Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2006, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Johnny Duncan, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 1 August 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Johnny Duncan who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Johnny Duncan
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 1 August 2006.
‘Yes, I am happy to supply you with a quote.
Gene Watson’s a pure country singer with a distinctive sound.
One of our best!’
Thank you, Johnny Duncan, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Johnny Duncan…
Johnny Duncan, who was born John Richard Duncan in Dublin, Texas on Wednesday 5 October 1938, persuaded his mother, who was a music teacher, to teach him to play the guitar when he turned twelve.
Johnny Duncan’s early life was steeped in West Texas music. Johnny Duncan picked this up naturally as a boy listening to his mother play rhythm guitar in his uncle’s country band and later, he began sharpening his vocal skills, influenced by his early idols, Eddy Arnold (Wednesday 15 May 1918 – Thursday 8 May 2008), Perry Como (Saturday 18 May 1912 – Saturday 12 May 2001), Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 – Friday 31 July 1964) and Frank Sinatra (Sunday 12 December 1915 – Thursday 14 May 1998).
Johnny Duncan was born into a musical family and was very proud of his talented and famous cousins, including Eddie Seals, Jimmy Seals of Seals & Croft, and country music artist Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009).
Johnny Duncan was a B+ high school student, who majored in English and speech at Texas Christian University, but he dropped out after a couple of years.
In 1959, Johnny Duncan moved to Clovis, New Mexico where he worked with Norman Petty, who had produced Buddy Holly (Monday 7 September 1936 – Tuesday 3 February 1959). Johnny Duncan recorded in London and New York, but a pop approach to his music did not work.
By the mid-1960s, Johnny Duncan was performing live on WSM 650AM in Nashville.
It was then that Johnny Duncan received a call from Donald Firth ‘Don’ Law (Monday 24 February 1902 – Monday 20 December 1982), who gave him the opportunity to record for Columbia Records.
Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 – Saturday 30 June 2001) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Summer Sunday’ and included the track on ‘Music From Nashvile, My Home Town’ (RCA Victor Records, 1966).
In 1967, Johnny Duncan enjoyed his first minor hit single with ‘Hard Luck Joe’, which reached No.54 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
In May 1968, Johnny Duncan saw the release of his debut album, ‘Johnny One Time’ (Columbia Records, 1968), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Hard Luck Joe’ (No.54, 1967)
‘Baby Me Baby’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) (No.67, 1968) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘This Dream’s On Me‘ (MCA Records, 1982)
‘To My Sorrow’ (No.47, 1968)
‘When She Touches Me’ (No.30, 1969)
Johnny Duncan’s debut album, ‘Johnny One Time’ (Columbia Records, 1968), also included the following tracks:
‘Wichita Lineman’ (written by Jimmy Webb)
‘I Take A Lot of Pride In What I Am’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Johnny One Time’, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022)
‘Day Drinker’
‘Louisville Nashville Southbound Train’
‘Lucy’
‘Please Remember Me’
In September 1969, Johnny Duncan & June Stearns saw the release of ‘Back To Back’ (Columbia Records, 1969), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Jackson Ain’t A Very Big Town’ (No.21, 1968)
‘Back To Back (We’re Strangers)’ (No.74, 1969)
Johnny Duncan & June Stearns’ ‘Back To Back’ (Columbia Records, 1969) also included the following tracks:
‘We Had All The Good Things Going’
‘What Locks The Door’
‘We’ll Get Married Or Nothing’
‘Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain’
‘Wild Side of Life’
‘Sweet Thang’, which was written by Nat Stuckey (Sunday 17 December 1933 – Wednesday 24 August 1988)
‘Now I Lay Me Down To Dream’
‘Can You Match That Kind of Love’
‘True & Lasting Kind’
In 1969, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘I Live To Love You’, a non-album single, which reached No.70 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
In 1970, Johnny Duncan joined the road-show of Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) saw the potential of Johnny Duncan as a vocalist and let him use his band, The Pridesmen, while on tour.
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Someone I Can’t Forget’ and included the track on ‘From Me To You’ (RCA Records, 1970).
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘I’d Rather Love You’ and included the track on ‘Step Aside’ (Mercury Records, 1971).
