'Poetry in Motion' singer Johnny Tillotson has passed away at 86, his wife Nancy has confirmed. The beloved American singer succumbed to complications from Parkinson's disease, as Nancy shared in a heartfelt Facebook post.
In a touching message on the platform, Nancy revealed yesterday that the cherished singer-songwriter had passed away surrounded by family at his Los Angeles residence. "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," she penned.
"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 fairytale. The day I met him, I got mine."
Nancy continued to paint a picture of Johnny as a "funny, generous and kind" soul whose life was "marked by extraordinary achievements in the world of music".
"He loved and was grateful to his fans, as he once said, 'They made every dream I ever had come true,'" she expressed. "Once again on his behalf I say thank you for that," reports the Mirror.
Concluding her emotional tribute, Nancy shared that she will forever miss Johnny "every single day" of her 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."
Johnny was renowned for his 1960s chart-topping classics like 'It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' and 'Without You'.
However, it was his 1960 single 'Poetry in Motion' that truly catapulted him to fame, reaching number two on the US Billboard chart.
Following the success of 'Poetry in Motion', Johnny released 'Without You', which climbed to number seven. Throughout his career, he received two Grammy nominations, with his last album, 'Johnny Tillotson', hitting the shelves in 1977.
In 2010, the country star released his final single, 'Not Enough'. Just four years later, Johnny was honoured with an induction into America's Pop Music Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to music.
He leaves behind his wife Nancy, stepdaughter Genevieve, brother Dan and grandchildren Nia, Jackson, Georgia and Gwyneth.
