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 Herston, 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 debut single, the first recording of the Curly Putman-penned "Green, Green Grass of Home" (later made famous by Porter Wagoner and Tom Jones), 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-10 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 later became a hit for Vikki Carr. In the 1970s, Darrell was associated with the outlaw country movement. Darrell was married to his wife Jody. He suffered from diabetes, a disease that impaired his health and ability to perform. Darrell died from the disease at age 57 in Kennesaw, Georgia. Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 106/7. ISBN 0-85112-726-6. "Alabama Music Hall of Fame: Johnny Darrell". Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2021. "Johnny Darrell | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 6, 2021. Wadey, Paul (November 15, 1997). "Obituary: Johnny Darrell". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2020. Whitburn, Joel (1997). Joel Whitburn's top country albums 1964-1997. Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research. p. 41. Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top LPs, 1955–1972. Record Research. p. 41. Retrieved November 15, 2025. Whitburn, Joel (1998). Joel Whitburn's top country singles 1944-1997. Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research. p. 98. ISBN 0898201292. Whitburn, Joel (1982). Joel Whitburn's Bubbling under the hot 100, 1959-1981. Menomonee Falls, Wis: Record Research. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-8982-0047-8. "RPM Weekly - Top Country Singles Chart Search: Johnny Darell". Library and Archives Canada. Government of Canada. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2025. Database in transition; page content may be relocated or archived. Johnny Darrell at AllMusic