In May 1971, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘There’s Something About A Lady’ (Columbia Records, 1971), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘You’re Gonna Need A Man’ (No.39, 1970)
‘My Woman’s Love’ (No.68, 1970)
‘Let Me Go (Set Me Free)’ (No.27, 1970)
‘There’s Something About A Lady’ (No.19, 1971)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘There’s Something About A Lady’ (Columbia Records, 1971) also included the following tracks:
‘I Don’t Know Why I Keep Loving You’
‘I’d Rather Love You’ (written by Johnny Duncan)
‘This Has Got To Last’
‘What I Don’t Know’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
‘I’ll Always Love When We Loved’
‘There’s Still Someone I Can’t Forget’
‘I’m In This Town For Good’
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘I’d Rather Love You’ and included the track on ‘I’m Just Me’ (RCA Records, 1971); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for three weeks in March 1971.
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘In My World You Don’t Belong’ and included the track on ‘I’m Just Me’ (RCA Records, 1971).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Instant Loneliness’ and included the track on ‘I’m Just Me’ (RCA Records, 1971).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘I’d Rather Love You’ and included the track on ‘I Wonder What She’ll Think About Me Leaving’ (Decca Records, 1971).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘You’ll Still Be The One’ and included the track on ‘Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs’ (RCA Records, 1971).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Once Again’ and included the track on ‘Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs’ (RCA Records, 1971).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘She’s Too Good To Be True’ and included the track on ‘Songs of Love’ (RCA Records, 1972); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for three weeks in November / December 1972.
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Darlin’, Think of Me Every Now & Then’ and included the track on ‘Songs of Love’ (RCA Records, 1972).
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Fools’ and included the track on ‘This Little Girl of Mine’ (Mercury Records, 1972).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Nothin’ Left But Leaving’ and included the track on ‘A Sunshiny Day’ (RCA Records, 1972).
In June 1973, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘You’re Gonna Need A Man’ (Harmony Records, 1973), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Window Number Five’ (No.65, 1970)
‘Baby’s Smile, Woman’s Kiss’ (No.12, 1971)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘You’re Gonna Need A Man’ (Harmony Records, 1973) also included the following tracks:
‘Day Drinker’
‘Let Me Go (Set Me Free)’
‘What I Don’t Know’
‘Louisville Nashville Southbound Train’
‘Gotta Get Back (On The Right Track)’
‘I’m in This Town For Good’
‘Looking For Someone Lonely’
‘You’re Gonna Need A Man’
In June 1973, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘Sweet Country Woman’ (Columbia Records, 1973), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘One Night of Love’ (No.39, 1971)
‘Fools’ (written by Johnny Duncan) (No.19, 1972)
‘Sweet Country Woman’ (No.6, 1973)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Sweet Country Woman’ (Columbia Records, 1973) also included the following tracks:
‘When She Touches Me’
‘Hard Luck Joe’
‘Johnny One Time’
‘To My Sorrow’
‘You’re My Woman’
‘Baby Me Baby’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘This Dream’s On Me‘ (MCA Records, 1982)
‘I’d Rather Love You’ (written by Johnny Duncan)
‘Look In Baby’s Eyes’ (written by Ann J. Morton) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Between This Time & The Next Time‘ (MCA Records, 1981)
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘I’m Learning To Love Her’ and included the track on ‘Sweet Country’ (RCA Records, 1973).
Mel Street (Saturday 21 October 1935 – Saturday 21 October 1978) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘She’s Too Good To Be True’ and included the track on ‘The Town Where You Live’ (Metrologic Records, 1973).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Mary Go Round’ and included the track on ‘Pride of America’ (RCA Records, 1974).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘That Was Forever Ago’ and included the track on ‘Pride of America’ (RCA Records, 1974).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘I Ain’t All Bad’ and included the track on ‘Charley’ (RCA Records, 1975); the track reached No.6 on the Billboard country music singles chart in late 1975.
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Fools’ and included the track on ‘Charley’ (RCA Records, 1975).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Johnny Duncan’s ‘Right Back Missing You Again’ and included the track on ‘The Happiness of Having You’ (RCA Records, 1975).
In 1975, Johnny Duncan left the road-show of Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) and teamed up with Larry Gatlin, as producer, and Janie Fricke, as a background vocalist; their first collaboration was ‘Jo & The Cowboy’, which reached No.26 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975.
