass. In that conservative era for country music the duo had a knack for doing something a little different while remaining true to their roots; some of their hits were covers of doo-wop songs, yet their sound remained high country. 'Crying Heart Blues' was a hit in '51; four more chart entries '54, two '58 and one '59 were followed by a last hit on Decca '62. More than half their hits were in the top ten and they were favourite regulars on the Opry. By the time their hits stopped, Kitty Wells was one of the biggest stars in coiuntry music, and they had as much road work as they could handle.

Jack was killed in a car crash on his way to Patsy Cline's funeral. After his name had been spelled wrong many times, Johnnie gave up and adopted Johnny; he had eleven solo hits '64-9 including no. 1 'Hello Vietnam' '65. His son Bobby (b 30 March 1942, Charleston WV) appeared on the Hayride at age eight, had hits beginning '67 with 'Lay A Little Happiness On Me', top 20 'Here I Go Again' '71 and also acted, in TV's McHale's Navy and other shows. Johnny formed the Kitty Wells/Johnny Wright Family Show for TV '69; Bobby and Johnny did an album of Johnnie and Jack material for Starday '77.