Johnny Stark (February 19, 1937 – April 7, 2021) was a Rock'n'roll singer from New Jersey.
He then headed west to Hollywood in 1956. Then a record deal with Crystalette Records catapulted him into the limelight, with "Rockin' Billy" climbing the charts and setting the stage for a remarkable career. He performed the song on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. In 1958, fate introduced Johnny to Mark Traversino in a Southgate nightclub, a meeting that would resonate through the years. The two forged a deep friendship, not just as collaborators in music but as kindred spirits navigating the unpredictable seas of show business.
Johnny's voice echoed in legendary venues across the country, sharing stages with the likes of Gene Vincent, Elvis's former band, and a constellation of stars. From New York's iconic nightclubs to the glitzy allure of Las Vegas, Johnny's smooth, silky style left an indelible mark. His talent caught the ears of record labels and the admiration of icons like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett. Yet, Johnny remained grounded, a passionate musician devoted to his fans, weaving melodies that transcended time.
Through the years, Johnny recorded for Crystalette, Big Top, Star-Phone and Luna Records, sometimes under the name of Johnny Apollo. He went on to tour throughout the U.S. and Canada with many of the Top Pop Rock Stars, such as Connie Francis, Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka. Returning to Hollywood, he worked clubs all over L.A., from Beverly Hills to the famous Sunset Strip. Then his career led him back to NY, to work the well known nightclubs: The Copacabana, El Morocco and the Latin Quarter.
He also performed at the Apollo Theater, to standing ovations. Very few singing artists could make the crossover from pop music to Rock'n'Roll and R&B like Johnny could do. When Johnny was called back to perform at the Hollywood Palladium, he went back in the studio and recorded "Good, Good, Woman" and "I don't need no doctor" for Gene Norman's Crescendo Records, which was another chart record for Johnny.
He stayed in the L.A. Area, where he was in great demand at all the popular hot spots in town. Major Hotel Casinos in Las Vegas, Tahoe and Reno soon beckoned Johnny to come and perform for his fans. In 1975 he did a recording of the James Brown song I Feel Good" with the Tonight Show Band led by Tommy Neusom with the help of the famous Jazz Pole winner, Bassist "Chubby Jackson" and his son Duffy Jackson, who was then working with Sammy Davis Jr as his Drummer. Johnny also sang to an all black audience and got standing ovations at The Apollo theater for his soulful singing.
Johnny
had re-located to Las Vegas in 2021 and was planning to do more recordings and
live performances when, sadly he died due to complications from a stroke on April
7, 2021. Johnny was 84.
(Edited from Tribute Archive & Facebook)