‘Jo & The Cowboy’ was subsequently included on ‘The Best of Johnny Duncan’ (Columbia Records, 1976), which was released in June 1976 and included the following tracks:
‘Stranger’, which was written by Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) (No.4, 1976)
‘Scarlet Water’ (No.66, 1974)
‘Gentle Fire’ (No.86, 1976)
‘Talkin’ With My Lady’ (No.18, 1973)
‘Baby’s Smile, Woman’s Kiss’ (No.12, 1971)
‘Sweet Country Woman’ (No.6, 1973)
‘Fools’ (written by Johnny Duncan) (No.19, 1972)
‘Hard Luck Joe’ (No.54, 1967)
‘Holiday Woman’
In August 1976, Dave & Sugar – Dave Rowland (Monday 26 January 1942 – Thursday 1 November 2018) – saw the release of their self-titled debut album, ‘Dave & Sugar’ (RCA Records, 1976), which was produced by Jerry Bradley, Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) and Dave Rowland (Monday 26 January 1942 – Thursday 1 November 2018), and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Queen of The Silver Dollar’, which was written by Shel Silverstein (Thursday 25 September 1930 – Monday 10 May 1999) (No.25, 1975)
‘The Door Is Always Open’ (written by Bob McDill and Dickey Lee) (No.1 for one week in July 1976)
‘I’m Gonna Love You’ (written by Baker Knight) (No.3, 1976)
Dave & Sugar’s self-titled debut album, ‘Dave & Sugar’ (RCA Records, 1976), also included the following tracks:
‘Fools’ (written by Johnny Duncan)
‘Late Nite Country Lovin’ Music’ (written by Johnny Duncan)
‘I’m Leavin’ The Leavin’ To You’ (written by Jim Rushing and Bobby David)
‘Can’t Help But Wonder’
‘Whole Lotta Things To Sing About’
‘I’ve Been So Wrong For So Long’
‘Queen of My Heart’ (written by Billy Swan and Benny Whitehead)
In February 1977, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘Johnny Duncan’ (Columbia Records, 1977), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Charley Is My Name’ (No.57, 1975)
‘Thinking of A Rendezvous’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton and Bobby Braddock) (No.1 for two weeks in December 1976)
‘It Couldn’t Have Been Any Better’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016) (No.1 for one week in April 1977)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Johnny Duncan’ (Columbia Records, 1977) also included the following tracks:
‘Ain’t She Somethin’ Else’
‘Maybe I Just Crossed Your Mind’
‘Atlanta Georgia Stray’
‘Damn It All
‘Love Should Be Easy’
‘Third Rate Romance’
‘Denver Woman’
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Johnny Duncan’ (Columbia Records, 1977) reached No.21 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1977.
In November 1977, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘Come A Little Bit Closer’ (Columbia Records, 1977), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Song In The Night’ (No.5 in August 1977)
‘Come A Little Bit Closer’, which was written by Tommy Boyce (Friday 29 September 1939 – Wednesday 23 November 1994), Bobby Hart and Wes Farrell (Thursday 21 December 1939 – Thursday 29 February 1996) (No.4, 1977) / this track was a duet with Janie Fricke
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Come A Little Bit Closer’ (Columbia Records, 1977) also included the following tracks:
‘Star-Studded Nights’
‘Cheatin’ In The Key of C’
‘Jukebox Cinderella’
‘Red, Red Wine’
‘Cowboy & The Lady’
‘Loneliness (Can Break A Good Man Down)’
‘Last Night Made My Day’
‘Use My Love’
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Come A Little Bit Closer’ (Columbia Records, 1977) reached No.27 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1978.
In July 1978, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ (Columbia Records, 1978), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime)’, which was written by Aaron Schroeder (Tuesday 7 September 1926 – Wednesday 2 December 2009) and Bob Halley (No.1 for one week in May 1978)
‘Hello Mexico (& Adios Baby To You)’, which was written by written by Stephen Allen Davis (Tuesday 4 October 1949 – Monday 26 December 2022) (No.4, 1978)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘The Best Is Yet to Come’ (Columbia Records, 1978) also included the following tracks:
‘Sleepin’ With The One You Love’
‘Lifetime To Learn’
‘Candy’
‘The Best Is Yet To Come’
‘I Watched An Angel (Going Through Hell)’
‘Ain’t No Way That I Can Forget You’
‘Pillow’
‘Mexican Love Songs’
Johnny Duncan’s ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ (Columbia Records, 1978) reached No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1978.
