Johnny Russell "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor"

Here's a great song that I hadn't heard in years except in RE-RECORDS! FOOEY! Here's the original! A #14 hit early in 1974.

[@bmbinney9613]

I love this song because the Lord saved me from my sin. I remember being all hooked on drugs, in and out of mental hospitals, living in immorality and on my way to hell. But my Savior the Lord Jesus saved me, set me apart from that lifestyle and opened heaven for me. I'll never forget being baptized back in 1981. God has been faithful to me over the years and has brought me to Himself. BB

[@Watchthis7777777]

Ditto BM. How good it is to be a son of God. It has been 27 years now since the last needle went in.

[@stephenlarson523]

May Jesus Christ be praised!

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Praise God brother!

[@Watchthis7777777]

@Peter Belfon Thank you Peter. God is ever so faithful, gracious and Good!!! :- )

[@dennisstarks8791]

@@Watchthis7777777 praise the lord

[@jamiemartin1793]

Don't hear this great country music today

[@mantle64]

Sad but true. It will be up to us real country music fans to keep Johnny's memory & music alive.

[@jmarsh207]

The country hall of fame needs to elect this man now

[@JackwDyles-zu3jt]

A Great Country Singer.RIP MR RUSSELL

[@BradOlsonBemidji]

A Country and Southern Gospel classic by one of the most influential singer-songwriters in country music history.

[@glad2behere1000]

Always loved this song, too. The only word for grace, is Amazing. Isn't it a miracle, how God can take the worst of us, and clean us up, and make us worthy of His kingdom?!!!

[@janiceforbes3698]

I like anything Johnny Russel sings. I think he is a great singer.

[@Rabadamtimtimti]

@sunnyskies365 Indeed. Johnny broke through in a time when talent sold records, not looks or image. Go figure.

[@yonu5983]

I remember this song in my youth, loved it then, sill love it now. 2022

[@landondavis4577]

I remember listening to this song at like 7 with my dad and I ask Jesus for forgiveness and said that I can’t run my life by myself and he reached out to me and I’m a whole lot better person now I love this song ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@bubbasouth69]

I had the pleasure of knowing Johnny Russell when I lived in Nashville. Such a nice guy.

[@hyalltime247]

He was a nice guy!

[@rickbuck2675]

This song only reached #14 in 1974. It's hard to believe except for the fact that there was so much good music back then. If this were recorded today it would have to make #1.

[@danj1701d]

In the 1970s I worked for WTHI radio, 1480 am in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was a rock and roll station up until November 1973, and the format was switched to country. At 5 pm one afternoon, the last rock song aired. I think it was by Black Oak Arkansas, the legal ID played, and the country format came in with "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor" by Johnny Russell. After it aired, the program director took the 45, had it spray painted gold, and put on a plaque marking the format switch. (Another copy of the song was placed in the music rotation.) That 45 on its plaque hung in the hallway for years.

[@westm3931]

I grew up in central Illinois a couple hours west of Terre Haute. Great song, great people.

[@stevelogan5475]

Johnny Russell was a good feller, he was good people, so nice , how could you not like him ? Good singer/entertainer also & almost always smiling & he took jokes about his weight in jest front show hosts which I'm not sure I could have done if I were him

[@cindybardsherkolb3393]

I LOVE YOUR SONGS♥ I grew up riding in my Dads cattle truck listening to these sons IM 56years old now♥ So brings back GOLDEN MEMORIES SINCERLY CINDY CACHE OKLA.

[@RIGOREBERTO]

MAN HE IS LAYING IT DOWN ON VOCALS BIG TIME.

[@nm06379]

My favorite song by Johnny Russell....Sometimes after I hear him sing it....It sticks in my mind for hours...What a great Talent.

[@randyo.bowling1907]

I still like Johnny's singing 40 plus years later. I miss hearing him & the R E A L country that used to be on WSM & the Grand Ole' Opry.

[@bwdw929]

John, in my opinion, never received the recognition he deserved. He was a great singer!

[@XXPurecountryXX]

done in 1974.. i was 2 LOL. never heard of this song until now. and i like it. good one buddy..

[@redsmitty8476]

I heard this as a child and never forgot it. Nice to be able to come here and listen again.

[@ch58ds]

Excellent! Remember him on Grand Old Opry. Donna Fargo also did a great recording of this song.

