|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLEE, Johnnie(b John Lee Ham, 3 July '46, Texas City TX) Honkytonk country singer who struck gold with film Urban Cowboy '80. Led rock'n'roll band Johnny Lee and the Road-Runners in high school; worked throughout '60s playing top 40 hits across Texas; met Mickey Gilley '68 and worked as his front man for more than 10 years. Minor country hits on small labels '75-8 incl. "Sometimes', "Red Sails In The Sunset', "Country Party', "This Time'; his "Lookin' For Love' was lifted from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack and after nine years as house singer at Gilley's club in Pasadena he had a no. 1 country/ no. 5 pop hit. Further hits followed with "One In A Million', "Bet Your Heart On Me'; he married Charlene Tilton (Lucy in TV's Dallas, dubbed "the poison dwarf' by UK TV critic Clive James) in Feb. '82; the stormy marriage lasted less than three years. LPs incl. Leaving For Love '80, Sounds Like Love '82, Hey Bartender '83, all on Asylum. |