{{Short description|American rock singer-songwriter (1957–2019)}} '''John Turner Kilzer''' (January 7, 1957 – March 12, 2019)<ref name= canalefuneraldirectors >{{cite web|url= https://www.canalefuneraldirectors.com/obituaries/John-Kilzer/ |title= Rev. Dr. John Turner Kilzer |website= canalefuneraldirectors.com|accessdate= March 19, 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref name=jacksonsun>{{cite web|url= https://eu.jacksonsun.com/story/life/2015/03/06/john-kilzer-calls-hide-away-album-best-ever/24543673/|title= John Kilzer calls 'Hide Away' album his 'best ever' |website=jacksonsun.com|accessdate=March 19, 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref name=whit554>''The Billboard Albums'', 6th edn. Joel Whitburn. 2006. Record Research Inc. p. 554. {{ISBN|0-89820-166-7}}.</ref> 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).<ref name=whit137>''Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008'', Joel Whitburn. 2008. Record Research Inc. p. 137 {{ISBN|0-89820-174-8}}</ref> Rosanne Cash recorded "Green, Yellow and Red" for her album ''King's Record Shop''. Another Kilzer song, "707," appeared as the B-side of the single "The Way We Make a Broken Heart"; it was included as a bonus track on the 2005 CD version of that album.
His next studio album, ''Busman's Holiday'', released in 1991,<ref name= nytimes/> 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.<ref name= nytimes>{{cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/03/12/us/ap-us-obit-kilzer.html |title= Memphis Singer, Songwriter John Kilzer Dies Suddenly|website= The New York Times|accessdate= March 19, 2019}}</ref><ref name= baltimoresun>{{cite web|url= https://eu.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2019/03/12/john-kilzer-death-memphis-music-memphis-songwriters-memphis-basketball/3147377002/|title= Veteran songwriter, former Memphis State basketball player, minister John Kilzer dead at 62|website= The Commercial Appeal|accessdate= March 19, 2019}}</ref> In 2010, he earned a PhD in Theology and started helping people recovering from substance abuse.<ref name= wknofm>{{cite web|url= https://www.wknofm.org/post/musician-theologian-john-kilzer-remembered |title= Musician, Theologian John Kilzer Remembered | work=wknofm.org|date= 14 March 2019 |accessdate= March 19, 2019}}</ref> Until his death, Kilzer served as an associate pastor for recovery ministries at St. John's United Methodist Church in Memphis.<ref name= dailymemphian1>{{cite web|url= https://dailymemphian.com/article/index/3714/Calkins-John-Kilzer-former-Tiger-musician-minister-lived-a-life-of-recovery-and-grace |title= John Kilzer — former Tiger, musician, minister — lived a life of recovery and grace |website= The Daily Memphian |accessdate= March 19, 2019}}</ref>
Kilzer died by suicide (by hanging) on March 12, 2019, at the age of 62.<ref name= dailymemphian>{{cite web|url= https://dailymemphian.com/article/3787/John-Kilzers-death-ruled-suicide-by-hanging |title= John Kilzer's death ruled suicide by hanging |website= The Daily Memphian |accessdate= March 19, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kilzer, John}} Category:1957 births Category:2019 deaths Category:People from Jackson, Tennessee Category:20th-century American musicians Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:Geffen Records artists Category:Suicides by hanging in Minnesota Category:2019 suicides Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters