Johnny Bond was born of a poor farming family in Enville, Oklahoma, on this date in 1915.  His given name was Cyrus Whitfield Bond.  He began his career playing the guitar and ukelele at local dances in the early 1930’s.

Johnny wrote and recorded a variety of songs, including “Cimarron, Roll On,” “Tennessee Walking Horse,” “Ten Little Bottles,” “I Wonder Where You Are Tonight,” “Hot Rod Lincoln,” “Tomorrow Never Comes,” “I’ll Step Aside,” and “Jingle Bells Boogie.”  Many of his songs were featured in western movies of the 1940’s.

Johnny appeared in westerns with all the great cowboy stars that went on to become household names.  He became the well-known sidekick of Gene Autry and played the guitar introduction to “Back In The Saddle Again” for Gene.  Some of these cowboys were Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, Eddie Dean, and Johnnie Mack Brown.  He also recorded with famous people like Merle Travis, Jimmy Wakely, Cliffie Stone, Joe Maphis, and Wesley Tuttle, mostly with Capitol Records in California.

In 1976, Bond wrote his autobiography, “Reflections,” and the next year was asked to write a book on Tex Ritter, which he accomplished.  He also wrote a book about his experiences on the rodeo circuit with Gene Autry, which remains unpublished.  He was working on a history of western music when he passed away June 29, 1978.

Dusty Owens
TCM Radio News

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