The great Johnny Rodriguez

Mark Metdker · From: North Central Texas, USA

Another one of my favorites from the past. Has anyone here ever worked with Johnny? If not, who was his steeler?

Thanks in advance.

A reliable country hitmaker for much of the '70s, Johnny Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, TX, in 1952, growing up 90 miles from the Mexican border. His older brother Andres, a big country music fan, bought him a guitar when he was seven, and he was playing and singing by his teens. Rodriguez was captain of his high school football team at 16, but when his father died of cancer, he spiraled out of control, racking up four arrests in two years. While Rodriguez was serving a jail term, Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson heard him sing and introduced him to music promoter Happy Shahan, who booked Rodriguez to work as a singing stagecoach driver at the Alamo Village Amusement Park during 1970-1971. There he was discovered by Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare, who brought him to Nashville to join Hall's Storytellers. Not long after, Rodriguez signed with Mercury, releasing his debut single, "Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)," in early 1973. It climbed into the Top Ten and turned out to be the first of 14 consecutive Rodriguez singles to do so. His next two, "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico" and "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)," both hit number one.

1974 brought the Top Five hits "Dance With Me (Just One More Time)" and "We're Over," plus the number one "That's the Way Love Goes." The following year was even better, as all three of his singles -- "I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind," "Just Get Up and Close the Door," and "Love Put a Song in My Heart" -- hit number one. More Top Five hits followed over 1976-1977 in "I Couldn't Be Me Without You," "I Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye," and "Desperado," but he and Mercury parted ways in 1979, upon which point he signed with Epic. "Down the Rio Grande" went Top Ten that year, but Rodriguez subsequently endured a serious commercial slump. He returned to the Top Ten in 1983 with a pair of hits, "Foolin'" and "How Could I Love Her So Much," which proved to be the last of his career; his final chart single came with 1988's Top 20 hit "I Didn't (Every Chance I Had)" on Capitol. He did record a couple of honky tonk-style records during the '90s, specifically Run for the Border (Intersound, 1993) and You Can Say That Again (Hightone, 1996). ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

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"Do Right, and Fear No Man"
Ronald Reagan

GaryHoetker · From: Bakersfield, CA, USA

Hi there:

I'm pretty sure that Pete Drake played played PSG on Johnny's early Mercury recordings i.e "Pass Me By", "Jealous Heart", etc.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

We played a dance with Johnny Rodriguez back in the 1980's. We took turns playing sets and had lot's of fun. Johnny was trying to make a comeback and had rented a bus and hired some musicians to go on the road with him. There was no bus driver and no roadies. The band members had to take turns driving and they all did the unloading, setting up, tearing down, reloading, etc. Those poor guys were beat. I don't remember any of their names. The steel player played an Emmons and sang quite a few songs. He was a good picker and had a great voice.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Gary Carriger · From: Victoria, Texas

Johnny has been staying in Corpus quite a bit for the last few years - and gigging some around So Tx. I've worked a couple of jobs with him. Normally, Randy Rhinehart (spelling) out of San Antonio plays gigs with him - great player.
He still has a great voice - one of my favorites.
Gary

Mark Metdker · From: North Central Texas, USA

Thanks for the reply boys. I'm glad to hear Johnny Rod is doing well. Hopefully he will come up here to the Dallas area soon.
Hey Gary, we played the Executive Surf club a few weeks ago. Should be back there in the Spring. Also played The Back Porch in Port A.

[This message was edited by Mark Metdker on 13 August 2004 at 11:37 AM.]

Boo Bernstein · From: Los Angeles, CA

I played a number of shows with him in the late 70's when I was in Freddy Fender's band. (Obviously, the south Texas/Latin connection made them a great pair for a concert.) I don't remember him having a steel player in his band at that time. But if my memory serves me correctly (and that's tougher as I get older

, I seem to remember that his guitar player died around that time (I think it was a drug overdose.) Very sad.

I'm a big Johnny Rodriguez fan. There was a song on one of his albums called "I Never Loved Anyone More" that was absolutely haunting. Does anyone know which album that was on?

Mark Metdker · From: North Central Texas, USA

http://pages.tias.com/11015/PictPage/1922376829.html

Here you go Boo.

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BMI S-10
Peavey Session 500

"Do Right, and Fear No Man"
Ronald Reagan

Boo Bernstein · From: Los Angeles, CA

Wow, that's instant gratification ... thanks so much! Boo

Winnie Winston · From: Tawa, Wellington, NZ * R.I.P.

At the time Johnny had a bunch of hits, his road player was David "Red" Burns. I know that Dave was with him for 8 years.
He finally stopped playing, went to law school, and is now working for Sony Music in NYC. I'm in touch with him off and on.

