Johnny Tillotson dead: Poetry in Motion singer dies after health battle

Poetry in Motion singer Johnny Tillotson has died aged 86, his wife Nancy has confirmed. The American singer died due to complications from Parkinson's disease, Nancy revealed in a announced.

In an emotional tribute on the social media platform, Nancy announced yesterday that the singer-songwriter had died. He was surrounded by his family at his home in Los Angeles when he died. "It is with a broken heart that I write to let you know that the sweetest, kindest man I ever met Johnny Tillotson, left earth for Heaven yesterday," she wrote.

"He was my best beloved, champion of my realm, Knight of my heart. Someone said, that sometimes right in the middle of an ordinary life you get a fairytale. The day I met him, I got mine."

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Nancy went onto describe Johnny as a "funny, generous and kind" man whose life was "marked by extraordinary achievements in the of music".

"He loved and was grateful to his fans, as he once said, 'They made every dream I ever had come true,'" she added. "Once again on his behalf I say thank you for that."

Nancy ended the moving post by saying that she will miss Johnny "every single day" for the rest of her life. "He was simply the best. With all the love I have in my heart for a wonderful man gone too soon from this world."

Johnny was best known for his chart-topping hits in the 1960s, including It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin and Without You.

However, it was 1960 single Poetry in Motion that was his most successful track, making it to number two on the US Billboard chart.

He followed Poetry in Motion with the song Without You, which made it to number seven. He was nominated for two Grammys during his career, however his last album was released in 1977 titled Johnny Tillotson.

Johnny's final single was Not Enough, with the country star releasing it in 2010. Just four years later, Johnny was inducted into the America's Pop Music Hall of Fame for his accomplishments within music.

He is survived by his wife Nancy, his stepdaughter Genevieve, his brother Dan and his grandchildren Nia, Jackson, Georgia and Gwyneth.

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