FERLIN HUSKY gone

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 17 Mar 2011 12:58 pm

I posted this after I glanced at it. I didn't write it.
"The world of music has lost another legendary icon. Ferlin Husky has passed away at the age of 85 years old. Ferlin as we all know, had been battling health issues for several years. His Master came to bring him home.
Ferlin was member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. As an entertainer, there were none better, and his list of hit songs included “GONE-WINGS OF A DOVE-I FEEL BETTER ALL OVER,” and so many more. Our industry will sadly miss his high-kicking show stopping music. I have been honored to know him as a great friend and human being.
Please keep Ferlin’s family in your thoughts and prayers during the time of sorrow in their life’s at this great loss.
MAY FERLIN REST IN PEACE AS HE TRAVELS ON THE WINGS OF A DOVE INTO THE HEAVENLY HOME OF HIS BLESSED SAVIOR.
Funeral arrangements will follow as soon as I receive them.
Ferlin Eugene Husky was born in Flat River, Missouri. Ferlin attended school as a youngster in Irondale, Missouri about ten (10) miles west of Flat River, (Park Hills), Missouri. As a United States Merchant Marine, he entertained the troops on his ship in World War II. His official website states that his ship participated in the D-Day invasion of Cherbourg.
After the war, Husky became a DJ in Missouri and Bakersfield, California, where he began using the moniker Terry Preston to hide his rural roots. As a honky tonk singer, Husky signed with Capitol Records in 1953 under the guidance of Cliffie Stone, also the manager for Tennessee Ernie Ford. With Capitol Records, he reverted to his given name. A few singles failed before "A Dear John Letter" with Jean Shepard became a No. 1 hit. The follow up was called "Forgive Me John".
In 1955, Husky had a solo hit with "I Feel Better All Over (More Than Anywhere’s Else)"/"Little Tom", and developed "Simon Crum" as a comic alter ego. As Crum, Husky signed a separate contract with Capitol Records and began releasing records, the biggest of which was 1959's "Country Music Is Here To Stay" (No. 2 for three weeks).
In the late 1950s, Husky had a long string of hits, including the No. 1 "Gone"; in 1957 (he first recorded "Gone" as Terry Preston in 1952, but the earlier version lacked the strings and backup singers of the newly-emerging Nashville sound). "Gone" was a crossover success, also reaching No. 4 on the pop music chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] He then began an acting career, appearing on the Kraft Television Theatre program, and in the film Mr. Rock & Roll (his website states he has had bit parts in 18 films). Bob Ferguson's "Wings of a Dove" became his biggest hit in 1960, topping the country charts for ten weeks and attaining No. 12 on the pop chart. Husky was also known for his ability to mimic other popular country singers.
Although he did not have any more chart-toppers, he had more than two dozen hits between 1961 and 1972, with the biggest being "Once" (1967) and "Just For You" (1968). In late 1972, after over 20 years with Capitol, Husky signed with ABC Records, where he scored several Top 40 hits into 1975 with the biggest being the Top 20 "Rosie Cries A Lot" (1973). Husky briefly retired in 1977 following heart surgery but resumed touring. He remained a popular concert draw, performing at the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere.
Husky has suffered from heart problems for many years and has been hospitalized several times since the late 1970s, most recently for heart surgery in 2005 and blood clots in his legs in 2007. He was admitted to St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Missourion April 19, 2009, with congestive heart failure and pneumonia. On July 15, 2009 his spokesman said he was recuperating at home after being released from a Nashville hospital.
On February 23, 2010, the Country Music Association announced his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On January 16, 2011, Husky was honored at West St. Francois County High School in Leadwood, MO where local singers and the high school choir sang some of his hits. Husky also donated several items of memorabilia, including his Country Music Hall of Fame award, to the city of Leadwood. They will be permanently stored at the High School."

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 17 Mar 2011 1:05 pm

Ferlin Husky was a very distinctive voice in the realm of Country Music! He is a great loss and will be missed always! R.I.P., Ferlin

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 17 Mar 2011 1:18 pm

Nashville Tennessean Obituary:

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2011 ... ies-at-85/

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 17 Mar 2011 1:20 pm

Just got the word myself about ten minutes ago....I'll miss Ferlin and Simon. He had a great life...