JW

Steve Allison · From: Eatonton,Ga. U.S.A.

Johnny had a song pitched to him that I like very much for two reasons;
the way he sang it and the song writer!

The song - "Foolin'"
The songwriter - RALPH MOONEY

Need I say more?

Ben Lawson · From: Brooksville Florida

I worked with Johnny between '88 and '93 when he came east. I lived in Fla. most of that time and he would call ahead to have me put a back up band together.
He is a great singer and I still enjoy hearing his music.
We lost touch a few years age so if anybody knows how to contact him let me know.
Boo we must just change musical chairs from time to time.
Winnie, Dave Burns wife delivered my 19 yr. old son. She was a midwife in Princeton N.J.
at that time. I bet a few of us have some good Johnny Rod stories we could tell!

[This message was edited by Ben Lawson on 14 August 2004 at 05:38 AM.]

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

I played a number of shows with Johnny too. Very sweet and talented guy. I remember doing one gig in particular somewhere up in Ceasar Chavez country up in the farmlands of California. I felt like I was in the Beatles for a minute. Johnny was extremely well loved in the hispanic community in those days. On that gig there was no piano player for some reason, and I had to play the intro for Desperado as solo steel. One of my most nervous moments on stage!

Les Pierce · From: Shreveport, LA

I believe Chuck Back, of Desert Rose Guitars, works with Johnny from time to time.
http://www.desertroseguitars.com

I even did one very strange show with him, playing guitar and running an electric drum machine! (And that's all I'm going to say about that night...)

Les

Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

Guys me too!

I am a big Johnny Rodriguez fan too! Like mentioned above, I think Pete Drake done most of the earlier session work. Pete's style fit Johnny's singin' like a glove. I think fiddle legend Johnny Gimble was on a bunch of his earlier songs.

Anyone who likes real Country music, I suggest CD titled "Johnny Rodriguez The Hits." There are 11 songs on it and all sound great to me! Several of these were huge hit records. Many are listed above in this thread. His version of the beatles tune "Something," and The Eagles hit song "Desperado," on this particular CD are great! This is a compilation around 1997 Mercury Records A Polygram Company.

The man was and remains a true Country Legend and Artist in my opinion.

May GOD bless each you!

Terry J. Wood

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Waaaaay back,before j. r. was J. R.,I was visiting a dear friend of mine,(Gus Barba) & Johnny had just moved up from Tx.,& was staying w/ Gus. Johnny came walking through the door,& Gus introduced me to him. Johnny had a tape in his hand,& said,"Well,I just finished my first session,& I hope its gonna be a hit." (or words to that effect.) The song he played for us was,"Pass Me By". It was,& he was. Several other J.R. stories I could tell,but I'm afraid BOTH of us would get arrested.

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Mark, I have always like to hear Johnny and the songs he sang. He definitely was a true country music singer. The last I heard he was accused of killing someone but I never know what the outcome was. I believe I am correct on that last statement. Regardless of the outcome he was a good singer with some very good songs.

Gary Carriger · From: Victoria, Texas

Les...my good buddy. I have pictures from that night. Shall I post them here? Just kidding....
Gary

Les Pierce · From: Shreveport, LA

Gary, old friend,

So do I..so do I...and with enough therapy and medication they will go away...

Les

Emmett Roch · From: Texas Hill Country

My local band backed Johnny one night in the mid-80's. He was traveling with only a bass player (R.B. Kramer, I believe) and we alternated sets. I didn't know until that night that JR played lead guitar very well.

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Paul King,
I believe he was aquitted of that charge.

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Smiley, That is great news. I always will consider Johnny to be one of my all time favorite singers. He used a lot of steel so naturally that makes him special.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

I believe someone broke into his house,& Johnny,suspecting that it was a burgler,shot him. Unfortunately,(for the "burgler")the shot was fatal. It seems that Johnny knew the "burgler",& the plaintiff defense tried to turn it into a "family dispute" that went awry. Herb,is this kinda correct?

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Other than the fact that Johnny knew the intruder, who was a local Sabinal guy, and that the intruder was apparently accustomed to coming into the house, the rest of the story is contained in the trial. That's all I can accurately remember from the event.

Mark Metdker · From: North Central Texas, USA

I was playing at Gruene Hall this weekend, stopped at the local music store and picked up teh CD "A Decade of Hits" by Johnny Rod. Excellent stuff. There is some tasty steel stuff on nearly every song. Pick it up, I think you'll enjoy it.

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BMI S-10
Peavey Session 500

"Do Right, and Fear No Man"
Ronald Reagan

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