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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHUSKY, Ferlin(b 3 December 1927, Cantwell MO; d 17 March 2011, Henderson KY) Pop-country singer, comedy star and highly regarded entertainer. The name was sometimes spelled Huskey. He served in the Merchant Marine during WWII, began as a disc jockey in 1947 using the name Terry Preston (his parents didn't want him to be in show business), and became one of the first stars in the new counrtry music scene in Bakersfield, California. He recorded for Four Star '51, then Capitol from '53 still as Preston, but reverted to his real name for duets the same year with Jean Shepard: 'A Dear John Letter' was a no. 1 country hit (and sent up unmercifully by Stan Freberg on a comedy record), 'Forgive Me, John' no. 4, both '53; he had two country top tens '55; then confused matters further by inventing the hayseed comic Simon Crum, at first for stage shows, later for a no. 2 hit 'Country Music Is Here To Stay' '58. Meanwhile he crossed over to the pop chart. As Preston he had recorded Smokey Rogers' doleful ballad '(Since You're) Gone' '52, with Speedy West on steel guitar; in '57 he recorded it again under his real name with an uptown arrangement, and it was a country no. 1 for ten weeks, no. 4 pop, followed by 'A Fallen Star' no. 8/47 same year, 'Wings Of A Dove' no. 1/12 '60; 'The Waltz You Saved For Me' no. 13/94 '62. He had 29 top 40 hits in the country chart '55-71 not counting Simon Crum. He appeared in films, including Mr. Rock and Roll '57 with Alan Freed, and co-starring with Zsa Zsa Gabor, Faron Young and June Carter in Country Music Holiday '58. He stopped recording but remained a popular live act. There were compilation CDs on Capitol, Pair and Curb/WB. Helped by people like Cliffie Stone when he was starting out, he later passed it on, generous with younger artists including Buck Owens. |