ROOTS of Country Music

The Professional Work of Ferlin Husky 

(Dec. 3, 1925 -- Mar. 17, 2011)

Career Track

Barn Dance Affiliate: Louisiana Hayride

Also Recorded as Simon Crum 

• No. 1 Singles: 3
• Top-10 Singles: 11
• Crossover Singles: 0
• Charted Singles: 51
• Years Active: 1953 - 1975

Awards

Country Music Association

Country Music Hall of Fame (2010)

Billboard Top-10 Singles

• A Dear John Letter*1 -1953
• Forgive Me John,1
• I Feel Better All Over -1955
• Little Tom
• Cuzz Yore So Sweet
• Gone*3 -1957
• A Fallen Star
• Country Music is Here to Stay,4 -1958
• Wings of a Dove*2 -1960
• Once -1966
• Just For You-1967

*No. 1 Single

1With Jean Shepard

2Biggest Single

3Biggest Song in Country Music in 1960

4Simon Crum 

Ferlin Eugene Husky was an early country music singer who was equally adept at the genres of traditional honky-honk, ballads, spoken recitations and rockabilly pop tunes. Ferlin had a multiple-level career, beginning with music and encompassing acting and television hosting. Husky was raised on a farm near Flat River, Missouri. He learned to play guitar at a young age. Ferlin enlisted in the Merchant Marines during World War II and fought in the Battle of Cherbourg, keeping his voice in shape by singing for his fellow enlisted men.

In 1957, Ferlin's acting career began when he landed a spot on the Kraft TV Theatre television program and was cast in Alan Freed's 1957 film, Mr. Rock & Roll. He went on to act in more than 18 movies including Hillbillies in a Haunted House, Country Music Holiday an 'Forty Acre Feud. The singer has had roles alongside Henry Fonda, Mamie Van Doren, Glenn Ford and John Carradine. Ferlin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

Ferlin became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in July 1954, which was broadcast on NBC. When he was offered and took the job as Arthur Godfrey's summer replacement on the CBS network, he had to leave the Opry because they were opposing networks. After his stint with the Godfrey show was over, he went back to the Opry, only to be let go in 1964 with several other artists who couldn't perform the required 26 shows a year, per their agreement as Opry members at the time.

Husky had two dozen Top-20 hits in the Billboard country charts between 1953 --1975. His versatility and matinee-idol looks propelled a seven-decade career. In the 1950s and 60s, Husky's hits included, A Dear John Letter (No. 1, 1953), I Feel Better All Over (No. 6, 1955), Gone (No. 1, 1957) Country Music is Here to Stay (No. 2, 1958), Wings of a Dove (No. 1,1960), Once (No. 4, 1966) and Just For You (4, 1967).

Gone was the biggest song in country music in 1957 Wings of a Dove was the 4th biggest song in country music in 1960. He also created a comic outspoken hayseed character, Simon Crum and recorded under the stage name Terry Preston from 1948--1953. In 2010, Husky was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Researched, written and compiled by Richard Bell. Roots of Country Music. Oct., 15, 2011.