Johnny Lee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Johnny Lee | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Johnny Lee Ham |
| Born | July 3, 1946 |
| Origin | Texas City, Texas, USA |
| Genre(s) | Country, Pop, Countrypolitan |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1976 – Present |
| Label(s) | Asylum Records Warner Bros. Records Curb Records |
| Associated acts | Mickey Gilley |
| Website | www.johnnyleefanclub.com |
Johnny Lee Ham (born July 3, 1946, in Texas City, Texas) is a Legendary American Country Music Singer. His 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love," not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 (and, by the way, became the #1 country song for that aforementioned year) but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts. He racked up a series of country hits in the early and mid-80s.
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[edit] Biography
Lee grew up in Alta Loma, Texas on a dairy farm. In high school he formed a rock n' roll band, "Johnny Lee and the Roadrunners". After school, Lee enlisted in the United States Navy and served a tour of duty on the USS Chicago, a guided missile cruiser. After his discharge, he played cover tunes in Texas nightclubs and bars through the 1960s.
Lee worked 10 years with Mickey Gilley both on tour and at Gilley’s Club in Pasadena, Texas. The 1980 hit movie Urban Cowboy was largely shot at Gilley's club. It was the soundtrack from the movie that catapulted Lee to fame. The record spawned several hit singles, one of which was Lee's "Lookin' for Love."
Lee had five songs reach the top of the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart. In addition to "Lookin' For Love," those songs are "One in a Million" (1980); "Bet Your Heart on Me" (1981); "The Yellow Rose" (1984, a duet with Lane Brody and the theme song to the NBC TV-series of the same name); and "You Could Have Heard a Heartbreak" (1984). His other major hits include "Pickin' Up Strangers" (1981), "Prisoner of Hope" (1981); "Cherokee Fiddle," "Sounds Like Love" and "Hey Bartender" (1983); and "Rollin' Lonely" and "Save the Last Chance" (1985).
Lee married Charlene Tilton in 1982 but the marriage only lasted three years. Their daughter Cherish was born in 1982. He has a son from another marriage. Lee and his son live in Branson, Missouri. Lee tried a stage act in Branson, but prefers to remain a touring act. An attempt at a comeback in the late 1980s was short-lived.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | US Country | US Hot 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | "Red Sails In the Sunset" | 22 | - | Country Party |
| 1976 | "Sometimes" | 59 | - | Live At Gilley's |
| 1977 | "Country Party" | 15 | - | Country Party |
| 1977 | "Dear Alice" | 58 | - | Country Party |
| 1977 | "Ramblin' Rose" | 37 | - | Country Party |
| 1978 | "This Time" | 43 | - | Country Party |
| 1980 | "Lookin' for Love" | 1 | 5 | Lookin' For Love |
| 1980 | "One in a Million" | 1 | - | Lookin' For Love |
| 1981 | "Pickin' Up Strangers" | 3 | - | Lookin' For Love |
| 1981 | "Prisoner of Hope" | 3 | - | Lookin' For Love |
| 1981 | "Rode Hard and Put Up Wet" | 52 | - | Urban Cowboy 2 |
| 1981 | "Bet Your Heart On Me" | 1 | 54 | Bet Your Heart On Me |
| 1982 | "Be There For Me Baby" | 10 | - | Bet Your Heart On Me |
| 1982 | "When You Fall In Love" | 14 | - | Bet Your Heart On Me |
| 1982 | "Cherokee Fiddle" | 10 | - | Sounds Like Love |
| 1983 | "Sounds Like Love" | 6 | - | Sounds Like Love |
| 1983 | "Hey Bartender" | 2 | - | Hey Bartender |
| 1984 | "The Yellow Rose" (duet with Lane Brody) | 1 | - | 'Til the Bars Burn Down |
| 1984 | "You Could've Heard A Heart Break" | 1 | - | Keep Me Hangin' On |
| 1985 | "Rollin' Lonely" | 9 | - | Keep Me Hangin' On |
| 1985 | "Save The Last Chance" | 12 | - | Keep Me Hangin' On |
| 1985 | "They Never Had To Get Over You" | 19 | - | Keep Me Hangin' On |
| 1989 | "I Can Be a Heartbreaker Too" | 53 | - | New Directions |
| 1989 | "I'm Not Over You" | 69 | - | New Directions |
| 1989 | "Maybe I Won't Love You Anymore" | 59 | - | New Directions |
| 1989 | "You Can Fly Like An Eagle" | 66 | - | New Directions |
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1977 | For Lovers Only |
| 1980 | Lookin' For Love |
| 1981 | Bet Your Heart On Me |
| 1982 | Sounds Like Love |
| 1983 | Hey Bartender |
| 1983 | Greatest Hits |
| 1984 | Til' the Bars Burn Down |
| 1985 | Keep Me Hangin' On |
| 1985 | Workin' For a Livin |
| 1989 | New Directions |
| 1990 | The Best of Johnny Lee |
| 1995 | Country Party |
| 1996 | Ramblin' Rose |
| 1999 | Live At Gilley's |
| 2001 | At His Best |
| 2002 | Live At Billy Bob's Texas |
| 2003 | The 13th of July |
| 2003 | Greatest Hits |
| 2005 | Santa Claus Is Lookin' For Love |
| 2006 | Country Candy Store |
[edit] References
- "Johnny Lee Biography". CMT.com. Retrieved May 27, 2005.
- "Johnny Lee - Biography". Official Johnny Lee Fan Club website. Retrieved May 27, 2005.
