"As a young lad growing up in the late 1950s, I never missed the weekly western adventures of Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford onThe Rifleman. When Lucas McCain sat down and talked with his son Mark about what was right and wrong in the world, it did help to build moral character in the viewers. The Rifleman was an inspiration to America because it showed the courage of one man and his son against a world that was often filled with violence, intolerance, and injustice. Johnny was marvelous as the young boy who returned the love of his father, and as Mark McCain grew older he gradually became a young man of character himself.

     "When Johnny Crawford became an adult, his career veered away from acting to perhaps his true love... music. During his teen years Johnny had a couple of minor hits as a pop singer, and became accomplished on the guitar and piano.

"Eventually, Johnny devoted much of his adult life to music as the band leader of the Johnny Crawford 1928 Society Dance Band. On countless occasions, Johnny and his orchestra have entertained at gala events in Los Angeles and other cities, and special holidays such as Valentine's Day. Johnny and his orchestra are throwbacks to the days when big bands like Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington ruled the society world.

     "One of the events that I enjoyed in person was an event sponsored by the Motion Picture Academy in summer 2006, a screening of the restored 1928 silent film, "Chicago." The dialogue was subtitled, of course, but the exciting musical background score was provided LIVE by Johnny Crawford (at the piano) and several members of his orchestra! It was an immensely enjoyable evening, and the music brought the action of the story to life. (Yes, this "Chicago" was the original silent version of the film that won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2002.)

"I had the pleasure of interviewing Johnny in 1994 for my biography of Chuck Connors. It was obvious that Johnny had a sincere love for Chuck that grew out of their five years together portraying father and son onThe Rifleman.

"Many times I've revisited the episodes ofThe Riflemanand thoroughly enjoyed the warm relationship that Chuck and Johnny brought to the viewers. In the past two decades, I've also enjoyed and appreciated the work of Johnny Crawford as a musician and bandleader of some talent.

"Johnny Crawford had made an impact on the world with his sincere work as Mark McCain onThe Rifleman, and as an adult he entertains with his devotion to his music. I also consider Johnny to be a friend and a gentleman."                      

David Fury                                                                                       

David Fury is the author of "Chuck Connors, The Man Behind the Rifle"...

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