“Johnny Tillotson has sadly died at the age of 86 (Photo by Michael Levin/Corbis via Getty Images) Johnny Tillotson, the 60s American singer-songwriter, has sadly died at the age of 86. Tillotson’s wife Nancy told TMZ that the singer died due to complications from Parkinson’s at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family. She”, — write: metro.co.uk
Johnny Tillotson has sadly died at the age of 86 (Photo by Michael Levin/Corbis via Getty Images) Johnny Tillotson, the 60s American singer-songwriter, has sadly died at the age of 86.
Tillotson’s wife Nancy told TMZ that the singer died due to complications from Parkinson’s at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family.
She announced the news on Facebook, informing fans: ‘It is with a broken heart that I write to let you know that the sweetest, kindest man I ever met Johnny Tillotson, left earth for Heaven yesterday. He was my best beloved,
‘Champion of my realm, Knight of my heart. Someone said, that sometimes right in the middle of an ordinary life you get a fairy tale. The day I met him I got mine. He was funny, generous and kind. A gentleman through and through.
‘He loved and was grateful to his fans, as he once said, they made every dream I ever had come true. Once again on his behalf I say thank you for that.’
The singer was best known for his various hit songs, including Poetry in Motion -which was released in 1960 and peaked at number two in the US charts, Without You was then released in 1961 and reached number seven in the charts.
The singer was a two-time Grammy nominee, and in 2014, he was inducted into America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame.
The singer came to fame in the 60s (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives) The star was born on April 20, 1938, in Florida and died on April 1, 2025, just a few weeks shy of what would have been his 87th birthday.
The tribute from his wife highlighted his various accolades: ‘Johnny Tillotson’s life was marked by extraordinary achievements in the world of music. As a 1960’s teen idol, he captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his signature hit, “Poetry In Motion.” This song among others, soared to the top of the charts across the globe.
6’His songwriting prowess was evident in the timeless “It Keeps Right On a Hurtin” a track that resonated so deeply it was recorded by over 112 artists, including legends like Elvis Presley,
‘Dean Martin, Conway Twitty and Bobby Darin. Johnny’s musical journey saw him record numerous albums, selling tens of millions of records worldwide. He was a two-time Grammy nominee, a testament to his undeniable talent.’
The singer found fame in the 60s and 70s (Picture: Fremantle Media/REX/Shutterstock) She then concluded: ‘Johnny will be missed every single day for the rest of my life. He was simply the best.
‘With all the love I have in my heart for a wonderful man gone too soon from this world.’
Tillotson is survived by his wife Nancy of 45 years, his son John and his wife, his stepdaughter Genevieve and his grandchildren, Nia, Jackson, Georgia and Gwyneth, his brother Dan and sister in law Virginia.
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