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1983 Black Gold Festival
Johnny Paycheck was one of several stars on the Black Gold Festival stage at Daniel Field in 1983. The native of Greenfield, Ohio, was playing guitar at the age of six and singing professionally at the age of fifteen. He knew then what his dream was, and this is when he began to search for his Star. He once said that "He'd sing until he was too old, and then he'd hum." That statement made in the early 1980's now sums up Johnny Paycheck's renewed dedication to his music and his new career. After a stint in the Navy in the mid-50's, Johnny took a job with the Legendary and now member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, George Jones. He stayed with George for six years, playing bass and later steel guitar. Many of his fans don't realize that Johnny is a very accomplished musician. Johnny was always known as a great, great singer. Singing tenor to Jones' lead vocals, the playful Possum soon began altering his phrasing in an amusing attempt to confuse Johnny in his vocal back-ups, but the ploy was unsuccessful every try. Johnny then worked with such country music greats as Faron Young, Ray Price and Porter Wagoner, and began receiving recognition as a very good songwriter. His early credits include his composition of one of Tammy Wynette's first great hits, Apartment #9, and a great hit for Ray Price, Touch My Heart. Johnny was nominated for two Grammy Awards for (Don't Take Her, She's All I've Got & Take This Job and Shove It), and was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Broadcast Music, Inc. In 1965, Johnny started seeing his dream come true, with a string of hit records, beginning with A-11, a hard-driving honky-tonk anthem that gave him his first chart ride. What a ride from here. Then came hit after hit, to name a few, 11 Months and 29 Days, Song & Dance Man, Someone To Give My Love To, Don't Take Her She's All I've Got, Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets, and the great Old Violin. Then it all broke loose for Johnny Paycheck, when he released the song that has now become a standard, to the heart of the working man. "Take This Job & Shove It," is the song that took Johnny Paycheck on a success ride that many artists never get in their entire career. Johnny was in demand from all the major TV Variety Shows and Concert Promoters. This one record put Johnny Paycheck's name all over the world, and gave him a taste of what life can be, as a celebrity of such magnitude. He had six gold abums, one platinum album, one double-platinum album (almost unheard of back then for a country music artist), and 33 hit singles. He has had a major role in a movie, and in 1991, received the Entertainer of the Year Award from the major Independent Record Labels. Johnny now has a heavy touring schedule and is actively spreading the word about the benefits of obtaining his G.E.D., and the evil of drugs and alcohol. "I feel better than I've felt since I was 20 years old", smiles John. "I didn't know how good life was. I am in complete control of my life, and I know exactly where I am going with my singing career." Over the years, Johnny Paycheck has truly lived all of the good and bad that any one man could possibly handle, but he has weathered the storms and survived. |
