Ferlin Eugene Husky (December 3, 1925 – March 17, 2011) was an early American country music singer who was equally adept at the genres of traditional honky-tonk, ballads, spoken recitations, and rockabilly pop tunes. He had two dozen top-20 hits in the Billboard country charts between 1953 and 1975; his versatility and matinee-idol looks propelled a seven-decade entertainment career. He sold over 20 million records.
Husky was born in Cantwell, Missouri. His mother named
him Furland, but his name was misspelled on his birth certificate. He grew up
on a farm near Flat River and attended school in Irondale. He learned guitar
from an uncle. After dropping out of high school, Husky moved to St. Louis,
where he worked as a truck driver and steel mill worker while performing in
honky tonks at night. 
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 returned to using his given name.
A few singles failed before "A Dear John
Letter" with Jean Shepard became a number-one hit. The followup was called
"Forgive Me John". In 1955, Husky had a solo hit with "I Feel
Better All Over (More Than Anywheres Else)"/"Little Tom". As
Simon Crum, he signed a separate contract with Capitol Records and began
releasing records, the biggest of which was 1959's "Country Music is Here
to Stay" (number two for three weeks)
In the late 1950s, Husky had a long string of hits,
including the number-one "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 number four on the pop
music chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The
song's popularity led to a stint as a summer replacement host in 1957 on
CBS-TV's Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts.
He began acting, appearing on Kraft Television Theatre,
and portraying himself in the 1957 film Mister Rock and Roll. Bob Ferguson's
"Wings of a Dove" became his biggest hit in 1960, topping the country
charts for 10 weeks and attaining number 12 on the pop chart. Husky was also
known for his ability to mimic other popular country singers, including
Tennessee Ernie Ford and Kitty Wells.
Although he did not have more chart-toppers, he charted
three 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. He was married four times and for the last six years of
his life lived with his long-time love, Leona Williams (former wife of Merle
Haggard).
On February 23, 2010, the Country Music Association
announced his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. On January 16,
2011, Husky was honoured at West St. Francois County High School in Leadwood,
Missouri, where local singers and the high-school choir sang some of his hits.
On March 8, 2011, Husky was hospitalized again after several days of not feeling well. By the weekend, he had improved and was preparing to move out of the coronary care unit, but on March 17, Husky died at his daughter's home in Westmoreland, Tennessee, of congestive heart failure. (Info edited from Wikipedia)
On March 8, 2011, Husky was hospitalized again after several days of not feeling well. By the weekend, he had improved and was preparing to move out of the coronary care unit, but on March 17, Husky died at his daughter's home in Westmoreland, Tennessee, of congestive heart failure. (Info edited from Wikipedia)
