Lois Johnson born 15 May 1942

 

Lois Johnson Scoggins (May 15, 1942 – July 7, 2014) was an American country music singer. 

An icon representing a specific niche in country music and a legend among her peers, Lois Johnson was born and raised in rural Union County, Tennessee. The daughter of schoolteachers and farmers, Lois and her cousin Lowell helped the family raise tobacco and other crops. She began her professional career in music at the age of 10 on local radio and television, notably, the Cas Walker Show, the Midday Merry-Go-Round and the WNOX Tennessee Barn Dance, all popular programs in East Tennessee and surrounding areas at that time. 

Upon moving to Wheeling, West Virginia, she became a member of the Wheeling Jamboree for three years as a ‘Sunny Mountain boy’ with bluegrass master Jimmy Martin. She then joined the Abby Neal Show in Las Vegas for a six-month tour of the Far East where she entertained United States Armed Forces and experienced a forced water landing aboard an aircraft carrier bound for Korea. She was briefly married to singer-songwriter Kirk Hansard during this time. 

Diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 21, she wasn’t expected to live and was told that if she survived, she would never sing again, but thanks to the skillful medical team at Vanderbilt Hospital and her own indomitable spirit, she survived and was able to continue her career path in music. Another entertainer with East Tennessee roots, Archie Campbell, helped Lois find her way to Nashville, where she signed with Epic records and recorded several singles for producers Billy Sherrill, George Richey and Jim Vienneau. The first song she ever recorded in 1965 was called ‘You Really Know How to Hurt a Girl, Don’t You?’ and was written by one of her contemporaries, Dolly Parton.  She also signed with Atlas Artists Booking Agency and became a member of the televised Ernest Tubb Show along with Jack Greene, Willie Nelson and others. 

                              

Later she signed with Buddy Lee Attractions and around the same time met Joe Don Silvers, a talented writer, entertainer and producer who became her husband and manager. Her biggest break came with the recording of two albums with Hank Williams Jr., which resulted in a number 3 single for MGM; 'Send Me Some Lovin,’ and won Lois and Hank Jr. a nomination for CMA Country Duo of the Year. 

In 1975 at 20th Century Records, Lois cut her first solo LP, an album which produced two top ten singles; 'Loving You Will Never Grow Old' and 'Come On In and Let Me Love You,' both written by her husband. This album, recorded in the late seventies, stayed on the charts for 18 weeks. She later hit the charts again with the single ‘Your Pretty Roses Came Too Late’ under the Polydor label. Other television appearances include the Porter Wagoner Show, That Nashville Music, The Mike Douglas Show, Nashville Now, New Country and more. Film Credits include Country Boy, Backwater, Country Music U.S.A. and To Chicago with Love. 

Lois played the piano, guitar, bass and other instruments and won many accolades and awards, including several for her vocal arranging talent; one for George Jones ‘A Good Year for the Roses,' and another for Mel Tillis’ 'Heart Healer.' She toured the United States as well as Europe, Canada and Iceland and was a featured performer on the Grand Ole Opry. In its 1975 year-end issue, Cash Box magazine listed Lois Johnson as the #6 Country Singles Female Solo Artist, based primarily on the performance of her record 'Loving You Will Never Grow Old' from 20th Century.    

Over the years, Lois worked with virtually all of the country music legends from Loretta Lynn to Little Jimmy Dickens in shows, touring or in the studio. Her astonishing vocal range, perfect pitch and timing, intuitive interpretation and mastery of the country genre earned her respect and a reputation as a ‘singer’s singer’ The late, great Dottie West proclaimed Lois Johnson as her favourite vocalist while appearing on the nationally broadcast Ralph Emory Show. Buddy Lee, founder of Buddy Lee Attractions, for years claimed "Lois Johnson had the best voice in the business!” 

Music was a way of life as well as a long-standing career for Lois over the years, but touring is demanding in every way. On the road far more than at home, Lois and her husband finally began to slow down in the late 1980's. Eventually, the pressures of the business as well as health problems led them to establish a non-music related business in Durham, NC and settle down. They began performing only periodically for benefits in the area. During this time, Lois co-produced an album featuring Joe Don, Billy Thundercloud and Jim Vest, recorded another solo album called ‘Loveshine’ for EMH Records in Nashville and settled into domestic life. 

In 2007, Lois retired to Sevier County, TN, but life-threatening, chronic medical problems led her back to Nashville once again in the fall of 2010. She died after a long illness at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Nashville, Tennessee, on July 7, 2014 (aged 72).  

(Edited from loisjohnsonmusic.com)