James Nazworth · Post by **James Nazworth** » 17 Mar 2011 3:40 pm

I met Ferlin in 1962 in Beeville Tx I was on the board of governers for inlisted mens club I got him and his band to come perform for us. I had him sign the back side of my oldest daughters picture the only thing I had to write on. Ferlin has always been a good friend. we will really miss him.Jim

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 17 Mar 2011 3:51 pm

Ferlin will be missed so much by so many. I loved the song Dear John that Ferlin and Jean Shepard did together. Prayers for his family. Larry and Jean
Thanks for posting Ben.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 17 Mar 2011 4:26 pm

Rest in peace Ferlin...Its been a great ride.

Robert Brown · Post by **Robert Brown** » 17 Mar 2011 5:03 pm

As a 14yr.old boy,I went to Syria Mosque Temple in 1956 in Pittsburgh Pa. Three acts on the bill, Ferlin Husky,Faron Young,Patsy Cline. I feel blessed. R.I.P. to all three stars in heaven. Bob

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 17 Mar 2011 5:50 pm

Put a little more husky in you're ferlin.

Herby Wallace · Post by **Herby Wallace** » 17 Mar 2011 7:23 pm

I am so sorry to hear this but I knew he had some health problems. I was fortunate to get to back Ferlin several times in the seventies and it was a highlight in my career. He was a true stylist and one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of backing. Our prayers are with his family.

Herby Wallace

Stan Paxton · Post by **Stan Paxton** » 17 Mar 2011 8:35 pm

Another of the Greats, gone on. We were just talking about him in another thread, reminiscing about the old times when he was Terry Preston, about Simon Crum, and such things. Sad. ...

Greg Wisecup · Post by **Greg Wisecup** » 18 Mar 2011 4:49 am

Seems like every day this phrase is becoming more and more true; "Who's gonna fill their shoes?"

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 18 Mar 2011 5:11 am

New York Times Obituary:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/arts/ ... ?ref=music

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 18 Mar 2011 6:23 am

His music lives on!

Bob Simmons · Post by **Bob Simmons** » 18 Mar 2011 10:05 am

I too feel honored to have backed up Ferlin - suck talent and a great guy to work with - he'll be missed

Terry Bethel · Post by **Terry Bethel** » 18 Mar 2011 11:37 am

My first road gig.
I had the honor of working with Ferlin and Simon. I was working with the Leon Boulanger Show at the Flame Cafe in Minneapolis, MN. Ferlin hired Marvis and Orlo Thompson from Leon's band and Later that year Orlo called and wanted to know if I would like to go on the road with Ferlin and Simon.
I wanted a change so I packed up the car and headed to Chicago, Il to the Rivoli theater and worked my first gig with the "DYNAMIC DUO". I had backed Ferlin at the flame a couple of times so I was a little bit familiar with his show or so I thought.
I was scared to death, now I had been playing at that time about 9 years in clubs and here I was back in another one. It was a lot nicer than most , but a club is a club!!!!
I survived that night, and got back in my Rambler American and headed for Nashville.
Two days later my first official road trip was to California, Ferlin had a bus, but remember this was in 1965 so Hwy 66 and every other two lane road was the only way to get there.It took 2 and 1/2 days to get there. We arrived about 1 hour before showtime, grabbed a real quick shower and hit the stage wide open. Ferlin and Simon broke me in well. I stayed 2 years and went to work with Claude Grey.
Ferlin was and will be in my mind one hell of an entertainer, of course I have to include Simon. Did you know Simon had a bigger selling single that Ferlin did at one time? Just a little trivia.
Rest in peace my friend, you helped a lot of players just like myself.
Terry Bethel

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 18 Mar 2011 2:48 pm

As I have posted on places on the Forum, I got to work with Ferlin the better part of a year around 1947 when he was going under the name of "Terry Preston" when we were both on the Ole Rasmussen Band at the 97th Street Corral and Harmony Park, in Anaheim, Ca. As I understood he was waiting until his Contract was up with 4-Star Records to be able to record for Capitol. He just needed a job and Ole hired him as a Singer and Bass player. I still have memories of that time working with a Great, and sometimes a little Crazy, Guy. Iv'e posted a couple stories in the past in the "Stories Section" about a couple of his escapades back at that time,. I never connected with him again after he left California. Sure wish I could have. May he RIP.

