Johnny Bond was a country singer, guitarist and songwriter, born in Oklahoma. Relocating to Hollywood, rather than Nashville, he appeared in more than 40 western movies during the 1940s and into the 1950s.

He began performing with Jimmy Wakely and Scotty Harrell in the Bell Boys trio, as well as with his own group, the Red River Valley Boys. With a style that encompassed elements of western swing and talking blues, as well as old-school cowboy country, he adapted his approach towards rockabilly in the late ‘50s, and had a notable hit with Charlie Ryan’s Hot Rod Lincoln in 1960. The Encyclopedia of Country Music says that the Bond-Wakely-Harrell trio “pulled a clever musical scam” by recording for two companies under different names: the Jimmy Wakely Trio (Decca) and Johnny Bond & the Cimarron Boys (Columbia).

This 56-track collection comprises selected A & B sides from his releases on the Okeh, Conqueror, Columbia, 20th Century Fox and Republic labels, plus some Standard Transcription recordings. It features all his pop and country chart entries from these years, including the Top 10 country hits Divorce Me C.O.D., So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed, The Daughter Of Jole Blon, Oklahoma Waltz, Love Song In 32 Bars and Sick, Sober And Sorry. He was a versatile artist and this 2CD set is an entertaining showcase.

An inductee to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Bond retired from performing in the 1970s before his passing in 1978, at the age of 63. A 3CD, Jimmy Wakely Hits Collection (ACTRCD9083) is also available.

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