From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Sat Apr 20, 2002 2:20 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Johnny Tillotson JOHNNY TILLOTSON Born 20 April 1939, Jacksonville, Florida Singer. Tillotson was signed by Archie Bleyer's Cadence label in 1958. His first single combined the teen ballad "Dreamy Eyes" with the up-tempo "Well, I'm Your Man". Although his roots were in country music (his father was a country music disc jockey), he was encouraged to revive the R&B ballads "Never Let Me Go","Pledging My Love" and "Earth Angel". In 1960 he released the classic teen-ballad "Poetry In Motion", which went to # 2 in the USA and # l in the UK. The b-side, "Princess, Princess", was popular in its own right and the equal of many of his later hits. The follow-up, "Jimmy's Girl", was less successful, but he went to # 3 in the US with "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'" (1962), a self-penned country ballad. The song has been recorded by over 100 performers including Elvis Presley. Tillotson's baby-face and slight frame made him an ideal teen-idol for the early '60s, but his musical preference was country music. He had further success by reviving the country songs "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On" and "I Can't Help It". In the film "Just For Fun" he sang "Judy, Judy, Judy", which he wrote with Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. His ballad "You Can Never Stop Me Loving You" was a US Top 20 hit, but Kenny Lynch's version was preferred by the UK record-buyers. A spell in the US army prevented Tillotson from capitalizing on his success, but when he signed with MGM he was determined to become a country performer. "Talk Back Trembling Lips" was a US # 7 hit (1963), followed by several other Top 50 hits, 1964-65. He also appeared in Las Vegas. Tillotson is popular on US army bases in Europe and he has several of his hits in Japanese, following successful appearances in Japan CD: All the Early Hits And More (Ace 946). 30 tracks. Website: http://www.johnnytillotson.com