Vern Gosdin

Vern Gosdin
Vern Gosdin performing on TNN (1999)
Background information
Birth name	Vernon Gosdin
Born	(1934-08-05)August 5, 1934
Origin	Woodland, