AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Ferlin Husky

Artist:Ferlin Husky

Song:Gone

Album:Capitol Collectors Series

The 1957 single Gone topped the country charts and was a top ten pop hit. It was Ferlin Husky's biggest hit and an early example of the mix of country and pop that became known as Countrypolitan in the 60s. He was born Dec. 3, 1925 in Cantwell, MO. He grew up on a farm. An uncle taught him to play guitar. After dropping out of high school, Husky moved to St. Louis and worked as a truck driver and steel mill worker while playing honky tonks at night. During WWII, Husky was a US Merchant Marine and he entertained on the ship. This is when he created his Simon Crum comedy character based on one of his neighbors in Missouri. After WWII, Husky worked as a DJ in Missouri and then in Bakersfield while working on the Simon Crum character. He took the stage name Terry Preston after actor Smiley Burnette told him the name Ferlin Husky wouldn't work on a marquee. He recorded several singles as Terry Preston for 4 Star Records. These were in the Honky Tonk style. After he signed with Capitol in 1953, he continued to record as Preston including his original version of Gone. After returning to his real name, Husky's 1953 duet with Jean Shepherd A Dear John Letter topped the country charts and was a top five pop hit. And that's when Husky started to have success. Capitol Nashville A&R head Ken Nelson decided that with his soaring vocals, Husky could not only top the country charts but could cross over to pop. And that led to the 1957 re-recording of Gone. It topped the Country Singles chart and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gone was written by Smokey Rogers who was in Spade Cooley's band in the 40s. The background vocals were by The Jordanaires and by Millie Kirkham who also sang on Elvis Presley's Blue Christmas. She was a career background singer. The song was such a big hit that Husky appeared on several network TV shows including The Ed Sullivan Show. Husky also topped the country charts with the 1960 single The Wings of a Dove. Husky didn't have the same success in the 60s because Countrypolitain was a crowded field by then. You can get Gone on this budget comp. Husky left Capitol for ABC in 1972. But he started having health problems. He had heart surgery in 1977. He continued to perform but the heart problems continued until his death on Mar. 17, 2011 at age 85. Here's Ferlin Husky performing Gone on the Grand Ole Opry TV show.