Johnny Bond
Induction Year: 1970
Birth Name: Cyrus Whitfield - Johnny Bond
Birth Date: June 01, 1915
Place of Birth: Enville, OK
Deceased: June 12, 1978
Place of Death: Burbank, CA
Biography
(from Dorothy Bond) "If Johnny Bond were still living I know he could write & write. For me the memories are great. We had an exciting life. He was a wonderful husband."
Former Occupations: | Education: |
Discography / Career Highlights
Career Milestones:
1933 - first played professionally in local string band; learned ukulele, guitar and banjo
1934 - moved to Oklahoma City to audition for radio
1937 - formed the group the Bell Boys with Jimmy Wakely and Scotty Harrel
1938 - wrote hit, "Cimarron"
1939 - the Bell Boys appeared in a Roy Rogers movie, "Saga of Death Valley"
1940 - moved to California on June 1
1940 - joined Gene Autry's CBS Melody Ranch Radio Broadcast in September
1940 - the Bell Boys recorded for Decca
1941-1957 - recorded with Okeh Records (through Columbia)
1943-1947 - appeared on "Hollywood Barn Dance" 1948 - made first guest appearance on Grand Ole Opry
1952-1960 - worked on TV/radio show Town Hall Party, from Compton, CA, as a writer and performer
1955 - established music publishing companies, Vidor Publications, Inc. and Red River Songs, Inc., with Tex Ritter
1964 - first #1 record "Ten Little Bottles"
1973 - performed with Tex Ritter on the Grand Ole Opry
1976 - toured England and Italy
1976 - wrote "Reflections: The Autobiography of Johnny Bond"
Awards:
1961 - BMI\"Your Old Love Letters"
1961 - BMI\"The Blizzard"\for publishing
1965 - BMI\"Ten Little Bottles"
1971 - BMI\"Tomorrow Never Comes"
1974 - JEMF\Art Satherley Annual Award
1974 - Academy of Country Music\Pioneer Award
Catalog Highlights:
"Cimarron" - Artists: Johnny Bond, Jimmy Dean, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Tex Ritter, Jimmy Wakely, Sons of the Pioneers, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Jack Marshall, Eligibles, Russ Morgan & Orchestra, Ruth Welcome, Foy Willing
"Your Old Love Letters" - Artists: Johnny Bond, Claude Gray, Patti Page, Ricky Skaggs, Jim Reeves, Jeannie C. Riley, Margie Singleton, Billy Jo Spears, Porter Waggoner (1961), Kitty Wells, Faron Young
"I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" - Artists: Johnny Bond, Bobby Bare, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Clark & Family, Norma Jean, Johnnie & Jack, Bill Monroe, Johnny Rodriguez, Carl Smith, Hank Snow, Porter Waggoner, Jimmy Wakely, Hank Williams Jr.
"Glad Rags" - Artists: Johnny Bond, Jimmy Dean, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Mac Wiseman
"Ridin' Down to Sante Fe" - Artists: Johnny Bond
"Tomorrow Never Comes" - Co-writer: Ernest Tubb
Artists: Johnny Bond, Lynn Anderson, Glen Campbell, Little Jimmy Dickens, Loretta Lynn, Skeets McDonald, Jim Nabors, Elvis Presley, The Statler Brothers, B.J. Thomas, Ernest Tubb (1945), Slim Whitman (1970)
"Love Gone Cold" - Artists: Johnny Bond, Rex Allen
"Cherokee Waltz" - Artists: Johnny Bond
"Jim, Johnny and Jonas" - Artists: Johnny Bond, Bing Crosby, Bobby Franco, Sammy Kaye & Orchestra, Pee Wee King, Wesley & Marilyn Tuttle, Jimmy Wakely
"Don't Live a Lie" Co-writer: Gene Autry - Artists: Johnny Bond, Gene Autry (1945)
"Those 'Gone and Left Me Blues'" - Co-writer: Jimmy Wakely - Artists: Johnny Bond, Jimmy Wakely
"I'll Step Aside" - Artists: Johnny Bond, Brook Benton, Marty Robbins, Hank Thompson, Ernest Tubb (1947), Gene Autry
"Ten Little Bottles" - Artists: Johnny Bond (1965)
"Ten Years" - Artists: Johnny Bond, Eddie Arnold, Tex Williams, Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys
Comments:
Bond had roles in the following movies - "Kansas City Kitty," "Duel in the Sun," "Gallant Bess," "Cowboy Commandos," "Six Lessons" and "TV Ranch Party".
Wrote biography, "The Tex Ritter Story"; also wrote a biography of Gene Autry
