Posted on 04/02/2025 5:18:01 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Two-time Grammy-nominated singer Johnny Tillotson has been announced dead at 86 years old. His wife, Nancy Tillotson, has confirmed that he passed away on April 1st due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Nancy Tillotson posted an emotional tribute on social media where she confirmed the news about her husband. Under a photo of them both laughing together, she shared some beautiful words that spoke about their life together and the sad news of his passing.
“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,” she wrote, “He was my best beloved, Champion of my realm, Knight of my heart.”
She described their life together as a “fairy tale.” Nancy shared, “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,” she wrote, “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.”
Tillotson achieved a great deal throughout his life. He was a teen idol in the 1960s, as he captured the hearts of listeners worldwide with his song ‘Poetry In Motion’. This was one of many tracks he released that climbed the charts and cemented him as a fine voice in music.
Tillotson also received two Grammy nominations throughout his career. The first was for ‘Best Country & Western Recording’ for his track ‘It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’, and his second was for ‘Best Contemporary (R&B) Vocal Performance’, which he received for the song ‘Heartaches By The Number’.
His wife, Nancy, concluded the announcement on social media by saying, “Johnny will be missed every single day for the rest of my life. He was simply the best. With all the love I have in my heart for a wonderful man gone too soon from this world.”
The only Tillotsons I knew about were carburetors.
I still have cars with them.
‘Poetry In Motion’ I remember hearing that on the radio back in 1960! Thought it was the most beautiful song I had ever heard.
Dad was moving us back to New Mexico after a disasterous stay in the Ozarks. It was dark and we were in Western Oklahoma moving to the Roswell area.
Wo Wo Wo Wo Wo
Some songs will make me feel cold for a moment - I originally heard them on the school bus in winter, say.
I was in grade school when ‘Poetry In Motion’ came out...and liked it a lot.
Walking home from school with the girls in front of us, I always thought of that song. 😊
and it keeps right on a hurting since you’re gone...
He had a one of a kind voice......you heard it....you knew it was him. RIP
Johnny we hardly knew ye! RIP.
Sorry to hear. Sang on WMBR Toby Dowdy tv show back in 56 when Johnny was a regular on that show. Met him a few weeks earlier when we were both appeared with Toby Dowdy for July 4th concert on the banks of the Withlacoochee River at Dunnellon, Florida. Johnny went on to have a long list of songs he wrote and sang. One song went to #2 on the UK charts. Never had a #1. Johnny was the headline act for Gator Growl back in the 50’s when the Growl was big, and they packed the Swamp every year. Bob Hope was the headliner one year in the 50’s.
Welfare Hero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NFj0IaiBbc
Rest In Peace, Johnny.
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