In March 1979, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘See You When The Sun Goes Down’ (Columbia Records, 1979), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Slow Dancing’ (No.6, 1979)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘See You When The Sun Goes Down’ (Columbia Records, 1979) also included the following tracks:
‘Warm Up The Night With You’
‘Make Believe It’s Your First Time’
‘Last Cheater’s Waltz’
‘See You When The Sun Goes Down’
‘Oh, Maria’
‘Too Friendly For Friends’
‘One Night of Love’
‘How Married Are You, Mary Ann’
‘Whine, Whistle, Whine’
In October 1979, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘Straight From Texas’ (Columbia Records, 1980), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘The Lady In The Blue Mercedes’ (No.9, 1979)
‘Play Another Slow Song’ (No.17, 1980)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Straight From Texas’ (Columbia Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:
‘My Woman’s Good To Me’
‘I’d Just Be Fool Enough (To Fall)’
‘Too Far Gone’
‘Runaway Housewife’
‘Would You Like To Spend The Night (With A Memory)’
‘If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)’
‘What’s A Little Love Between Friends’
‘The Bright Morning Light’, which was written by Larry Kingston (Sunday 10 August 1941 – Sunday 20 February 2005)
In May 1980, Jim Ed Brown (Sunday 1 April 1934 – Thursday 11 June 2015) & Helen Cornelius saw the release of ‘One Man, One Woman’ (RCA Victor Records, 1980); one of the included tracks was Johnny Duncan’s ‘Fools’, which reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Fools’ was subsequently included on Jim Ed Brown (Sunday 1 April 1934 – Thursday 11 June 2015) & Helen Cornelius‘ ‘Greatest Hits’ (RCA Victor Records, 1980), which was released in April 1981, and ‘Anthology’ (Renaissance Records, 2000), which was released in April 2000.
In June 1980, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘In My Dreams’ (Columbia Records, 1980), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘I’m Gonna Love You Tonight (In My Dreams)’ (No.17, 1980)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘In My Dreams’ (Columbia Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:
‘It’s Such A Perfect Day For Making Love’
‘Wonderful Tonight’
‘How’s The World Treating You’
‘North Won The War Again Last Night’
‘Way You Are’
‘Warm Woman & Cold Champagne’
‘Soulful Woman’
‘Lighter Shade of Blue’
‘Who’s Been Sleeping In My Bed’
Johnny Duncan’s ‘In My Dreams’ (Columbia Records, 1980) reached No.61 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1980.
In October 1980, Johnny Duncan & Janie Fricke saw the release of ‘Nice ‘N’ Easy’ (Columbia Records, 1980), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘He’s Out of My Life’ (No.17, 1980)
Johnny Duncan & Janie Fricke‘s ‘Nice ‘N’ Easy’ (Columbia Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:
‘Nice ‘N’ Easy’
‘There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love’
‘Baby, You’ve Got What It Takes’
‘Lovin’ Arms’
‘Come A Little Bit Closer’
‘It Couldn’t Have Been Any Better’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
‘Atlanta Georgia Stray’
‘Thinking of A Rendezvous’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton and Bobby Braddock)
‘Stranger’ (written by Kris Kristofferson)
In November 1980, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘You’re On My Mind’ (Columbia Records, 1980), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Acapulco’ (No.16, 1980)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘You’re On My Mind’ (Columbia Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:
‘Nobody’s Better Than You’
‘Lookin’ For Love’
‘Sleepin’ With The Radio On’
‘Forever’
‘Married Women’
‘Am I That Easy To Forget’
‘Over Forty (Not Over The Hill)’
‘Interesting Fire’
‘Should’ve Never Let You Go’
In 1981, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘All Night Long’, a non-album single, which reached No.40 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
Although Johnny Duncan’is star power had faded in the early 1980s, as a result of changing musical tastes, his biggest songs became popular American country radio re-currents throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In 1982, Johnny Duncan and Columbia Records parted company; Johnny Duncan subsequently remarried, returned to Texas and raised his family.
