OK, first things first.

Michael Johnson's name will never be mentioned in Classic Country music circles with the likes of Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Buck Owens or Merle Haggard.

Michael Johnson won't be in the hallowed Country Music Hall of Fame along side people like Roy Acuff, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn or Tammy Wynette.

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Now then, with all that being said, Michael Johnson was one great singer/songwriter that topped multiple music chart's, including Country!

I have not only like Michael Johnson's music, I've admired his fantastic songwriting talent's and voice for decades.  Perhaps Country Music fan's were first introduced to Michael in 1986 when his 'Give Me Wings' topped the Country Music chart.

 

 

Michael followed up that #1 Country hit with another, a song that is my favorite Michael Johnson song of his long career, the absolutely beautiful 'The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder'.

 

 

But Pop Music fans already knew full well who Michael Johnson was because he had a huge hit in 1978 with what many consider his 'signature' song, 'Bluer Than Blue'.

 

There were several other great hit's that crossed over to several different music charts, including 'Almost Like Being In Love', 'This Night Won't Last Forever' and duets with people like Juice Newton, Sylvia and Alison Krause.

Viewers of South Dakota Public Television will remember Michael's many appearances. And those of us who lived in Rapid City and the Black Hills 'back in the day' would see and hear Michael in Deadwood on many occasions.

So whatever happened to Michael Johnson?

The Alamosa, Colorado native passed away on July 25, 2017 at his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the age of 72.

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