Johnny Bush

Johnny Bush was born in Houston, Texas in 1935 and started playing music in his teens. In the 1960s he joined The Light Crust Doughboys, and his songwriting caught Ray Price's attention. Price recorded Bush's song "She Made Me Lose My Blues" in 1966, which helped launch Bush's solo career.

Bush became associated with the Outlaw Country movement that pushed back against Nashville's polished sound. His 1972 self-titled album solidified that reputation. Songs like "Play Together Again Again" and "And God Created Texas" spoke to working people's lives with a rough-edged honesty that felt more real than what was coming out of Music Row at the time.

He faced personal troubles, including a 1975 drug possession arrest that nearly ended his career. But he kept recording through the 1980s, releasing albums like "Johnny Bush: The Best of the Outlaw Years." His music, including tracks like "Back From The Wine" and "Conscience Turn Your Back," maintained that same unvarnished quality that had defined his earlier work.