Song:Set 'Em Up Joe
Album:Super Hits
Vern Gosdin was at the forefront of country music's return to traditionalism in the 80s. Set 'Em Up Joe was one of his three number one country hits in 1988. He was known in Nashville as The Voice. He was born Aug. 5, 1934 in Woodland, AL and grew up singing in church where his mom played piano. He was a big fan of The Louvin Brothers. After singing in the family gospel group as a teen, Gosdin and his brother Rex moved to Los Angeles in 1961. They were involved in the fledgling country rock movement with The Golden State Boys and then The Hillmen featuring Chris Hillman of The Byrds. Vern and Rex had a top 40 hit as The Gosdin Brothers with Hangin' On in 1967. In 1972, Gosdin quit the music business and opened a glass shop in Atlanta. Emmylou Harris convinced Gosdin that country music was returning to its roots and he should move to Nashville. He knew Emmylou in Los Angeles. A demo earned Gosdin a contract with Elektra Records and he had a few country music hits. But Elektra closed their country division in 1980. He recorded for Ovation Records but they closed. Then he had a few hits with Compleat Records including his first number one country hit I Can Tell By The Way You Dance but they also closed. The success of singers like Randy Travis convinced Columbia Records to sign Gosdin in 1987. Set 'Em Up Joe topped the country music singles chart in 1988. Gosdin wrote the song as a tribute to Ernest Tubb along with Dean Dillon, Hank Cochran and Buddy Cannon. He had his final number one hit in 1989 with I'm Still Crazy. Gosdin left Columbia in 1993. This budget comp is a good intro to his music. Gosdin got the rights to all his songs and released the box set 40 Years Of The Voice in on his own label in 2008. He died as the result of a stroke on Apr. 28, 2009 at age 74. Here's Vern Gosdin performing Set 'Em Up Joe at The Grand Ole Opry 1991.
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