# Johnny Darrell

Johnny Darrell (July 23, 1940 – October 7, 1997) was an American country music artist. Darrell was born in Hopewell, Alabama but grew up in Marietta, Georgia. After a stint in the army, he moved to Nashville and began managing a Holiday Inn near Music Row, when he was discovered by Kelso Herstin, a producer working for United Artists, on the recommendation of Bobby Bare. In his recording career, Darrell established a trend of introducing "lyrically adventurous" songs that later became major hits for other artists.
His first single, a version of Curly Putman's "Green Green Grass of Home" was issued in 1965, followed by "As Long as the Wind Blows" in 1966, which made the country Top 30 and saw Darrell being named "Most Promising Male Artist" by Cashbox. He was the first to record the Mel Tillis song "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", which became a top ten hit for him in 1967 and later a hit for Kenny Rogers. This was followed by his performance of Dallas Frazier's "The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp" in 1968, and the crossover hit "With Pen in Hand", which would later become a hit for Vikki Carr. In the 1970s, Darrell was associated with the Outlaw country movement. Darrell suffered from diabetes, a disease which would impair his health and ability to perform. Darrell died from the disease at age 57 in Kennesaw, Georgia, and was survived by his wife Jody.

## Discography
### Albums

| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Chart Positions | Label |
| Year | Album | US Country | US | Label |
| 1966 | As Long as the Winds Blow | — | — | United Artists |
| 1967 | Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town | 37 | — | United Artists |
| 1968 | The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp | 37 | — | United Artists |
| 1968 | With Pen in Hand | 23 | — | United Artists |
| 1969 | Why You Been Gone So Long | 33 | 172 | United Artists |
| 1970 | California Stop Over | — | — | United Artists |
| 1970 | The Best of Johnny Darrell | — | — | United Artists |
| 1975 | Water Glass Full of Whiskey | — | — | Capricorn |
| 2000 | Singin' It Lonesome: The Very Best...1965–1970 | — | — | Raven |
| 2002 | The Complete Gusto/Starday/King Recordings | — | — | King |

### Singles

| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Chart Positions | Chart Positions | Album |
| Year | Single | US Country | US | CAN Country | Album |
| 1965 | "Green Green Grass of Home" | — | — | — | As Long as the Winds Blow |
| 1965 | "As Long as the Wind Blows" | 30 | — | — | As Long as the Winds Blow |
| 1966 | "Johnny Lose It All" | 44 | — | — | As Long as the Winds Blow |
| 1966 | "She's Mighty Gone" | 72 | — | — | Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town |
| 1967 | "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" | 9 | — | — | Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town |
| 1967 | "My Elusive Dreams" | 73 | — | — | The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp |
| 1967 | "Come See What's Left of Your Man" | 37 | — | — | Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town |
| 1967 | "The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp" | 22 | — | — | The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp |
| 1968 | "With Pen in Hand" | 3 | 126 | — | With Pen in Hand |
| 1968 | "I Ain't Buying" | 27 | — | — | Why You Been Gone So Long! |
| 1968 | "Woman Without Love" | 20 | — | — | Why You Been Gone So Long! |
| 1969 | "The Coming of the Roads" (with Anita Carter) | 50 | — | — | single only |
| 1969 | "Why You Been Gone So Long!" | 17 | — | — | Why You Been Gone So Long! |
| 1969 | "River Bottom" | 23 | — | 12 | Why You Been Gone So Long! |
| 1969 | "Trouble Maker" | — | — | — | single only |
| 1970 | "Mama Come'n Get Your Baby Boy" | 68 | — | — | California Stop Over |
| 1970 | "Brother River" | 75 | — | — | California Stop Over |
| 1970 | "They'll Never Take Her Love from Me" | 74 | — | — | singles only |
| 1971 | "Look Out Cleveland" | — | — | — | singles only |
| 1971 | "Don't It Seem to Rain a Lot" | — | — | — | singles only |
| 1973 | "Crazy Daddy!" | — | — | — | singles only |
| 1973 | "Dakota the Dancing Bear" | 66 | — | — | singles only |
| 1974 | "Orange Blossom Special" | 63 | — | — | Water Glass Full of Whiskey |
| 1975 | "Glendale Arizona" | — | — | — | Water Glass Full of Whiskey |
| 1975 | "Rose Colored Gin" | — | — | — | Water Glass Full of Whiskey |