[@rebbmoss]

Written by Dallas Frazier and Sanger D. Shafer in 1973. First recorded by Russell and many more recorded it after. They used another name in the song as the real fellow didn't want to be remembered for his old ways. The name of his wife and son was also changed. This was on Cedar Creek in Franklin County, Alabama. I've been to the real fellow's grave. Got this info from credible sources in the music industry who also recorded the song.

[@MichaelGreen65]

Great singer, great song. Johnny was close to Archie Campbell and, after Archie's death, sang it, saying it was Archie's favorite song of his.

[@raybeck2583]

A huge man with a huge talent,huge personality, and the most fantastic voice. RIP Johnny you are sorely missed.

[@jonimichalski9193]

Beautiful

[@williamroberts1365]

When I was growing up my family,friends and I went to Nashville every year to the Grand Ole Opry.A friend of my parents could pass as an identical twin to Johnny Russell.One time at Opryland someone wanted his autograph and called him a liar when he said that he wasn't Johnny Russell.We always tried to get him to go down front at the Opry and take Russell's picture.We couldn't talk him into it though.

[@delwingoss8242]

Great song!! Reminds me of my early upbringing . Sitting on a hard wooden bench in a very small very poor Baptist Church. It was so long ago the church used the Trinity River between Dallas and Irving for baptising. These days it might be a bit to polluted.

[@wilmaperry4045]

It broke my heart when they announced he had passed on!!

[@czyhrs]

Thanks for posting. We need more like this. Great talent.

[@gailhonadle5182]

Love this song the first time I heard Johnny sing it. I was just a teen then. He's singing for Jesus now.

[@IAtodd]

One of my faves from when I was five. Great job Johnny Russell!

[@IAtodd]

+IAtodd I remember wondering how satan could lose an arm...

[@jonimichalski69]

Amen

[@irishcountryman4866]

This is real country

[@percyoved4284]

Love the man and his songs

[@sydneysmith8606]

I really love this song!! I hate to see people put this talented guy down just with the words typed In the comments, I love both versions. Everyone who sang this song, including this fine fellow in the video, did a great job!! When I first heard this song in church, it made me cry. It doesn't matter who sings it, the lyrics is the thing that matters in this song.

[@debbiekerr3989]

This is the first version of the song I have heard, and he does a fantastic job.

[@jwhardig]

he should be in the hall of fame.

[@johnpastirchak1470]

Hard to find the original til now. Thanks Wilbur.

[@daviddrake2521]

Love this song and the singing of Johnny Russell!

[@wilmadebusk710]

I LIKE THIS EVEN MORE EVERY TIME I HEAR IT.

[@wilmadebusk710]

i'm so glad johnny russell made this song.

[@Bbatsonjohn]

Thank you Wil

[@MegaGrizz123]

A great country singer.

[@robertboothe5482]

great artist worked with him some in the 70's when i was at WTVY

[@neilladd5799]

Never too late.

[@Kigsgrama]

awesome.

[@Itsmevern12]

Love this song so much thanks for posting

[@waynerose3526]

thank you!

[@seansierakowski3581]

What a fantastic feeling voice. This a great song. Dam S

[@williamzacher9693]

Loved him. He took over for Marty Robbins closing the Opry show when Marty passed.

[@Bbatsonjohn]

Love Johnny's songs

[@Bbatsonjohn]

Just love this soung

[@Techno4862]

This song was based on a true story.

[@emmapowell3488]

I wish I knew the story. I'm very interested. 😀

[@jimkilpatrick6536]

Good song and done real well.

[@Memphis1943]

Whoa, this great Johnny Russell song makes even an athsist like me wanna do church.

[@vannieloumarshall7505]

Memphis1943 ....Just have the guts to haul off and DO CHURCH!!!! You won't be sorry!

[@charlesdendy2425]

Smooth as silk !

[@KLUNKET]

That what I thought. That's a damn shame. There are less derserving people in there! It is sad that they couldnt have seen fit to honor him before he passed.

[@juliecaudill9619]

Great classic song 2018 👍

[@stuwad1]

this song rings in most households in this great land

[@jonimichalski9193]

Yes amen

[@jonimichalski1403]

Beautiful Country Gospel song 💖💖💖💖

[@lauraforry1269]

When country music was good

[@jessetaylor8267]

That song was wrote about my dad!

[@jessetaylor8267]

My dad was good friends with Johnny, I met him a few times myself.

