Johnny Paycheck American country singer Date of Birth: 31.05.1938 Country: USA

Content:

1. Johnny Paycheck Biography
2. Songwriting and 'Little Darlin' Records'
3. Success and Troubles
4. Legacy and Tribute

Johnny Paycheck Biography

Early Life and Career

Johnny Paycheck, born Donald Eugene Lytle on May 31, 1938, in Greenfield, Ohio, USA, was an American country singer who achieved the greatest success in the 1970s. He became the driving force of the musical country union called the 'Outlaw Movement', which also included artists such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, and Merle Haggard.

At the age of nine, Paycheck won a talent contest, and this marked the beginning of his musical journey. He was hired by country star George Jones to play bass and steel guitar for him. Paycheck later co-wrote Jones' hit song, 'Once You've Had the Best'. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Paycheck performed at various venues, including with Ray Price, thanks to his tenor voice. He also worked with Price's band, the 'Cherokee Cowboys', alongside Willie Nelson. Paycheck's voice can be heard on recordings by Faron Young, Roger Miller, and Skeets McDonald, where he showcased his talent for steel guitar, double fiddle, mixed beats, and unfortunately, rather poor lyrics.

Songwriting and 'Little Darlin' Records'

In addition to his vocal talents, Paycheck found success in the 1960s as a songwriter for other artists. One of his most famous compositions was the song 'Apartment #9', which helped Tammy Wynette make her first appearance on the music charts in December 1976. Paycheck and producer Aubrey Mayhew founded their own label, 'Little Darlin' Records', which eventually disbanded. However, almost three decades later, in the 1990s, country music historians began recognizing the unique and cutting-edge sound of the recordings made by 'Little Darlin' Records', which were truly ahead of their time.

Success and Troubles

Some of Paycheck's personal hit songs included 'Colorado Kool-Aid', 'Me and the IRS', 'Friend, Lover, Wife', 'Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets', and 'I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)'. In 1977, he was awarded the 'Career Achievement Award' by the Academy of Country Music. Paycheck also made a guest appearance on the TV series 'The Dukes of Hazzard', where he played himself and performed the song 'Take This Job and Shove It'.

In 1990, Paycheck declared bankruptcy after paying his taxes. Although he struggled with drug addiction and alcohol abuse throughout his career, it is said that he 'got his life in order' after his release from prison. His last studio album, 'Remembering', was released in 2002, but none of its tracks made it onto the charts. Paycheck passed away on February 19, 2003, at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville due to emphysema and asthma, leaving behind his wife and son. He was buried in the Woodlawn Memorial Park. Paycheck's brother died in a car accident near Wilmington, Ohio, in 2009.

Legacy and Tribute

In 2004, a tribute album titled 'Touch My Heart: A Tribute to Johnny Paycheck' was released under the label 'Sugar Hill'. The album, produced by Robbie Fulks, featured cover versions of Paycheck's most famous songs by artists such as George Jones, Marshall Crenshaw, Hank Williams III, Al Anderson, Dallas Wayne, Neko Case, Gale Davis, and the producer himself.

Paycheck once said, 'I am a man who believes that right is right and wrong is wrong. You treat me right, and I'll give you everything. You treat me wrong, and I won't give you a thing. People don't like me for that, but that's who I am.'

Country-folk