I miss those great singers like Johnny Russell, what harmony, what great stories they told. I guess is Johnny Russell had a Son it would be Chumlee from Pawn Stars
Just checked out all the songs he wrote. He probably wrote EVERY song that I love, and some I didn’t know, including this one that is definitely going to be a fave of mine. RIP, Superstar ❤❤❤
Johnny was a truly great artist and song-writer. A good natured guy who never took himself too seriously but it is a pity that he did not reach superstardom during his life time.
Johnny Russel was an amazing talent. He's sorely missed by those of us who remember when this actually came out. I have to say I love Doyle and Teddy Wilburn. I live just outside of Hardy Arkansas now where they were born and raised. It's a crying shame that Hardy doesn't recognize these two amazing talents.
I think 'Big Johnny Russell', was one of the best, and most humble people in the entertainment buisness. I remember one time, on the old 'Nashville Now' t.v. show, he had on a pair of blue jeans, with a rip in the crotch. A female stage hand came over with a dark magic marker to cover it up. Boy, he milked it for all it was worth. What a great guy! I really miss him.
Big Jonny roselle was so awesome god took you home and we all miss you but god got a good guy to sing up in heaven rip loved and not forgetting by nomenns listen to one of your songs a least too times a week
Man.....I'm 40 years old....since age of 6 ...nothing but rap/hip hop....some metal and definitely techno/electronic.. Country??? Absolutely would rather scoop out eardrums with a rusty knife....UNTIL.....i heard the oollllderrr country. Like the honkey tonk type....i love it...i play it so loud and just get into the stories:)
at :31 right after he takes a bow, you see the thought cross his mind... :-) "well, I guess I could wait till after my set to kill him." They don't make 'em like this anymore. Thank you for blessing us with this one.
I have NEVER CARED FOR 'POLITICAL BOVINE EXCREMENT'! ! If that makes me a 'Red Neck', so be it. Have always loved Johnny Russel and 'Red Necks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer'! ! ! Others can say what they want since I suppose this is a free (notice the lower case) society! !
Nah you have it all wrong... Saw Johnny Russell many times.. First was as an opening for the Statler Brothers at the Wheeling Jamboree... Mid 70s.. " The Wheeling Feeling" WWVA radio.. Johnny was a great entertainer.. From the first I saw him, he used his weigh as jokes to entertain. .Unfortunately, I believe he died a poor man,, and it could have been alimony and taxes.. The last album I have is a tribute album, from the stars of Nashville,, all the songs he wrote, or sang. Headed up by Connie Smith. Used to pay funeral expenses.. It is a great album, with only acoustics used.. It's a good buy..
Perhaps like many others, I first heard this song done by the Jerry Garcia Band. It was always one of my favorites. I saw the JGB lotsa times but I never got a Catfish. This version is fantastic. Made me look deeper into Mr. Russell. What a great artist!
God put so many gifts into that big body of Johnny Russell that it was unbelievable. As you can hear, he was a splendid singer & he was a fabulous song writer, but was unclaimed for both. With his unique sense of humor, he could've been known as a great comedian. As a human being, they don’t come any better than Johnny Russell. Perhaps of all his accomplishments, he succeeded most by becoming a friend to anybody that ever met him. He meant it that he was like a brother to the Wilburn Brothers.
That was really cruel for him to say that... he couldn't help his weight, it's a disorder and that dude needed to be reprimanded for saying it. Just awful how he treated him.
@George Washington i already knew that and he said as much when he apologized, but it was a half-hearted apology. so you don't know more than I , all you did was watch what I watched.
what he said was part of the script. big john knew they were gonna say it. if you ever watched their show, they said somethin like that to all their guests
I know that this is not about this video; but I must address the behavior of Teddy Wilburn and his brother. This was totally uncalled for. Shit, both of those brothers were a couple of talentless hacks, that couldnt' tote Johnny Russell's guitar case. End of rant.
Agreed ... Johnny Russel is probably the best untold country music singer and writer .. those idiots should be thankful he was just that good to take it in stride.
Johnny Russell Always made fun of his weight "Can everybody see me alright" He and the Wilburns were good friends and I am sure he took it in stride! Being a big guy myself or I was 16 pants sizes ago Plus this was a scripted show so he knew before what Teddy would say!
I love this song so much, because it is real oral history of a real American man--Catfish John was a real person, a friend of the father of songwriter Bob McDill. Bob was born in 1944, so his father was a little boy in maybe 1910 or so--and if Catfish John had been born a slave in Vicksburg around 1850, he'd have been 60 when he knew Bob McDill's father. What a wonderful story!
Wonderful singer, voice and talent for writing. (Won't say what I want to here about the intro.) RIP Johnny. Will add that songwriting credit needs to be given to the great country songwriter, Bob McDill.
What a rude prick, he was very fortunate Johnny was so good natured, people get tired of others taking the piss about their appearance. Wilburn was no oil painting himself!
He was, but it's a macho thing. You have to insult other men to prove how tough you are. It's funny how nasty old farts like this get with people they claim are their friends.
nickd444 I Just Dont Believe Johnny was Offended, It Was Out Of Line, But Johnny Always Said Him Self, "Can You See Me All Right"". I Guess To Live With Others remarks, One Just Has To Go Along With It.
I loved the Wilburns but were way out of line on that remark....Johnny was a gentleman but you can see it did hurt him that he was introduced in that way....and then Wilburn made the statement of Johnny eating them out of house and home.....When Johnny Russell opened his mouth to sing, you listen...you don't look his size.....HE HAD MORE TALENT THAN HIS SIZE
Nope, the Wilburn brothers loved John to death. Agree was out of line but they took care of him at the end. Actually paid his expenses in death as well.
That blimp line was nothing more than a cheap shot, did I hear crickets straight after he said it,? Certainly didn't hear much laughter from the audience. Kind of a shame that Johnny had too much class to mention the possum on this blokes head!! Great artist Johnny Russell. Thanks for sharing.
