Still Looking for Love: Johnny Lee, By Dutch Cahill and Creed A. Cahill

While the sounds and styles of country music fluctuate from generation to generation, one thing remains constant and never changes, the handful of legends that have made their marks upon the genre. With hits we all remember like Looking for Love, Cherokee Fiddle, Picking up Strangers, Bet Your Heart on Me, etc., it’s easy to understand why Johnny Lee has remained a constant in the heart of country music. Having turned 70 in July of this year, Johnny Lee has had the pleasure of seeing some of the greatest artist’s that country music has to offer. What makes him stand out among others is his devotion and dedication to not only his fans, but to his country as well. He has always remained true to himself and what he believes. Having had the pleasure to meet Johnny on multiple occasions, I can say that he is one of the most honest, humble, and patriotic men you will ever have the opportunity to know. In 1964, Johnny made the choice to honor his country and pledge four years of his young life to the Navy. After serving America, and through two tours in Vietnam, Johnny was discharged honorably from the Navy. He initially wanted to become a law enforcement officer and took the examinations to become a police officer in the state of California. In his words “becoming a peace officer was the only other thing I ever wanted to be besides what I became.” Having passed all the exams and before being hired as a peace officer, something always nagged at him. He wanted to give everything he could to become a successful musician. Already playing in bands, he desperately wanted to prove to himself that he could make it on his own. So, he packed everything he owned into the back of an old Chevy and hauled ass to Texas to either become successful or die trying. The hot spot for country music in Texas at that time was in the Houston and Pasadena area. After arriving in town Johnny knew the first person he wanted to find, Mickey Gilley. Gilley was one of the hottest artists at that time and Johnny knew if anyone could assist him in his path to stardom, it would be him. After watching one of Gilley’s sets at the Nesadale Club in Pasadena, Johnny introduced himself. He told Mickey that he had once played a show with him in Galveston. He said he had played the set prior to Gilley but had to leave before hearing him play. Johnny told him that he had always wanted to see him play, so Gilley invited Johnny to sit in with him that evening and after his set that night, he invited him to come back. After receiving invitations to come back each night for a few weeks, Gilley finally offered Johnny a job playing his music. It was only then did Johnny tell Gilley the truth about their initial meeting. Truth was, Johnny had never played a show with Mickey Gilley! He just wanted to meet him and hopefully get some work. Mickey laughed it off saying that he wondered because he really didn’t remember him, he just didn’t want to be rude! To quote Johnny Lee, he said he “basically bullshitted his way into this.” Then life for each of them changed overnight. Urban Cowboy. A movie was released in 1980 that highlighted the hard hat days and honky-tonk nights of so many hard working Americans of that era. After putting in a long day’s work, the men and women of the Pasadena area would come out in droves to Gilley’s Night Club. There, some found a second home to escape to when life became, well, actual life. They shared common interests and a trust in one another, and most of all, they shared of love of great country music. One of the songs the crowd loved to dance to was Johnny Lee’s Looking for Love. Written by two school teachers, this song became an instant hit for Lee. Prior to the premiere of Urban Cowboy, the patrons of Gilley’s would two-step each time Johnny would play the song. After the release of the movie, Gilley’s would reach sell out capacity to fans hoping to witness live for themselves the newest hit in America. He couldn’t even move or get off the stage. Just as was stated before, life literally changed overnight for Johnny Lee. This is what he had been working for, hoping for, and praying for, and it had finally happened. His life would never be the same.

When the song reached gold record status, Johnny had one of his fondest memories of that period. Los Angeles Dodgers players Rick Sutcliffe and Steve Howe were among the many in attendance that evening at Gilley’s, and they each presented Johnny with his gold record. Both being old friends of Johnny’s, it made the honor even more special. As time passes and he continues to release hit after hit, one thing still remains near and dear to his heart, the reaction that younger generations have to his music. Johnny says that it makes him feel so humbled and honored when he looks into an audience and sees young kids singing his songs back to him. Often times he will invite kids from the crowd on stage to sing along with him. In fact, during a show in the hometown of George W. Bush, Crawford, TX, he had the entire 6th grade class of Crawford Elementary on stage singing Looking for Love. Johnny said it was an amazing experience seeing those kids sing his songs word for word. He said it does his heart good seeing a younger generation singing country music.

As his career matures, Johnny has had the opportunity to handpick which songs are included on each new album. His latest album release titled, You Ain’t Never Been To Texas, is proof of just how much he still cares about releasing quality music to his loyal fan base. With songs like Bullet’s First, Never Been to Texas, Worth Watching, and so many more, fans will be treated to the latest and greatest in Johnny Lee music. I highly encourage each and every one of you to pick up or download your copy today. Hell, even the album cover warns potential listeners with a warning label that inside you will only find REAL country music. You will find upon listening to each track that the warning label is truth in print. In January of 2017 loyal fans will be treated to an autobiography on the life of Johnny Lee. The book will be titled Still Looking for Love. Country music needs more artists like Johnny Lee. We need truth and honesty in the music we hear. We need stories in songs that each of us can relate to and believe. We need more men like Merle, Hank, Waylon, Lefty, George, and Johnny. I will leave you with what Johnny Lee said would be his advice to the young artists of today’s country music. He said “just because country music changes doesn’t mean you have to change with it. There is only one you. Be yourself and believe in what you do. Never quit.” Well said Mr. Lee. Thank you for being a part of so many of our lives and being an inspiration to so many future country music singers. The genre will thrive if what you have accomplished is studied and replicated in each singer/songwriters own way.