Born Donald Eugene Lytle, in Greenfield, Ohio on May 31, 1938, Johnny was playing guitar at the age of six and singing professionally at the age of fifteen. He knew then what his dream was, and this is when he began to search for his Star. He once said, “He’d sing until he was too old, and then he’d hum.” That statement made in the early 1980’s summed up Johnny Paycheck’s renewed dedication to his music and his new career.

Johnny worked with such country music greats as Faron Young, Ray Price and Porter Wagoner, and began receiving recognition as a very good songwriter. His early credits include his composition of one of Tammy Wynette’s first great hits, “Apartment #9,” and a great hit for Ray Price, “Touch My Heart.” Johnny was nominated for two Grammy Awards for (Don’t Take Her, She's All I've Got” and “Take This Job and Shove It”), and was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).

On February 18, 2003 Johnny Paycheck passed away at the age of 64. He was reported to be “bedridden in a nursing home with emphysema and asthma” at the time.

Courtesy of Imusic

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