Nashville, Tenn. (Top40 Charts/ Ferlin Husky Official Website) Ferlin passed away today in the Critical Care unit of a Nashville-area hospital where he had been under intensive care for several days.
Truly one of the greats of Country music, and a great individual who helped foster the careers of many others, we will miss our friend greatly.
Pending funeral arrangements will take place in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Ferlin Husky is considered to be one of the most resourceful and versatile entertainers in the pop-country field. Born near Flat River, Missouri, in a town so small it was prone to be mistaken for a fly-speck by map makers, he left home for a hitch in the Merchant Marines and D-Day found him under forty-eight hours of continuous battle-fire during the invasion of Cherbourg. He was later awarded a citation as "Volunteer Gunner" as a result of his action during the battle.
After completing service, Ferlin moved to the west coast where he began recording under the name of Terry Preston. "Terry" never quite made it. It wasn't until Ferlin re-released his disc of "Gone", using his real name, Ferlin Husky, (and adding background singers to round out the basic country rhythm) that he hit pay dirt. This time,, "Gone" earned him a coveted gold record, signifying one million sales on the disc.
Since that time, Ferlin has sold over 20 million records, of which "Gone", Wings of a Dove", "A Dear John letter" and "Country Music is Here to Stay" (alter-ego Simon Crum's contribution) were all gold.
Ferlin Husky has also made more than eighteen motion pictures, and has had the honor of having his name placed among the greats in the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard. He has played a part in pictures starring such famous Hollywood-ites as the Gabors, Henry Fonda, Mamie Van Doran, Glen Ford, John Carradine and the late Jayne Mansfield, Lon Chaney and Basil Rathbone.
In the field of television, Husky's memorable appearances on the Kraft Television Theater were highlights of his crowded career, followed by a two-week hitch as CBS's choice for Arthur Godfry's TV and radio replacement. He has made frequent appearances on top-notch shows such as Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dean Martin and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Ferlin also had a network show of his own. His road show has literally traveled around the world to Germany, England, Japan, all Canadian provinces and all fifty states.
In 2010, Ferlin Husky was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The ceremony included musical tributes to Ferlin by Ronnie McDowell, the Jordanaires, Dallas Frazier, Ricky Skaggs and the Whites.
Ferlin's last recording, "The Way It Was (Is The Way It Is)", released in 2005, features two duets with Country singer/songwriter Leona Williams.
Ferlin passed away on March 17, 2011, at age 85, after several days in critical care at a Nashville area hospital. He was still, occassionally, performing.
