Song:Chevy Van
Album:Golden Classics
Most music fans probably remember Chevy Van but know nothing about singer songwriter Sammy Johns as it was his only big hit. He was born Feb. 7, 1946 in Charlotte, NC. His father gave him a guitar and Johns had a band as a teen. They recorded a few singles and then Johns moved to Atlanta and signed with General Recording Corporation (GRC). GRC had a brief run in the mid-70s with artists like Loleatta Holloway, Moe Bandy and Rick Cunha. The label closed in 1976 when owner Michael Thevis was convicted of murder and thrown in jail. Johns released the album Sammy Johns in 1973 produced by Jay Senter who produced Helen Reddy and veteran LA session man Larry Knechtel. Knechtel wrote the arrangements and brought session musicians like Chuck Rainey, Jim Gordon, Dean Parks, James Burton, Jim Horn, Mike Melvoin and Buddy Emmons with him. Chevy Van reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. After GRC closed, Johns signed with Curb Records and he produced music that was used in the 1977 film The Van. There were a couple of new songs but producer Michael Lloyd used Chevy Van and other songs from the original 1973 album. That was Johns' final album and this Collectables CD covers his recording career. Johns signed with Elektra and he was supposed to record an album. But it didn't happen after the single Common Man was released in 1981 though that song was a number one country hit for John Conlee in 1983. Some of Johns' other songs were recorded by Waylon Jennings and Conway Twitty. I'm sure he lived comfortably off the Chevy Van royalties until he died on Jan. 4, 2013 at age 66. Here's a video for Chevy Van by Sammy Johns.
I absolutely love that song. Heard that on the FM radio growing up and love it to this day. To bad that was his only hit. Dead at 66? I am sorry to hear this. Always the good ones that leave us early. I have that song on my computer in MP3 form in three different areas. Just for good measure. Thank-you so much Frank for the Bio. Yours Defshepard.
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