@gemsonvhs: Everyone knows the song “Take This Job and Shove it”, but did you know Johnny Paycheck once shot a fan in the head?  After the altercation at the North High Lounge, Paycheck was placed behind bars until George Jones and Merle Haggard helped him out by paying his $50,000 bail in 1986. The support from fellow musicians didn’t stop there, as later that year, a concert featuring Johnny Rodriguez and Jerry Lee Lewis was held in Memphis, with proceeds going to Paycheck’s legal bills. Years followed with back and forth litigation, while Johnny’s legal counsel fought the sentence claiming self-defense. About a year later in 1986, Johnny was eventually found guilty of aggravated assault and sentenced to 7 to 9 and a half years in prison. He began serving his sentence in January 1989, but was released after just a couple years, pardoned by Ohio Governor Richard Celeste. His pardon was made possible due to letters sent to Celeste from several of Paycheck’s country music peers, and even Larry Wise himself. Paycheck is certainly one of those artists that lived up to the label of “Outlaw” in outlaw country music, for better or worse. Let us know some of your favorite songs or stories from that era. And as always, thank you to our gracious Patreon supporters.

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Sunday 18 August 2024 18:49:17 GMT