NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) -
Longtime radio talk
show host, entertainer, and author Norman Johnson of Nacogdoches continues to
reach out to Elvis fans.
Johnson's latest anthology
is really about other singers besides the king. However, the book is still
titled after what else but an Elvis song. Norman Johnson's book, "I Forgot to
Remember to Forget," is the same title of his favorite Elvis song.
Johnson's house reflects
his former friendship with Elvis. The former entertainer's home includes a
special Elvis section, but more space is devoted to a multitude of other music
stars he met as a longtime radio DJ.
Johnson said his best
guess is that he has met thousands of entertainers over the course of his
career.
"Closest we can
figure out is like three or four thousand," Johnson said.
During an interview
with East Texas News, Johnson narrowed the Who's Who list down to entertainers
with East Texas ties such as Ernest Tubbs. He said the legendary country
musician was like a grandfather to him.
"And this is not
bragging, it's just the way life turned out," Johnson said. "He was like a
grandfather to me."
In addition, Johnson
did a very young George Strait's first interview.
"I did the first
interview with George Strait - the first interview he ever did," Johnson said.
Johnson also
mentioned a songwriter who can make a hit about a tractor. Along with "She Thinks
My Tractor is Sexy," the author said that Jim Collins has "written about 15
number one songs."
East Texas provides
material for the old sound of country music, but Johnson believes the true
country sound is fading away.
"When they die, when
they're gone, you realize that particular kind of music is gone, and that's
happened in country music now," Johnson said.
Luckily, the Johnson
household has hundreds of old tunes to crank up. And sometimes even Johnson
chimes in by singing along with the lyrics to classic songs like "I Forgot to
Remember to Forget."
"I Forgot to Remember
to Forget" has sold close to 3,000 copies in its first week of publication.
Surprisingly, its Asia sales are going well. Norman Johnson's book can be found
on the Amazon, Xlibris, and Barnes & Noble Web sites. The author will also
doing a book signing at Hotel Fredonia tomorrow.
Copyright 2012 KTRE. All rights reserved.
Norman Johnson
The singer in this picture is Norman Johnson at the age of 16.