[@kuko6923]

I LIKE , VERY NICE...AMEN

[@Karmah01]

Thank you, thank you *THANK YOU!!!*

[@rogeralsop3479]

Great song.

[@percyoved5540]

one great song you dont here them anymore

[@antcri730]

Its HEAR not here

[@jamesverner3773]

+ant cri No need to correct the guy about such a trifle!!!

[@irishcountryman4866]

for sure... great singer.

[@thraxioniv]

So much Awesome, and I am Agnostic. Good music is good music.

[@JW1954OKC]

But this song refers to Franklin County.... probably in Alabama. There is a Cedar Creek in Franklin County, Alabama. I had a great uncle named Jesse Taylor who lived in Franklin County, Alabama. His wife was named Nancy!And from the stories I have heard he was a wild one...a real rounder!! Was Johnny writing about him? I have always wondered.

[@kevinallard5859]

Joe Spencer was your uncle this guy? www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63716770

[@williampoff3096]

Joe Spencer there is a Franklin County Virginia too......Moonshine Capital of the World!! Google it. Anyway there are many , many, men like Jesse Taylor there and many, many mountain church's for the Lord Jesus to save a man like Jesse Taylor in......There's also a Cedar creek......It could be y'all....Or us!! Whichever it is its in the South (Bible Belt) and Its a great song!! Have a good un!!

[@jefflongsr2062]

By all accounts I have EVER heard,yes that would be the where and who,your great uncle was a real hell raiser at one time,,it started with everyone saying the name had actually been changed and then the true truth came out that it was him and that was where it was at...Jesse I reckon had really truly put his past behind him and gave himself whole heartedly to the LORD,,AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!!!

[@angela.kennethwilson3225]

I love this!!

[@jonimichalski9193]

Beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@pekachhakchhuak7943]

This song makes me love Jesus more!

[@gowbunnell8754]

Love song

[@musicmandon1]

Same happened to me 9 years ago. Satan lost a guy who openly laughed at Christians on the baseball teams I worked for, and told them they were all wasting their time when they could be drinking, cussing and having a rowdy good time. God saved my soul, worthless though it would be without his grace.

[@Jesusdiedonceand4all]

@musicmandon1 Praise God brother!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TJtheDJMr]

Written by Johnny Russell performed by The Oak Ridge Boys

[@russellbearbassman]

TJ McDaniels The Gaither Vocal Band did it too. I hadn't realized that they weren't the first to do it until I found this recording. I like the Oak Ridge Boys version best however.

[@MikeWayson]

Dallas Frazier and Whitey Shafer wrote this song. Johnny recorded it among others.

[@paulamiles9559]

I used to love it when Johnny Russell was one of the hosts of Grand Ole Opry. He was such an engaging guy.

[@deevillearizona1742]

Rated G

[@johnmoore8016]

I'm trying to the lady that plays the piano to learn this song so she can play it one Sunday

[@spikem2284]

LEDGEND THAT MAN 👍🏻🆗👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️✝

[@williammeadows3965]

Yes I like this version because it has Franklin county in it I'm from Franklin county Illinois.

[@jonimichalski9193]

Beautiful gospel country

[@jonimichalski69]

Love it

[@KLUNKET]

Does anyone know if Johnny has been entered into the Country Music Hall of Fame?

[@richa0254]

My Aunt always swore this was about a Jessie Taylor from Franklin Co., NC - baptized outside Louisburg in Cedar Creek - whether this is true or not I have no idea

[@kevinallard5859]

Fred Flintstone www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63716770

[@MSASteelerPSG]

This song is a wonderfully close parallel to 'Amazing Grace'.

[@moproducer]

@BigBob76331 There are Cedar Creeks in Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. I think it's a franchise, like McDonalds. So go to your friendly neighborhood Cedar Creek and get baptized. Tell 'em Jesus sent ya.

[@hobertlee7598]

Good Music

[@williamyale4048]

great story of a violent man who is tired of it

[@hazzachannel1]

yea still the original comes up good.

[@dm95422]

Love Connie Smith's version !!

[@rgkras1]

Who was Jessi Taylor?

[@firefuzz1]

Many of us fit the description if not the name.

[@headredbone]

@KLUNKET Johnny probably will not make into the CMHF, not with the clowns that are running Nashville now.

[@wilburscott]

Nope he hasn't...unfortunately!

[@krissyhostetler3744]

Beautiful

[@jonimichalski9193]

Amen