P Perry · Post by **P Perry** » 18 Mar 2011 3:43 pm

Ferlin will be missed greatly my prayers go out to his family. I had the oppurtunity to work for Ferlin in the early eighties. He was a great man a great singer.

Ray Riley · Post by **Ray Riley** » 18 Mar 2011 4:24 pm

Welcomed obit and memorial. Thanks Ray

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 18 Mar 2011 6:16 pm

I got to work with Ferlin a few times. The last time was an outdoor show in awful heat. The show went well until Ferlin closed with "Wings of a Dove", I put an ending on the song before Ferlin got to do his last, very low & bassy, tag. I never got to work with him again. And rightly so I believe.
He had the crowd in the palm of his hand from his introduction until he left the stage. He was great.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 19 Mar 2011 6:34 am

I did a day long show playing steel with Ferlin.. By this time[mid 1980's], he no longer had a band, but used local bands as needed, sending tapes out before the show etc.
It was a country music park in Pa, called something like Big John's Ontalaonie Park.
Anyway, the band Ferlin hired called me and I played steel. It was a terrible band, bunch of kids, and they butchered Ferlins stuff. Believe it or not, I had to hold it together, which isn't easy for the steel player, but those guys were totally lost.
Ferlin fired them after his first show, but I guess he asked for me to return as someone with Ferlin's show came to me, asked me to stay and play steel on Ferlins second[night] show with another band he dug up somewhere on only a few hours notice.
I guess that means I did ok. Meant a lot to me back then .
There were a lot of issues that day I won't get into, but I do recall it was a gig that left a bad taste in my mouth for that sort of thing, for a long time . Thats a story for another day.

Man the old ladies loved Ferlin that day, never forget it... He indeed was a charmer on stage.

In any case, sadly, another talented and beloved country music original is gone.. RIP Ferlin... bob

Dennis Atkins · Post by **Dennis Atkins** » 20 Mar 2011 3:04 pm

I was at the Dairy Steel Guitar Show this weekend in Wisconsin Rapids, and Leona Williams was there. I had the chance to talk to her Friday night, and she mentioned that Ferlin died the day before. I was sorry to hear that, and I was glad that I had the chance to see both Ferlin and Leona perform at Midwest Country around a year ago. Johnny Cox was playing steel for them and it was a great pleasure to finally see this great performer before his passing.

This was a sad weekend for some of us in Wisconsin. It seemed that some of the players had deaths in the family over the weekend and couldn't attend, and then hearing of Ferlin passing only added to the sadness of the weekend.

May God give peace and comfort to Ferlin's family and many friends at this time. He is another great one that will be missed.

Dennis

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 20 Mar 2011 8:26 pm

Ferlin was just about the nicest guy you could ever meet! I got the chance to see him when I was in Branson one summer. He put on a great show and once it was done, he hung around for hours signing autographs and talking to fans. In fact, he made me late to my free breakfast buffet that I got with my show ticket

He was incredible and will definitely be missed!!!

RIP- Ferlin Husky & Simon Crum

Casey

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 21 Mar 2011 8:54 am

Another country music icon gone.

Bob Simmons · Post by **Bob Simmons** » 21 Mar 2011 9:30 am

for those of you that just read Terr Bethel's post - he's being way too modest ! Terry Bethel, Jimmy Peppers, Orlo Thompson and the great Jimmy Capps were known as the " Hushpuppies" and I'd put them up against the other great groups of the time- get you hands on the CD "Too much country" 1966 revisited - I'd bet T might could help. check out Midnight till dawn awsome ! enough said

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FERLIN HUSKY gone

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Ferlin and Simon My First Road Gig

Missing Ferlin

Thanks Ben and All

T