American country music singer, songwriter, and drummer, nicknamed the “Country Caruso.” Bush is known for his distinctive voice and as the writer of “Whiskey River,” a top-ten hit for himself and Willie Nelson’s signature song.
In 1963, he joined Ray Price’s band, the Cherokee Cowboys along with a young Willie Nelson and Darrell McCall. With Nelson’s financial backing, Bush recorded his first album in Nashville in 1967.
A series of regional hits followed, reaching the national top twenty. His single, “Whiskey River,” was climbing the charts when he lost half of his vocal range and was sometimes unable to talk. RCA dropped him in 1974 after three albums, he developed a drug habit, and was often stricken with performance anxiety. In 1978, doctors diagnosed the cause as a rare neurological disorder called spasmodic dysphonia. He worked with a vocal coach in 1985, and was able to regain seventy percent of his original voice.
Johnny Bush continued to tour regularly, often performing with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. In 2003, he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. With the success of Botox treatments for his vocal condition, and his successful career revival, Bush was a spokesman for people afflicted with vocal disorders.
In June 2017, Bush self-released The Absolute Johnny Bush, a full-length album of new recordings, including collaborations with Dale Watson and Reckless Kelly. Bush died on 16 October 2020 at age 85.
Link to Wikipedia biography