John Dee Loudermilk Jr., born on 31 March 1934 in Durham, North Carolina, was a
country and pop singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He grew up in a musically
inclined family and learned guitar at a young age. His first notable
composition, "A Rose and a Baby Ruth", was recorded by country artist George
Hamilton IV in 1956. He began his recording career under the name Johnny Dee,
releasing singles like "Sittin' in the Balcony" on Colonial Records. His
breakthrough came when Eddie Cochran covered "Sittin' in the Balcony", leading
to a signing with Columbia Records in 1958. He releas...