Greenfield installs new Johnny Paycheck signs
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The world knows him as country music legend Johnny Paycheck, but for a small group of Greenfield residents, he'll always be "Donnie."
Several residents who were close to Paycheck, who was born in Greenfield in 1938, have donated funds to erect signs denoting that the city is the birthplace of of the country music star.
George Foltz, who was a classmate of Paycheck's at McClain, said that the city previously had similar signs displayed at the Greenfield corporation limit, but "they all were stolen."
Foltz, along with friend and musician Gary Adams, and Donna Angel, who Folz described as Paycheck's "second mother" have purchased four signs that will be installed by the city at the major entrances into Greenfield.
"Everyone wants to talk about all the bad things he did, but no one wants to talk about all the good he did," Angel said.
Angel said that she and her husband, Paul, met Paycheck at their Greenfield nightclub, The Club 28, and his talent and interest in music helped them forge a friendship that would last the rest of his life.
A reception was held April 13 at the Greenfield City Building to commemorate the installation of signs, and Angel, age 89, spoke about knowing "Donnie."
"I am proud to present the Paycheck signs in memory of our hometown boy, and thank everyone who had a part in it," Angel said. "I knew him from 15 years old, and through his life, he spent a lot of time at our house. I know he wasn't perfect, but I knew the good side. Music was his life, so at a young age, he hitchhiked to Nashville (with) very little money, ate green apples a few times on the way. Knew no one there. Made it on his won because of his talent."
As he built his music career, he became good friends with country legends, such as George Jones, Merle Haggard, and members of the Grand Ole Opry. His famous friends would often visit him in Greenfield, she said.
"When he was home, everyone would gather in our basement. No drinking, just good music and fun," Angel said.
While Paycheck may be most famous for his song, "Take This Job and Shove It" Angel said his song "Miracle of the Bells" got the attention of The King himself, Elvis Presley.
Saying that she wouldn't tell the story unless she knew it were true, Angel said, "Elvis Presley recorded in Nashville. He wanted to know who had the song out 'Miracle of the Bells." Said very few people could sing that song because of (the) high and low notes. Elvis called Donnie and asked him to come to his hotel room. Donnie told me he was so common, stayed over two hours. Elvis said, 'I wish I was able to go out and have a hamburger with you.' Later he was going to record one of Donnie's songs, but died before."
However, Paycheck was featured in the work of other superstars, including the George Jones album "My Very Special Friends." Paycheck also played himself as a guest star on The Dukes of Hazzard. According to CMT.com, while Paycheck was incarcerated in the Chillicothe Correctional Institute for shooting a man in Hillsboro in 1985, he recorded an album with Haggard, that to date has not been released.
Angel said that Paycheck was "on his way to the top again," when his health began to fail.
"This breathing got bad, hard to sing," she said. "Tracy Byrd, Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson told him, 'You write the songs and we will record them.' ... Paycheck was his legal name for him and his family for several years before his death, but he will always be Donnie to me. So many good memories. Still miss him."
Foltz said that Jones gave the Lytle family a cemetery plot for Paycheck when he died in 2003. He is buried at the Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery outside of Nashville.
The world knows him as country music legend Johnny Paycheck, but for a small group of Greenfield residents, he'll always be "Donnie."
Several residents who were close to Paycheck, who was born in Greenfield in 1938, have donated funds to erect signs denoting that the city is the birthplace of the country music star.
George Foltz, who was a classmate of Paycheck's at McClain, said that the city previously had similar signs displayed at the Greenfield corporation limit, but "they all were stolen."
Foltz, along with friend and musician Gary Adams, and Donna Angel, who Foltz described as Paycheck's "second mother" have purchased four signs that will be installed by the city at the major entrances into Greenfield.
"Everyone wants to talk about all the bad things he did, but no one wants to talk about all the good he did," Angel said.
Angel said that she and her husband, Paul, met Paycheck at their Greenfield nightclub, The Club 28, and his talent and interest in music helped them forge a friendship that would last the rest of his life.
A reception was held April 13 at the Greenfield City Building to commemorate the installation of signs, and Angel, 89, spoke about knowing "Donnie."
"I am proud to present the Paycheck signs in memory of our hometown boy, and thank everyone who had a part in it," Angel said. "I knew him from 15 years old, and through his life, he spent a lot of time at our house. I know he wasn't perfect; but I knew the good side. Music was his life, so at a young age, he hitchhiked to Nashville (with) very little money. He ate green apples a few times on the way. He knew no one there, but made it on his own because of his talent."
As he built his music career, he became good friends with country legends, such as George Jones, Merle Haggard, and members of the Grand Ole Opry. His famous friends would often visit him in Greenfield, she said.
"When he was home, everyone would gather in our basement. No drinking, just good music and fun," Angel said.
While Paycheck may be most famous for his song, "Take This Job and Shove It" Angel said his song "Miracle of the Bells" got the attention of The King himself, Elvis Presley.
Saying that she wouldn't tell the story unless she knew it were true, Angel said, "Elvis Presley recorded in Nashville. He wanted to know who had the song out 'Miracle of the Bells." He said very few people could sing that song because of (the) high and low notes. Elvis called Donnie and asked him to come to his hotel room. Donnie told me he was so common, and he stayed over two hours. Elvis said, 'I wish I was able to go out and have a hamburger with you.' Later, he was going to record one of Donnie's songs, but died before her could."
However, Paycheck was featured in the work of other superstars, including the George Jones album "My Very Special Friends." Paycheck also played himself as a guest star on "The Dukes of Hazzard."
According to CMT.com, while Paycheck was incarcerated in the Chillicothe Correctional Institute for shooting a man in Hillsboro in 1985, he recorded an album with Haggard, that to date has not been released.
According to CMT.com, while Paycheck was incarcerated in the Chillicothe Correctional Institute for shooting a man in Hillsboro in 1985, he recorded an album with Haggard, that to date has not been released.
Angel said that Paycheck was "on his way to the top again," when his health began to fail.
"His breathing got bad, hard to sing," she said. "Tracy Byrd, Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson told him, 'You write the songs and we will record them.' ... 'Paycheck' was his legal name for him and his family for several years before his death, but he will always be Donnie to me. So many good memories. I still miss him."
Foltz said that Jones gave the Lytle family a cemetery plot for Paycheck when he died in 2003. He is buried at the Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery outside of Nashville.
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Johnny Paycheck sign
My father Donald Bartley has a sign from Club 28 with Paycheck's name on it. He would be interested to know if any family would want to purchase this original sign. My father went to school with Paycheck. My father lives in Greenfield. Please let me know if there is any interest in the sign.
Thank you,
Debbie Mc Connell