John Condrone
{{Short description|American wrestler and singer-songwriter (1960–2020)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name = John Condrone
| image = John Condrone_nonfree.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = John Albert Condrone
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
| family =
| height =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1960|11|16}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|10|20|1960|11|16}}
| birth_place = Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
| death_place = Maryville, Tennessee, U.S.
| death_cause = Complications from COVID-19
| billed =
| retired = 1996
}}
John Albert Condrone (November 16, 1960 – October 20, 2020), also known as Johnny Meadows, was an American professional wrestler and singer-songwriter.
Early life
Condrone was born in Hollywood, Florida, and raised in Harriman, Tennessee. His father was a boxer with a mobile festival, being paid by visitors to fight.{{Cite news|last=Vadukul|first=Alex|date=November 4, 2020|title=Johnny Meadows, Pro Wrestler With a Tuneful Side, Dies at 59|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/obituaries/johnny-meadows-dead-covid.html|access-date=January 13, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}
Professional wrestling
Condrone began wrestling in 1978 with Southeastern Championship Wrestling, and assumed the ring name of "Johnny Meadows". He was part of tag-team wrestling pairs The Paradise City Rockers and The Dream Team.{{Cite web|last=Gifford|first=Storm|title=Pro wrestler Johnny Meadows dead from COVID-19 complications at 59|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ny-johnny-medows-obit-20201021-qls2u7pplvebhbppopb3gsn2w4-story.html|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=nydailynews.com|date=October 21, 2020 }} When he joined World Championship Wrestling and fought Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, the Mongolian Stomper, Big John Studd, and Abdullah the Butcher.{{Cite web|title=Former wrestling star dies aged 59|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/news/wrestler-johnny-meadows-dies-aged-59-of-covid-complications/5325498b-486d-4721-9cf2-cbe434c2ac83|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=wwos.nine.com.au|language=en}} For most of his career he wrestled as a fall guy (or "job man"), being hired to lose to his opponent.{{Cite web|date=October 21, 2020|title=Former WCW Wrestler Johnny Meadows Loses Battle To COVID-19|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2020/10/former-wcw-wrestler-johnny-meadows-loses-battle-to-covid-19-676097/|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=Wrestling Inc.|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Johnny Meadows: Profile & Match Listing – Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)|url=http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/johnny-meadows-8684.html?prom_id=4&res=100&sort=rev|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=www.profightdb.com}}
Music career
Condrone retired from wrestling in 1996 and pursued a music career. He was nominated for a Grammy Award and a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association. More than 300 of the songs he wrote were used in television, film, and radio. He wrote for Sony, Disney, Lamon Records, and others. His Rockin’ That Beat song was a Top 10 Latin Salsa hit. His songs were placed on The British CMA Awards, Nashville, Dawson's Creek, The Good Lie and others.{{Cite web|last=eMinor|title=John Condrone, Award Winning Dove & Grammy Nominated Songwriter Songs|url=http://www.reverbnation.com/johncondroneawardwinningdovegrammynominatedsongwriter/songs|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=ReverbNation|language=en}} He wrote and/or composed songs for Selena Gomez, Julie Reeves, and Kimberly Simon. He toured with The Roane State Boys and Tranquility Express,{{Cite web|last=Tedesco|first=Mike|date=October 23, 2020|title=Former WCW enhancement talent Johnny Meadows passes away after battling COVID-19|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/177965-former-wcw-enhancement-talent-johnny-meadows-passes-away-after-battling-covid-19/|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=WWE News and Results, RAW and Smackdown Results, Impact News, ROH News|language=en-US}} and performed as a backup singer for Dolly Parton’s band.{{Cite web|date=October 21, 2020|title=Singer John Condrone, with a past in wrestling, dies from COVID|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2020/10/21/singer-john-condrone-with-a-past-in-wrestling-dies-from-covid/|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=Slam Wrestling|language=en-US}}
His No. 1 songs include: Kimberly Simon's If You Stole My Heart (a Top Twenty CMT video), Bubba Claus, If The Heart Is Right, But Then, and Since I Found You.
Death
Condrone died from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee. He was 59.[https://www.smithfuneralandcremation.com/obituaries/John-Condrone/ John Condrone]
References
{{reflist|refs=
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External links
- {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=17733|wrestlingdata=23715|iwd=johnny-meadows-8684|name=Johnny Meadows}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Condrone, John}}
Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters
Category:20th-century American male singers
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:American male professional wrestlers