john d loudermilk was born on march – 31 -1934 in durham, nc. he learned to play the guitar at age eight. by the time he was ten he had his own radio show and begin performing live with the stage name “johnny dee” from wtik in durham. while in high school he formed his own band “the pine toppers”. the band broke up after his high school days ended and john begin to travel and play in different cities in nc, va, and tn. he had a three piece combo and performed on several tv stations throughtout the nc, va, and w.va region. he won a talent contest that capital records sponcored in charlotte,nc, hosted by tex ritter. one of the songs he sang would become a smash hit for george hamilton iv titled “a rose and a baby ruth” the song became a #1 pop hit in 1956. in 1956 he recorded “sitting in the balcony” a song he had written. it was released on colonial records in durhan,nc, under the name johnny dee. later that year eddie cochran had a big hit with it on liberty records in hollywood, calif. in 1958 loudermilk moved to nashville to become chet atkins assistant at rca, he signed with cedarwood publishing the same year and a song he had written became a smash hit for stonewall jackson titled “waterloo”. in 1960 he signed with acuff – rose publishing and begin performing on george morgan’s tv show on wlac – tv. in 1961 rca released his first album “language of love”. some of the hit songs john d loudermilk has written are “sad movies always make me cry” and “norman” recorded by sue thompson. the lennon sisters also had a hit with “sad movies always make me cry”. other hits he has written and recorded by other artist are, “tobacco road”, nashville teens, lou rawls, david lee roth and edgar winter. “talk back trembling lips” ernie ashworth and johnny tillison. “bad news” johnny cash, box car willie, and sammy davis jr. “then” you tell me goodby”, eddie arnold. “indian reservation” paul revere and the raiders. “break my mind”, vern gosdin and george hamilton iv. “abilene” written with bob gibson for george hamilton iv. “it’s my time”, dolly parton and jerry reed.” half breed” marvin rainwarter and rick nelson “ebony eyes” the everly brothers. “angela jones” johnny fergerson. “hollywood’, connie francis. “stayin in ” bobby vee. john d loudermilk has left his mark in the writers world. and he has written (and it’s been said far to many times) to make an impression “some of the best” but in john d loudermilk’s case it’s ole and used but “oh so true”, best “love songs” ever written. you don’t hear much from mr. loudermilk these days. for many, many years john d wrote songs, traveled, worked in recording studio’s helping to make hits for other artist and became an “ace” at this business of making music. i’ll tell you this much, he gave us “the language of love ” in the songs he wrote in the 50′s. and the 50′s were “golden” and “exceptionally special”. you folks out there may not believe it, but the best songs ever written and recorded were done in the 50′s. the music may have died the day buddy holly, the big bopper and ritchie valens passed away, but when the new year rang out 1960 an “era” was buried, and it ain’t never coming back. i say “thank you” john d loudermild for the “memories”, i sure have enjoyed them.

~ Widmarc Clark