In 1986, Johnny Duncan returned to the recording studio, and saw the release of ‘Faraway Hideaway’ (Pharoah Records, 1986), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘The Look of A Lady In Love’ (No.69, 1986)
‘Texas Moon’ (No.81, 1986)
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Faraway Hideaway’ (Pharoah Records, 1986) also included the following tracks:
‘Faraway Hideaway’
‘Paradise Isle’
‘You’re In Love’
‘She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime)’, which was written by Aaron Schroeder (Tuesday 7 September 1926 – Wednesday 2 December 2009) and Bob Halley / Johnny Duncan’s original recording of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May 1978
‘Biloxi’
‘It’s Gonna Be A Long Night’
‘She Made A Mean Margarita’
‘Stranger’, which was written by Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) / Johnny Duncan’s original recording of this track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976
In 1994, Johnny Duncan saw the release of ‘Johnny Duncan Again…’ (Broadland International Records, 1994), which was produced by Gary Buck (Thursday 21 March 1940 – Tuesday 14 October 2003), and included the following tracks:
‘Wild Oats’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton)
‘Watching Elizabeth Play’ (written by Kent Westberry and Melba Montgomery)
‘Skeletons’ (written by Roy ‘Jack’ Ownbey)
‘Goldie’ (written by Joe Sanders and Frank Carnaham)
‘Buenos Noches Nacadoches’ (written by Kent Westberry and Billy Walker)
‘One For The Road’ (written by Joe Allen, Tracy Smith, Carlton Moody and Richard Lovelace)
‘There’s A Whole Lot of Peaches (Here In Georgia)’ (written by Johnny Duncan)
‘I Wonder Who’s Missing You Now’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton, Craig Dillingham and Mark Sherrill)
‘Fool’s Moon’, which was written by Sonny Throckmorton and Bill Caswell (passed away on Friday 17 February 2023)
‘Her Side’ (written by Jerry Max Lane)
‘Stranger’, which was written by Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) / Johnny Duncan’s original recording of this track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976
‘Sweet Country Woman’ (written by Chuck Tharp and Sandy St. John) / Johnny Duncan’s original recording of this track reached No.6 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973
‘She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime)’, which was written by Aaron Schroeder (Tuesday 7 September 1926 – Wednesday 2 December 2009) and Bob Halley / Johnny Duncan’s original recording of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May 1978
‘It Couldn’t Have Been Any Better’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016) / Johnny Duncan’s original recording of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in April 1977
‘Thinking of A Rendezvous’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton and Bobby Braddock) / Johnny Duncan’s original recording of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in December 1976
Personnel involved in the recording of Johnny Duncan’s ‘Johnny Duncan Again…’ (Broadland International Records, 1994) included the following:
Leo Jackson (acoustic guitar)
Gregg Galbraith (lead guitar)
Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015) and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Dirk Johnson and Gary Prim (piano, keyboards)
Gene Chrisman (drums)
David Smith (bass)
Ronny Light, Margie Cates and Jennifer O’Brien (background vocals)
Jim Glaser (Wednesday 16 December 1936 – Saturday 6 April 2019) (background vocals on ‘Wild Oats’ and ‘Buenos Noches Nacadoches’)
Jennifer O’Brien (female solo vocalist)
In 2004, Johnny Duncan saw the release of his final album, ‘The Thing To Do’ (JRD Records, 2004), which was released on JRD Records, a record label based in Stephenville, Texas and included the following tracks:
‘Mention A Mansion’
It Just Seemed Like The Thing To Do At The Time’
‘The Chosen Few’
‘Love Will’
‘Not A Brick Out of Place’
‘When I’m Over You’
‘Cup of Conversation’
‘Hands’
‘Let Me Go’
‘Smell The Smoke’
‘Better Lies’
On Monday 14 August 2006, some thirteen days after the acquisition of this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’, Johnny Duncan suffered a heart attack and passed away – he was 67 years old.
On Thursday 17 August 2006, Johnny Duncan’s memorial service took place at 3:00pm at First Baptist Church of Stephenville, located at 334 West Green in Stephenville, Texas.
Johnny Duncan
Wednesday 5 October 1938 – Monday 14 August 2006
• Johnny Duncan