Johnny Tillotson, ‘Poetry in Motion’ Singer, Dies at 86

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Johnny Tillotson, the singer best known for his 1960 hit “Poetry in Motion,” died yesterday (April 1, 2025) at his Los Angeles home. The cause was Parkinson’s disease. Tillotson was 86.

The announcement of his death was posted by his wife Nancy via Facebook. She wrote: “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. 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. 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.

“Johnny Tillotson’s life was marked by extraordinary achievements in the world of music,” her statement continued. “As a 1960s teen idol, he captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his signature hit, ‘Poetry in Motion.’ This song, among others, soared to the top of the charts across the globe. His songwriting prowess was evident in the timeless ‘It Keeps Right on A-Hurtin’,” a track that resonated so deeply it was recorded by over 112 artists, including legends like Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Conway Twitty and Bobby Darin. Johnny’s musical journey saw him record numerous albums, selling tens of millions of records worldwide. He was a two-time Grammy nominee, a testament to his undeniable talent. Johnny will be missed every single day for the rest of my life. He was simply the best. With all the love I have in my heart for a wonderful man gone too soon from this world.”

In all, Tillotson placed 31 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1958-71. In addition to the #2 “Poetry in Motion,” which was released—as were all of his early recordings—on Cadence Records, they included “Without You” (1961, #7), “It Keeps Right on A-Hurtin’” (1962, #3) and “Talk Back Trembling Lips (1963, #7). The last of those was issued on MGM Records, to which Tillotson was signed after leaving Cadence.

“It Keeps Right on A-Hurtin’” and his later recording “Heartaches by the Number” each received Grammy nominations, the first for Best Country & Western Recording and the second for Best Contemporary (R&R) Vocal Performance-Male.

Johnny Tillotson was born April 20, 1938, in Jacksonville, Fla.