One of the legendary 'Western' singers in history was born in the northeast. Northeast Minnesota, that is.

I suppose if you use the name Johnny Western, you better be a pretty doggone good Western singer. And boy, if there's one thing Johnny was, it was a legendary Western singer.

Johnny Westerlund wasn't born 'out west'. Nope, born in Two Harbors in northeast Minnesota, Johnny grew up in the Northfield, Minnesota area and got his first guitar at the age of 12. And after watching a Gene Autry Cowboy movie, well, he was hooked.

By age 16 he was singing with the legendary western band the Sons Of The Pioneers. And it was after playing a supporting role in an episode of Have Gun Will Travel that Johnny wrote and sang 'The Ballad Of Palladin' as a sort of 'Thank You' to the series star Richard Boone.

And did you know that, in collaboration with Johnny Cash, he re-wrote lyrics for the theme from Bonanza as well as The Rebel Johnny Yuma?

Johnny Western was a part of the Johnny Cash for decades. And throughout his entire carreer Johnny proudly kept his music 'Western'. In fact Johnny is a proud and deserving member of the Western Music Association Hall Of Fame.

So if you're a fan of Country Music but you really love Country Western music, Johnny Western is definitely your Cowboy!

At 81 years young, Johnny doesn't tour anymore, but what a western music legacy he's left us.

Wikipedia Contributed To This Article

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