Johnny Western

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Johnny Western


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Born = October 28, 1934
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Occupation = singer-songwriter, actor, radio show host (current)
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Associated_acts = Gene Autry, Johnny Cash
URL = http://www.johnnywestern.com/
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Johnny Western (born October 28, 1934) is an American country singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and radio show host. He's a member of the Western Music Association Hall of Fame and the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame.

Early life

Johnny Western was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota but was primarily raised in Northfield, Minnesota. cite web|url=http://www.kfdi.com/get/theranch/page5.asp|title=Country Music & Western Heroes|publisher=KFDI|accessdate=2008-01-05] His father was an instructor and officer in several Civilian Conservation Corps camps, which is where he spent many of his earlier years. He also lived on Indian reservations along the Canada–United States border. cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/western_johnny/bio.jhtml|title=Artists: Biography, Johnny Western|accessdate=2008-01-04]

While five years old, Western's parents took him to see the western film "Guns and Guitars", which starred the actor and singer Gene Autry. The young boy decided he wanted to be a singing cowboy. At the age of 12, he received a guitar. Within a year, he was performing professionally. ]

Musical career

His professional career began as a young teenager, singing and playing rhythm guitar with a collegiate singing trio. He got a job on radio at the age of 13, cite web|url=http://www.boothill.org/hof_western.html|title=Johnny Western, Cowboy Entertainer|publisher=Boot Hill Museum & Front Street|accessdate=2008-01-04] which got him named in Billboard magazine as the youngest disc jockey and singer on American radio. ] At age 16, he started playing on bills with the Sons of the Pioneers.

He performed with Gene Autry and for nearly 30 years was a part of the Johnny Cash road show. He wrote and performed the theme song "The Ballad of Paladin" for the television program "Have Gun – Will Travel" and co-wrote songs for TV shows The Rebel and Bonanza. ]

His albums include "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1962), "Johnny Western" (1980), "The Gunfighter" (1981), "Gunfight at O.K. Corral" (1989), and "Heros and Cowboys" (1993). cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/western_johnny/albums.jhtml|title=Albums|publisher=Country Music Television, Inc.|accessdate=2008-01-10]

Acting career

Western has appeared in several television programs and movies. He was seen in the television programs "Tales of Wells Fargo, Have Gun – Will Travel, Flight", and "Boots and Saddles". He's had roles in several movies including "The Night Rider, Fort Bowie", and "The Dalton Girls". cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922694|title=Johnny Western|publisher=The Internet Movie Database|accessdate=2008-01-04]

Radio career

Western currently has a daily country music radio show on KFTI, AM 1070, (the former KFDI) a classic country station calling itself "The Ranch" in Wichita, Kansas. cite web|url=http://www.kfdi.com/get/theranch/page2.asp|title=The Ranch Hands|publisher=KFDI|accessdate=2008-01-05] The station and KFDI, which is now FM 101.3, are a part of Journal Broadcast Group. cite web|url=http://www.johnnywestern.com|title=Johnny Western|accessdate=2008-01-04] cite web|url=http://www.journalbroadcastgroup.com/AllAboutUs/tabid/1618/mid/2962/newsid2962/29080/Default.aspx|date=2008-01-14|title=AM 1070 Morning Newsradio Debuts Monday|publisher=Journal Broadcast Group|accessdate=2008-02-02]

The Johnny Western Theatre

The Johnny Western Theatre in Wild West World, a theme park located in Park City, Kansas near Wichita, had concerts scheduled to begin in October, 2007. However, the park declared bankruptcy in July 2007. cite web|url=http://themeparks.about.com/od/findusthemeparks/p/WildWestWorld.htm|title=Wild West World Theme Park|author=Arthur Levine|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2008-02-09] Reasons given included a tornado that struck Greensburg, Kansas on May 4, 2007, one day before the park's official opening, and foul weather that continued for 50 days of the park's three month run.

Awards and honors

* TV Theme Hall of Fame (1993)
* Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame (2000)
* Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame (2000)
* Western Music Association Hall of Fame (2001)
* Wichita Professional Broadcasters Hall of Fame (2002)
* Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame (2004)
* Kansas Western Swing Hall of Fame (2004)

References

External links

[http://www.johnnywestern.com Johnny Western site]