Coming up, the terrifying story of a songwriter named John D. Loudermilk who was kidnapped by three men while sleeping in the backseat of his car during a latenight blizzard. Allegedly, his captors abused him for three days, until they found out that he was a professional songwriter in the Nashville music scene…and then.. they made him a deal…. agree to write a song about the injustices put upon the Cherokee people… or die. Loudermilk who had written songs for Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers, and Roy Orbison agreed to their demands to save himself and honored the deal by writing a song that eventually became a massive global smash, the 70s hit Indian Reservation (the lament of the Cherokee). It would later be picked for Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders and became the biggestselling song until Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean. The incredible story the writer told about writing the song was hard to believe… That’s because… he made the whole thing up. The truth surrounding one of the biggest pop smashes of the Rock Era is revealed. NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you ever had a membersonly jacket or wanted one… you’ll dig this channel of Deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below right now. I know you’ll dig out this daily rock history lesson… We also have a Patreon you'll want to check out. There you’ll find an additional catalog of exclusive content and you can even become an honorary producer to help us curate this music history.

In the 60s, John D. Loudermilk was one of the busiest songwriters in Nashville. He wrote songs that were recorded by many of the biggest names in Music City, including songs for the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash. Some of his songs are outright classics such as “Waterloo” by Stonewall Jackson: And “Talk Back Trembling Lips” by Johnny Tillotson.

Loudermilk’s most famous song, ironically, clouded his legacy and led to the most infamous words to come out of the great Casey Kasem’s mouth on the syndicated American Top 40 Countdown. It was all part of one the most shocking fabrications of the Rock Era. The song was the 3rd biggest hit of 1971, and until Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” was released in 1983, it was the bestselling single in the history of CBS Records and a story you’ll never forget… I’m talking about “Indian Reservation (the Lament of the Cherokee)” by The Raiders.

John D. Loudermilk moved to Nashville in the late 50s to make a name for himself in the music business, first as a singer. He made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, twice as a solo artist, first in ’57 with a remake of “Sittin’ in the Balcony,” using the stage name, Johnny Dee, that peaked at #38, and “Language of Love” that made it to #32 in ’61. In 1963, he firmly established himself as a legit songwriter, when he penned “Abilene” that was recorded by George Hamilton IV, and became a #1 Country hit, along with Top 15 success on the Billboard Hot 100.

Following the success of “Abilene” Loudermilk ascended to the top of the list of most soughtafter lyricists in the business. It was a tremendous achievement, considering his father, John D. Lowdermilk Senior, never learned