NASHVILLE, Tenn. Johnny Bragg, a singer-songwriter who co-wrote the song "Just Walkin' in the Rain" as a state prison inmate, has died in Nashville.

He was 79 when he died of cancer today at a nursing home.

Bragg was the lead singer for the Prisonaires, a vocal group he formed while in the Tennessee State Penitentiary in the 1950s.

Interesting reading on Prisonaires can be found on this page

https://members.aol.com/jennysko/southern1.htm

Read interesting variations about visits by Elvis whilst in prison, ranging from Elvis just asking if he needed any assistance to Johnny Bragg giving him vocal tips

RIP Johnny. I have sung and danced to 'talkin' so many times, what a record. I hope he got to know how much pleasure it brought before he left.

Ed

They're talkin about me was the first 'Northern' tune I bought. Cost me 4 weeks paper round money.

Sad news.

Very sad news.......

God bless you Johnnie - you have a place in my memory, not just for your brilliant "They're Talkin' About Me", but also for your work with the Prisonaires. Such a shame that what could have been the best years of your life were spent behind bars, but it still didn't put an end to that talent....

As a final note, does anyone know the Johnnie Ray hit "Just Walking In The Rain"? You wouldn't if it hadn't been for Johnnie Bragg; he wrote it, and first recorded it for Sam Philips' Sun label in 1953, with the Prisonaires, whilst still serving concurrent life sentences.

The music lives on forever.

Gene

Well said Gene, another artiste who had his work covered by white pop singers. Did he do any other soul records apart from They're Talking About Me?

Knew he was inside when he recorded TTAM didnt know what for 99 years is a long time, the parole violation was a joke just shows how times have changed just showed my 16 year daughter the write up on him & the prisonners she could not belive things like this happend in my life time

What's the story behind him doin time, am I right in thinking he killed someone cos his missus was messing about and he got sent down for killing him?

I can't go nowhere

shant' to show my face

they're talkin' about me

why don't they behave

Oh yes they're lookin' and they're whisperin' and they're laughin'

they're talkin' about me

It's good news to them

just a funnee joke

their plan didn't happen

why I'll never know

Oh yes they're lookin' and they're whisperin' and they're laughin'

they're talkin' about me

they're wonderin' why

you left you left me last night

keep laughin' at me

but that's alright

dear I love you so much

I just can't let you go

please give me a chance

I need you sooo

friends call me a fool

a fool I maybe

but my friends don't know

what you do to me

Oh yes they're lookin' and they're whisperin' and they're laughin'

they're talkin' about me

they're talkin' about me

can't you hear them talkin'

can't you see them whisperin'

got to know they're laughin'

they're talkin' about me

they're talkin' about me

talkin' talkin' about me

Ah, what a tune.

Forget about the Elbejay issue, what about the fantastic orange vinyl Inferno issue with P/S? anyone got that? I have. (plus white demo and green issue elbejay)

Jamie

What's the story behind him doin time, am I right in thinking he killed someone cos his missus was messing about and he got sent down for killing him?

Apparently, he was serving two concurrent life sentences for rape.

Bloody superb record, I think the 'Out on the floor tonight' album must be the soundtrack to my (misspent) youth, remember whistling TTAM on the way to school when I lived in Kent! RIP JB.

He was in prison for rape? Charming.

On second thoughts, I had better read the article first! I assume it was a miscarriage of justice.

SORRY SORRY SORRY.

Just read the article as I should have done in the first place. Outrageous. Does anybody know of any more articles that go into the story in more depth?

Kitty ,

At age 16 he was falsely accused of rape (by his then girlfriend). He was eventually convicted of multiple rape charges (all ultimately proven false) and given six 99-year sentences and sent to the Tennessee State Prison in 1944, right after his 17th birthday.

Being a book worm - you should get his biography - it's very interesting. It came out earlier this year and it's called 'Just Walkin' in the rain' (you can buy it second hand on amazon)

Full article here

Laters petal

Pages of in depth stuff about him here.

https://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_..._17/ai_63583958

Thank you Kolla and Craig-have just spent the time since my posting admonishing myself and beating myself about the head with heavy objects. Must remember not to comment when I have just got in from a heavy day, haven't read the article and have only speed read the previous posts (like a prize buffoon!)

Will get the book asap.

See you later Kolla.

With the utmost of remorse, Kitty.