Johnny Rockhead

Philadelphians are well-known for coining a fresh word or phrase: jawn, youse guys, tappin’ Mac. For residents of the Roxborough section of the city, they now have a new way of describing their neighborhood: Philbilly Country. Johnny Rockhead, a country music songwriter from Roxborough, posted the music video for his song “Philbilly Country” to Facebook on September 29. Since then, his post has been shared over four hundred times and his video has received over twenty-two thousand views between Facebook and Youtube. “I guess it struck a nerve,” Rockhead said.
Growing up in Roxborough, Rockhead took for granted the lifestyle that he and many residents of the area enjoy. “I grew up listening to 92.5 XTU during the heyday of 90s country,” he said, “and spent most of my days at Houston playground or back the crick.” Yes, you heard that right: people in Roxborough call the Wissahickon Valley Park “the crick.” It wasn’t until Rockhead left his neighborhood to attend high school in Radnor at Archbishop Carroll did he discover the uniqueness of his hometown. “A lot of the rich kids in the suburbs thought we were dirtbags, and the kids from West Philly thought we were hicks. They called us Philbillies.” Instead of taking offense, Rockhead considered it a complement. “I love everything about Roxborough: the food, sports, outdoors, and most importantly, the people. They are the most down to earth, blue-collar people you will ever meet.” That sentiment is reflected in his song with lines like “Haters keep hating on my little hometown but there ain’t now way to keep a Philbilly down.” Rockhead says the song is a tribute not only to Roxborough but for the entire city of Philadelphia. “It’s an underdog story, and Philadelphia is an underdog town. It’s about taking pride in who you are and where you are from, especially when others are looking down on you.”
Rockhead, who is also an active duty servicemember in the U.S. Navy, uses songwriting as means to express his love of the city. “I was stationed in Japan for a few years, and being so far away really made me miss home. That’s why I decided to record Philbilly Country.” One of the souvenirs he brought back from his time abroad is a Japanese kei truck, pained in Phillies retro blue and burgundy, that is featured heavily in the video. The truck has inadvertently been a way of connecting people to his music. “It’s a conversation starter. People ask me about the truck, and I get to tell them about the song.” While Rockhead plans on releasing his debut country album later this year—appropriately entitled Philbilly Country—he doesn’t plan on retiring his seabag just yet. “Songwriting is my hobby, but the U.S. Navy is my career. I love being in the service.” To keep up with Johnny Rockhead’s adventures, follow him @philbillycountry. -

Johnny’s 1996 Honda Acty, affectionately named “Wildcard,” is a souvenir from his military service in Japan.
Immediately upon his return to Philadelphia, Johnny had Wildcard painted in blue and burgundy after his beloved Philadelphia Phillies. -