Country singer, former teen idol dead at 86: ‘He was simply the best’

Johnny Tillotson

Johnny Tillotson died Tuesday while surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, the former teen idol’s wife Nancy announced Wednesday. She told TMZ the cause of death was complications from Parkinson’s disease.

“It is with a broken heart that I write to let you know that the sweetest, kindest man I ever met Johnny Tillotson, left earth for Heaven yesterday,” Nancy wrote on Facebook. “He was my best beloved, Champion of my realm, Knight of my heart. Someone said that sometimes right in the middle of an ordinary life you get a fairy tale. The day I met him I got mine. He was funny, generous and kind. A gentleman through and through. He loved and was grateful to his fans, as he once said, they made every dream I ever had come true. Once again on his behalf I say thank you for that.”

According to Billboard, Tillotson was a talented singer from Florida that first began performing as a child. He was 19 years old when he released his debut single, “Dreamy Eyes” / “Well I’m Your Man,” in 1958.

Tillotson quickly became a teen idol, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with the 1960 hit “Poetry in Motion.” Other artists who covered the rock and roll/pop song include Bobby Vee and Cliff Richard.

Tillotson also wrote and performed “It Keeps Right on A-Hurtin’,” which was inspired by the terminal illness of his father. The 1962 song was nominated for a Grammy Award for best country and western recording, reached No. 3 on the Hot 100, and was covered by artists like Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, Bobby Darin, Slim Whitman, Dean Martin, and Wanda Jackson.

According to Billboard, Tillotson had 25 songs chart on the Hot 100 in his career, including 1965’s “Heartaches By the Number.” He also had five hits on the Hot Country chart, two songs on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and nine Adult Contemporary entries.

“Johnny will be missed every single day for the rest of my life. He was simply the best,” Nancy wrote. “With all the love I have in my heart for a wonderful man gone too soon from this world.”

Survivors include Johnny’s wife Nancy, his brother Dan, his son John and stepdaughter Genevieve, as well as grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Related Posts

My Ex Showed Up on Father’s Day with His New Girlfriend to Look Like a Great Dad to Our Daughter — So I Let Him Embarrass Himself

Kyle hadn’t called in weeks—no check-ins, no apologies, no effort. And then, like a bad sitcom rerun, he popped up just in time for Father’s Day. His…

Ignored by Doctors 9 Times – Now the Mom of a Young Son Has About a Year to Live Due to a Terminal Illness

Georgia-Leigh Gardiner: A Mother’s Fight for Time After Terminal Cancer Diagnosis It began innocently enough — what seemed like a persistent stomach bug or holiday stress. But…

She Was Just A Lost Girl Until I Saw My Missing Mother’s Locket Around Her Neck

I was thirty-five, unemployed, and dragging around a résumé so awkward even I’d stopped believing in it. A few years ago, I was a respected designer—booked solid,…

Do you wake up between 3am to 5am? The reason is more significant than you think

Sleeping through the night without a single interruption might seem like a rare achievement, but it’s actually crucial for ensuring full productivity and a refreshed mind the…

Teenage footballer, 17, fighting for his life in hospital after being involved in tragic car crash which killed his sister

After being involved in a car accident that claimed the life of his older sister, a teenage football player in Poland is in critical condition and fighting…

“You can’t even walk!” the man mocked, standing next to his wife… and his pregnant lover.

“You can’t even walk,” he said. Not with pity. Not even surprise. Just disdain, curling from his lips like smoke from a dying fire. She didn’t flinch….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *