The Fabulous Johnny Thunder!

My Good Friend and Mentor Teddy Vann

Wan Ling Vann was saddened to inform us that her beloved husband and best friend, Teddy Vann passed away on Dec 6th, 2009 peacefully after a yearlong battle with stomach cancer. Johnny Thunder considers Teddy as the person responsible for launching Johnny's career.

From Johnny:
From the first time I met Teddy Vann-early 1962 he took a likin' to me. Mainly because I had come to New York, from my hometown in Leesburg, Florida, by invitation, of Lacy Hollingsworth, to join the Drifters. My job was to replace Ben E. king who was leaving , the group to go solo. Teddy felt I had some talent, and we began a friendship, that took us through, many recording sessions, with some success.

The biggest was a novelty written and produced by Teddy, Loop de Loop. Diamond Records released October 1962. We also had a few from that same album that made the music charts i.e.: Don't be Ashamed, The Rosy Dance, etc.

Our families knew and had many social gatherings, for many years. Teddy, his wife Wan Ling and his children at the time, were Akim and Kayode, my wife Millie and daughters Dolores (Lori), and Gina were very young.

Along with bidding farewell to a genius of a friend, I look forward seeing the family again, and to meeting there youngest daughter, (whom I have never met in person) but she sounds like, one of the sweetest, people on earth.

In 1975 I got homesick, and decided to move back to Orlando, (which is approximately 45 miles from Leesburg), where I was born and I still live with my family in Winter Park, same place, better address .

May God bless us all.
Johnny Thunder

P.S. Did I tell you? Teddy also chose my professional name: Johnny Thunder.