Teen Idol Johnny Tillotson, known for ‘Poetry in Motion,’ has passed away

He was one of those rare artists who simply opened his mouth, and music poured out effortlessly. But now, that golden voice has been silenced.

Johnny Tillotson, the two-time Grammy-nominated singer behind the timeless hit Poetry in Motion, has passed away at 86.

Among the last
Johnny Tillotson was one of the greatest voices ever gifted to music — whether it was rock ‘n’ roll, pop, or country. A remarkably talented songwriter, he didn’t just have a beautiful voice; he was also known as a down-to-earth and genuinely kind man — something rare to find

Born in 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida, Tillotson skyrocketed to stardom with the up-tempo thit Poetry in Motion, which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard charts in 1961.

The following year, he continued his success with Without You, landing a spot in the Top 10 at No. 7. He was among the last — and undoubtedly one of the most talented — teen idols of the 1960s.

He also stood out as one of the early pioneers of the countrypolitan sound, making a rare crossover from pop music to the U.S. country charts.

Beyond his own chart-topping hits, Tillotson proved to be a gifted songwriter, penning classics like It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’ and You Can Never Stop Me Loving You. His music was so influential that legends like Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, and even Elvis Presley recorded covers of his songs.

While his final studio album was released in 1977, Tillotson remained active in the music scene, touring across Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. In the 1990s, he continued recording, exploring country and holiday music, and in 2010, he released his last single, Not Enough.

Just days before his passing, Tillotson released his final song, Everything I Touch Turns to Blue.

It is with a broken heart that I write to let you know that the sweetest, kindest man I ever met Johnny Tillotson , left…

Posted by Nancy Tillotson on Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Cause of death
According to his wife, Nancy, Johnny Tillotson passed away due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 86.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Nancy, his son John and his wife, his stepdaughter Genevieve, and his grandchildren Nia, Jackson, Georgia, and Gwyneth. He also leaves behind his brother Dan, sister-in-law Virginia, and several nieces and nephews

“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,” Nancy wrote.

“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,” she continued. “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.”