Ferlin Husky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ferlin Husky
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Husky in 1962
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ferlin Eugene Husky |
| Also known as | Terry Preston, Simon Crum |
| Born | December 3, 1925 Cantwell, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | March 17, 2011 (aged 85) Westmoreland, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1945–2011 |
| Labels | Capitol Records (1953–1972) ABC Records (1972–1975) |
Ferlin Eugene Husky (December 3, 1925 – March 17, 2011) was a popular American country music singer. He was known for his amazing voice and ability to sing many different types of songs. These included upbeat honky-tonk, slow ballads, spoken stories, and even pop tunes.
From 1948 to 1953, he used the stage name Terry Preston. He also created a funny character named Simon Crum. Simon Crum was a country farmer who spoke his mind. In the 1950s and 1960s, Ferlin had huge hits like "Gone" and "Wings of a Dove". Both of these songs reached number one on the country music charts.
Between 1953 and 1975, Ferlin Husky had 11 songs in the top 10. He also had two dozen songs in the top 20. A total of 50 of his songs made it onto Billboard magazine's top 100 country songs list. His talent and good looks helped him have a long career. It lasted for seven decades! In 2010, he was honored by being added to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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Biography
Ferlin Husky was born in a small community called Gumbo, Missouri. This was in the northwestern part of St. Francois County, Missouri. His mother wanted to name him Furland. But his name was spelled wrong on his birth certificate.
Ferlin grew up on a farm near Flat River. He went to school in Irondale. His uncle taught him how to play the guitar. After leaving high school, he moved to St. Louis. There, he worked as a truck driver and in a steel mill. At night, he performed in local honky-tonk clubs.
Serving His Country
During World War II, Ferlin Husky served in the United States Merchant Marine. He served for five years. He entertained troops on transport ships. His website says his ship was part of the D-Day invasion of Cherbourg. His funny Simon Crum character came from stories he told during these years. He would tell stories about a neighbor from Missouri named Simon Crump.
Early Career and Hits
After the war, Husky continued to develop his Simon Crum character. He worked as a disc jockey in Missouri. Then he moved to Bakersfield, California, in the late 1940s. He started using the stage name Terry Preston. This was suggested by Smiley Burnette. Smiley thought "Ferlin Husky" wouldn't look good on a sign.
In 1953, he signed with Capitol Records. He was a honky-tonk singer. Cliffie Stone helped him, who also managed Tennessee Ernie Ford. At Capitol, he went back to using his real name. His first few songs didn't do well. But then "A Dear John Letter" with Jean Shepard became a number one hit that year. It topped the country charts and reached number four on the pop charts.
They followed up with "Forgive Me John" that same year. It reached number four on the country charts. It also made it to number 24 on the Hot 100 pop chart. These songs made them famous singers in the United States. In 1955, Husky had a solo hit called "I Feel Better All Over (More Than Anywheres Else)". As Simon Crum, he also released records. His biggest hit as Simon Crum was "Country Music is Here to Stay" in 1959. It reached number two on the charts.
Big Success
In the late 1950s, Husky had many hit songs. One of his biggest was "Gone". It stayed at the top of the charts for ten weeks in 1957. It was on the charts for a total of 27 weeks! "Gone" was also a crossover success. This means it was popular in both country and pop music. It reached number four on the pop music chart. The song sold over one million copies. It earned a gold disc. Because of the song's popularity, he even hosted a TV show in 1957. It was CBS-TV's Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts.
Ferlin also started acting. He appeared on the Kraft Television Theatre. He played himself in the 1957 movie Mister Rock and Roll. His website says he had small parts in 18 films. These included movies with famous actresses like Zsa Zsa Gabor. In 1971, he was the main star in a movie called Swamp Girl.
In 1960, "Wings of a Dove" became his biggest hit. It was written by Bob Ferguson. This song topped the country charts for 10 weeks. It also reached number 12 on the pop chart. Ferlin Husky was also known for being able to copy other popular country singers. He could imitate Tennessee Ernie Ford and Kitty Wells very well.
Even though he didn't have more number one hits, he had many other successful songs. He had three dozen hits between 1961 and 1972. The biggest of these were "Once" (1967) and "Just for You" (1968). In late 1972, after more than 20 years with Capitol Records, Husky signed with ABC Records. There, he had several more top 40 hits until 1975. His biggest hit with ABC was "Rosie Cries a Lot" (1973).
Later Years and Honors
Ferlin Husky briefly stopped touring in 1977 after heart surgery. But he soon started performing again. He remained a popular concert performer. He often played at the famous Grand Ole Opry. For the last six years of his life, he lived with his long-time partner, Leona Williams.
Ferlin Husky had heart problems for many years. He was in the hospital several times. This included heart surgery in 2005. On February 23, 2010, the Country Music Association announced a big honor. Ferlin Husky would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame! He was praised for his singing and comedy. He was called "one of the best entertainers country music has ever produced."
On January 16, 2011, he was honored at West St. Francois County High School in Leadwood, Missouri. Local singers and the high school choir sang some of his hits. Husky also gave some of his special items to the city of Leadwood. These included his Country Music Hall of Fame award. They are now kept at the high school.
On March 17, 2011, Ferlin Husky passed away. He died from heart failure at his daughter's home in Westmoreland, Tennessee. He was buried next to his son, Danny Louis Husky, in Hendersonville Memory Gardens in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Honors
Ferlin Husky was one of the first country singers to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6675 Hollywood Boulevard.
The street that goes through the city park in Leadwood, Missouri, is named after him.
