John Wyker Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information

BORN

March 14, 1945

DIED

December 8, 2013

LOCATION

Decatur, Alabama

John Daniel Wyker III

Decatur

John Daniel "Johnny" Wyker III died Sunday, December 8, 2013. He was born March 14, 1945, at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital to John D. Wyker II and June Osborn Wyker. He attended Columbia Military Academy, graduated Decatur High School, and attended the University of Alabama.

Johnny spent most of his life in and around the music industry as a songwriter and performer. He founded and performed with The Magnificent Seven, The Rubber Band and Sailcat - the latter having achieved chart "hit" status along with a national television appearance on "American Bandstand". In addition to his own musical groups, Wyker's career as a songwriter involved his tunes being recorded by James and Bobby Purify, Mavis Staples, Delbert McClinton, The Sugarcubes (Bjork), John Prine, Alex Taylor and Eddie Hinton. Johnny was a very passionate visual artist as well, and some of his work was used as album cover art. He was also employed by Wyker's True Value Hardware.

He was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his mother; his wife, Margaret Young Wyker; his son, John Daniel Wyker IV; his daughter, Ella Lela Wyker; sisters, Susan Wyker Jones and Ella Wyker Martin; and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Bible Church, Decatur, on Friday, December 13th at 5 p.m.

This obituary was originally published in the Decatur Daily.

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Johnny has finaly reunited with Edddie Hinton. Must have been a beautiful meeting. Johnny was very kind to me from our first meeting in 1959. When Johnny started his own High School fraternity in Decatur in 1960, he invited me to join Tau Kappa. Johnny brought a lot of misfits together and made it fun. In 1960, he picked me up every morning for school in his white 1954 Oldsmobile. We were roomates at Columbia Military Academy in 61-62 and I got to know him and love him for his kindness and...

Scott Pilkington

December 27, 2013 | Auburn, AL

Gonna miss ya John...truly one of a kind

Larry Harris

December 22, 2013 | Austin, TX

Rock on... Much love...

December 22, 2013

I miss you Johnny. When no one else cared, you did and I will never forget the kindness you showed toward me. Sleep well my dear friend.

Jonathan Baggs

December 13, 2013 | Decatur, AL

I love you Johnny. You were a good friend and the single most "artistic" artist I know. I was blessed to spend time face to face, in the studio, onstage and for endless hours on the telephone listening to your damn near brilliant ideas and rock and roll dreams and those wonderful Cat Tales. From the time I met the whole Bama gang and MFOV it was clear that you were the spiritual leader. The eclectic touchstone in a world imploding in on itself. You kept the faith and said to hell with the...

Michael Buffalo Smith

December 13, 2013 | Spartanburg, SC

My little nine year old daughter in Rome is learning Baby Ruth this week in memoriam.

Patrick Haney

December 12, 2013 | Rome, Italy

Our prayers and thoughts are with the Wyker family it was Johnny who talk me into starting my own internet radio station he taught me alot about promotions and was a true friend to everyone who knew him.Johnny was always nice to me and everyone.and he never had a ego.someday soon we will be joing Johnny in Heavin luv you brother

David Kelley

December 12, 2013 | Decatur, AL

Johnny is and was the epitome of creative free spirit. He blessed us all with his talents, and his friendship. "Another good thang has done gone on..."

Dean White

December 12, 2013 | Lafayette, LA

May God bless the family and give you strength to face the days ahead.
Tommy Mann

December 12, 2013

John Daniel Wyker III

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