John Kilzer
John Turner Kilzer(January 7, 1957 – March 12, 2019)[1]was an Americanrocksinger and songwriter. Most notably, he is known for the 1988Mainstream Rockhit "Red Blue Jeans".
Life and career
[edit]Kilzer was born inJackson, Tennessee.[2]He had some success as a basketball player at Memphis State University, now theUniversity of Memphis.In 1987, Kilzer signed toGeffen Recordsand recorded the studio albumMemory in the Making.In 1988, the album charted on theBillboard200reaching No. 110.[3]Kilzer wrote all the songs except "Red Blue Jeans", co-written with Richard Ford. The tracks "Red Blue Jeans" and "Green, Yellow and Red" taken from the album, charted in 1988 on theMainstream Rock Tracks(No. 12 and No. 36, respectively).[4]Rosanne Cashrecorded "Green, Yellow and Red" for her albumKing's Record Shop;another Kilzer song, "707," appeared as a bonus track on the CD version of that album.
His next studio album,Busman's Holiday,released in 1991,[5]did not make it to theBillboard200, and its single, "Marilyn Dean And James Monroe”, achieved minor success.
During his life, Kilzer struggled with alcohol addiction.[5][6]In 2010, he earned a PhD in Theology and started helping people recovering from substance abuse.[7]Until his death, Kilzer served as an associate pastor for recovery ministries at St. John's United Methodist Church in Memphis.[8]
Kilzer died by suicide (by hanging) on March 12, 2019, at the age of 62.[9]
References
[edit]- ^"Rev. Dr. John Turner Kilzer".canalefuneraldirectors.com.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
- ^"John Kilzer calls 'Hide Away' album his 'best ever'".jacksonsun.com.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
- ^The Billboard Albums,6th edn. Joel Whitburn. 2006. Record Research Inc. p. 554.ISBN0-89820-166-7.
- ^Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008,Joel Whitburn. 2008. Record Research Inc. p. 137ISBN0-89820-174-8
- ^ab"Memphis Singer, Songwriter John Kilzer Dies Suddenly".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
- ^"Veteran songwriter, former Memphis State basketball player, minister John Kilzer dead at 62".The Commercial Appeal.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
- ^"Musician, Theologian John Kilzer Remembered".wknofm.org.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
- ^"John Kilzer — former Tiger, musician, minister — lived a life of recovery and grace".The Daily Memphian.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
- ^"John Kilzer's death ruled suicide by hanging".The Daily Memphian.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
