Meeting Johnny left me cherished memories - by Taree

My brother Alan and I were huge Johnny Crawford fans! We grew up with 'The Rifleman' and were glued to the adventures of Luke McCain and his son, Mark, for the duration of the series. Alan was 3 years younger than I, a great music lover, and quite thrifty. He would save most of his allowance each week, tucking it away for later, and when I had spent all of mine, he never said no when I begged him to borrow a dollar here or a dollar there, to buy the latest 45 rpms. When Johnny's first records went on sale, Alan and I were first in line to buy every one. One of our particular favorites was 'A Wonderful World'. It was so melodic, and just the sort of music we treasured. I remember hearing Alan working out "Mr. Blue" on the guitar night after night through the bedroom wall, and then he'd call me and my sister in to work out the vocal harmony. He was a hard taskmaster, having a true ear for beautiful melodies. Years went by, and a few other remakes of both of those songs hit the charts by various artists, but the first version we ever heard, by Johnny, was always our favorite.

Somewhere around 1997 or '98, I was working at the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills, California. Alan proceeded me there, starting out as a bartender, then moving on to become Hugh Hefner's personal photographer before he was forced to leave due to illness. Over the years Alan spent in Hef's employ, he told me stories about seeing Johnny at various Playboy parties. He was a fairly frequent guest there over quite a span of time. He always told me about how nice Johnny was, quiet and polite, and not affected at all, like many of the other guests.

Well, it was the late 90's, and I was working a buffet table at the mansion, and who walks up, but Johnny Crawford. I recognized him right away- he had barely changed in all those years. More mature, but handsome as ever, with a quick smile that still crinkled around his eyes, and those dimples! I was immediately tongue-tied, but told him how much I enjoyed watching him all those years, and mentioned his music. He told me about his band that it was playing in Hollywood. I was floored to know that he was still making music! I rushed home and told Alan about it.

At that time, Alan was seriously ill and having a very hard time. I was trying to take care of him, and having a difficult time myself, juggling work and care-giving. Alan wasn't getting up and around much, but he was so excited, reminded of Johnny and his music, that he managed to get out of bed and onto his computer, where he pulled up all the info he could find on Johnny and his band. Just he idea of those old songs seemed to give him energy. Alan started downloading his old songs from various sites. He'd sit up at night when he couldn't sleep, and play them and we'd sing along. The songs took us both back to our childhood, and it was a happy space in the middle of some very difficult times. 'Cindy's Birthday', 'Tennesee Waltz', 'Lonesome Town',... all sung so sweetly by Johnny. When all seemed hopeless, these songs lifted Alan and I up, taking us away to a place that was young and free and hopeful... and soon he began to improve, downloading more and more music from many artists from our past. Once the music was back in his life, he exceeded everyone's expectations regarding his recovery and confounded all predictions made by his doctors. We made plans to try to see Johnny's big band sometime in the future, when he felt strong enough to do it.

I lost Alan in 2007, without getting that chance to take him to see the big band, but each time I hear a Johnny Crawford song, I think of my little brother and how much joy those songs brought to the both of us, and how much fun we had singing along in harmony to them over many years. Those songs left me with special memories I will never forget, and might not have had, had it not been for the music. Wherever Alan is now, he's probably still singing a Johnny Crawford song.

Ever grateful to you, Johnny, for those treasured memories!

Taree