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To many fans, country singer Johnny PayCheck embodied the rebellious outlaw image. Renowned as much for his classic country hits as for his legal troubles, he was born Donald Eugene Lytle on May 31, 1938, in Greenfield, Ohio. PayCheck started his career playing in backing bands for George Jones, Ray Price, Porter Wagoner, and Faron Young. He also showcased his songwriting talent by penning Tammy Wynette's debut hit, 1966's "Apartment No. 9." He first entered the country charts in 1965 with "A-11," but truly made his mark in 1971 with "She's All I Got," which reached No. 2 on Billboard's country singles chart that December. His follow-up, the heartfelt "Someone to Give My Love To" in spring 1972, also hit the top five. Subsequent hits included "Mr. Lovemaker" (1973), "Song and Dance Man" (1974), and in 1977, "Slide off Your Satin Sheets" and "I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)." However, it was his blue-collar anthem "Take This Job and Shove It" that cemented his status as a working-class hero. This track was PayCheck’s sole No. 1 on Billboard’s country singles chart, holding the spot for two weeks in January 1978, and inspired a successful film of the same name.
Sadly, PayCheck was also well-known for his run-ins with the law. In the 1950s, he served time in a military prison for assaulting an officer, and in 1989, he was sentenced to prison for two years following a shooting during a barroom dispute in Ohio.
Despite these challenges, Johnny PayCheck remains celebrated by fans and many younger country artists as the quintessential outlaw country singer, delivering some of the genre’s most memorable songs while living life on his own terms.
