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66 Years Ago Today, We Lost the “Singing Fisherman,” a Country Legend Whose Songs Were Covered by Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Dwight Yoakam
Country singer and songwriter Johnny Horton died on 5 November 1960, aged 35, after a head-on crash near Milano, Texas. His death cut short a successful period in which he was known for history-themed hits and songs later recorded by major country artists.
Horton was travelling from Austin to Shreveport with bandmates Tommy Tomlinson and Tillman Franks when their car struck an oncoming truck on a bridge; both bandmates survived, though they were injured. Horton’s own hits included “Honky-Tonk Man” and “I’m a One-Woman Man”, while “When It’s Springtime in Alaska” reached No. 1. Dwight Yoakam and George Jones later took their versions of Horton’s songs to No. 9 and No. 5 respectively, and Johnny Cash recorded a tribute to his friend.
In short
- Johnny Horton died in a Texas car crash on 5 November 1960.
- His hits included “Honky-Tonk Man” and “North to Alaska”.
- Songs he wrote were later hits for Yoakam and Jones.