Johnny Horton
April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960
Johnny Horton was a popular country singer, musician and songwriter who came to prominence during the 1950s. His main contribution to popular music was that it was he who ushered in the so-called historical ballad craze of the late ’50s. His 1959 single “The Ballad of New Orleans” was one of the most popular songs of the decade and earned him a Best Country Record Grammy. Other songs like “Sink the Bismarck” and “North to Alaska” were popular with country music fans and history buffs alike. On November 5, 1960 while driving home from an Austin, Texas performance, Johnny Horton, 35, was killed when his car was hit head-on by a drunk driver.
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