(April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) was a pioneering American country, honky tonk, and rockabilly singer-songwriter whose music left an enduring mark on the genre.
Horton was born on April 30, 1925,in Los Angeles the youngest of the five children of the former Ella Claudia Robinson (1892–1966) and John Loly Horton (1889–1959), and raised in Rusk in Cherokee County in East Texas. His family often traveled between east Texas and southern California to work as migrant farm workers.
After he graduated from high school in Gallatin, Texas, in 1944, Horton attended Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas, on a basketball scholarship. He later started working as a fisherman in Alaska, where he began writing songs in his spare time. His musical career took off in the early 1950s when he won a talent contest hosted by Jim Reeves and became a regular performer on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport
Horton's breakthrough came with the 1956 hit "Honky-Tonk Man," which showcased his ability to blend honky tonk with rockabilly influences. He gainwidespread acclaim for his historical saga songs, including "The Battle of New Orleans," which won the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording, "Sink the Bismarck," and "North to Alaska," the latter featured in the John Wayne film of the same name
Tragically, Horton's life and burgeoning career were cut short when he died in a car accident near Milano, Texas, in 1960 Despite his untimely death, his music continues to resonate, influencing generations of country artists.
Asleep at the Wheel, the Grammy-winning Western swing band, will be inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2025. Founded in 1970 by Ray Benson, Lucky Oceans, and Leroy Preston in Paw Paw, West Virginia, the band relocated to Austin, Texas, in 1973, becoming a cornerstone of the city's vibrant music scene.
Over the past five decades, Asleep at the Wheel has released more than 25 albums and earned ten Grammy Awards. Their dedication to preserving and revitalizing Western swing music, particularly through tributes to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, has solidified their legacy in American roots music.
The band's highest-charting single, "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read," reached number 10 on the Billboard country charts in 1975. Their extensive discography includes notable albums such as Texas Gold (1975), Ride with Bob (1999), and Still the King (2015), each celebrating the rich history of Western swing.
Asleep at the Wheel's enduring commitment to Western swing and their influence on generations of musicians make them a deserving addition to the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame