AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Johnny Western

Artist:Johnny Western

Song:The Ballad of Paladin

Album:My Rifle, My Pony and Me

Here's a song that was written for the 50s TV western Have Gun, Will Travel. Johnny Western wrote and recorded the song which played over the end credits of the show. Though Western's recording career was brief, he has had success as an actor and a DJ. He was born Johnny Westerlund Oct. 28, 1934 in Two Harbors, MN. His father was an officer for the Civilian Conservation Corps so Western spent his early years in those camps. At age five, Western saw the 1936 Gene Autry film Guns and Guitars. From that day on, Western wanted to be a singing cowboy. He started singing on local radio as a teen and by age 16, he was opening for The Sons of the Pioneers. After graduating high school, Western recorded a few singles and hosted his own TV show in Minnesota. Then he moved to Hollywood to pursue his dream. Of course by the early 50s, there was no need for singing cowboys. He did play in Gene Autry's band just before Autry retired from performing. Western appeared in several TV westerns. After being cast in Have Gun, Will Travel, Western wrote The Ballad of Paladin. After showing it to the show's star Richard Boone and the show's creator Sam Rolfe, they had Western record the song and it played over the end credits. Western got a record deal with CBS's record label Columbia. After recording a few unsuccessful singles and the 1962 album Have Gun, Will Travel, Western joined Johnny Cash's band for several years. Though Western would occasionally record over the years, he became a DJ in 1986 for KFDI in Wichita, KS until his 2010 retirement. Western is in the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame and the Western Music Association Hall of Fame. Bear Family has released a Johnny Western box set. But you can get The Ballad of Paladin on this Bear Family various artists CD of songs from western movies, some performed by actors like Dean Martin and James Stewart. There is also a Time Life 2CD comp Treasury of the West 1 that is recommended. Take your pick. Here's Johnny Western performing The Ballad of Paladin on The Marty Stuart Show Mar. 28, 2013. The French horn is a nice touch.