John Turner Kilzer (January 7, 1957 – March 12, 2019)[1] was an American rock singer and songwriter. Most notably, he is known for the 1988 Mainstream Rock hit "Red Blue Jeans".

Life and career

Kilzer was born in Jackson, Tennessee.[2] He had some success as a basketball player at Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis. In 1987, Kilzer signed to Geffen Records and recorded the studio album Memory in the Making. In 1988, the album charted on the Billboard 200 reaching 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 the Mainstream Rock Tracks (No. 12 and No. 36, respectively).[4] Rosanne Cash recorded "Green, Yellow and Red" for her album King'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 the Billboard 200, 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

  1. ↑ "Rev. Dr. John Turner Kilzer". canalefuneraldirectors.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  2. ↑ "John Kilzer calls 'Hide Away' album his 'best ever'". jacksonsun.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  3. ↑ The Billboard Albums, 6th edn. Joel Whitburn. 2006. Record Research Inc. p. 554. ISBN 0-89820-166-7.
  4. ↑ Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008, Joel Whitburn. 2008. Record Research Inc. p. 137 ISBN 0-89820-174-8
  5. 1 2 "Memphis Singer, Songwriter John Kilzer Dies Suddenly". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Veteran songwriter, former Memphis State basketball player, minister John Kilzer dead at 62". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Musician, Theologian John Kilzer Remembered". wknofm.org. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  8. ↑ "John Kilzer — former Tiger, musician, minister — lived a life of recovery and grace". The Daily Memphian. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  9. ↑ "John Kilzer's death ruled suicide by hanging". The Daily Memphian. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
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