JOHNNY CRAWFORD
Johnny comes
from a family of musicians and was performing from the time he could walk.
In 1955 his singing impersonation
of Johnnie Ray led to a contract with Disney, where he became one of the
original Mouseketeers. As an actor, Johnny has appeared in
over 250 television productions, 15 movies, and 12 plays. He
received an Emmy Nomination at the age of 13 for his role in the western
TV series, "The Rifleman".
Signed by Del-Fi Records in 1961, Johnny had five hits in the 1960s: Cindy's
Birthday, Rumors, Your Nose Is Gonna Grow, Proud, and Patti Ann.
During the same period he also had four albums in the top 40. A
collection of his Del-Fi recordings from the 1960s, is available on CD (The
Best of Johnny Crawford).
Johnny has long been a fan of dance records from the first half of the
20th century. After making occasional appearances during the 1980s singing
songs of that period to his own guitar accompaniment, Johnny spent two
years in New York (1987-1989) as the vocalist in Vince Giordano's
Nighthawks Orchestra. With The Nighthawks, Johnny was seen in numerous
appearances on the East Coast, including a Garrison Keillor TV Special
from Radio City Music Hall, and the George Bush Inaugural Ball of 1989.
Now Johnny enjoys singing with his own dance band and producing period
music for film and special events.
Since 1990 The Johnny Crawford Dance Orchestra has gathered an
enthusiastic following in Southern California from appearances at such
venues as The Atlas Supper Club, Cicada, The Derby, Moonlight Cafe,
Biltmore Hotel, and The Palace. Johnny's performances at The Hollywood
Athletic Club (1997-98) garnered much attention and are even referred to
in Elmor Leonard’s 1999 novel, "Be Cool" (the
sequel to "Get Shorty").
After being a bachelor for many years, Johnny was reunited with his high
school sweetheart in 1990. Johnny & Charlotte were married in
1995 and they live in a 1927 house in the Hollywood Hills, surrounded by
musical instruments and guarded by their family of rescued animals.