Johnny Cymbal performed under a multitude of aliases throughout his career. Born in Ochitree, Scotland, on February 3, 1945, he relocated with his family first to Goderich, Ontario, and subsequently to Cleveland, OH. He began performing vocals at age 13 and mastered guitar on his own, later assuming multiple roles that included singer/songwriter, producer, and musical director. MGM Records contracted him at 17 and dispatched him to Nashville, where two singles failed commercially and concluded the arrangement. Under manager Jack Gale he issued further singles across various imprints, nearly achieving success with the demo “Bachelor Man.” Success arrived in 1963 on Kapp Records via the hit single “Mr. Bass Man,” which spotlighted Ronnie Bright of the Valentines and Cadillacs delivering bass replies to Cymbal’s falsetto inquiries. The next release, “Teenage Heaven,” reached only number 58 and remained outside Billboard’s pop Top 40. Subsequent affiliations with DCP, Columbia, Musicor, and Amaret yielded no further traction despite repeated opportunities. Labels continued to grant him recordings because a prior hit existed and he possessed songwriting and production capabilities, assets uncommon among 1960s artists equipped with multiple skills. While supplying material and studio support for other performers, Cymbal pursued visibility by adopting assorted pseudonyms. Releases issued as Milk on Buddah Records went unnoticed, yet the Derek identity on Bang Records proved more fruitful. Cymbal’s brother Derek performed in the accompanying band, though the vocals remained Johnny’s own. Under the Derek name he recorded “Cinnamon,” which climbed to number 11 and surpassed the chart performance of “Mr. Bass Man.” This interval also encompassed his composition “Mary in the Morning” for Elvis Presley along with additional songs placed with Gene Pitney, Terri Gibbs, Mae West, the Partridge Family, and further acts. Derek’s follow-up “Back Door Man” peaked at number 59, and later efforts declined sharply. While his brother toured under the Derek persona, Johnny concentrated on session work until that project concluded. He next appeared as Taurus on Tower Records in 1969 and then as Brother John on A&M, neither venture generating significant sales. Cymbal subsequently partnered with Peggy Clinger to issue duets credited to Cymbal & Clinger. After relocating to Nashville he continued releasing occasional singles into the late 1980s. Songwriting supplied his primary earnings, with his compositions frequently appearing on country charts. The versatile musician suffered a fatal heart attack on March 16, 1993, in Nashville, two years prior to his fiftieth birthday.
