Johnny Horton Songs
On The Acoustic Guitar

Here you'll discover some great Johnny Horton songs, lyrics, tutorials and video clips. Here is a bit of background on this performer who left this world way too soon.

John Gale Horton, known professionally as Johnny Horton, had created the historical ballad craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Songs that told stories became a trademark of Horton who was also a rockabilly singer and inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He loved Fishing next to singing and was also known as the singing fisherman.

Johnny Horton was born in Los Angeles, but grew up in a town called Rusk in East Texas. Horton did attend the Seattle University. He won a talent contest that was hosted by Jim Reeves and was a regular on the Louisiana Hayride.

Horton ended up marrying Hank Williams wife who was widowed after Williams died. Johnny and Billie Jean had two daughters together.

On the 5th of November, 1960, Horton was killed in a head on collision by a drunk driver. His close friend Johnny Cash later said he balled like a baby in a hotel room because he took the loss of Johnny Horton so hard.

Horton had 3 number one hits for North To Alaska, When Its Springtime In Alaska and The Battle Of New Orleans. Johnny Horton was 35 when he was killed.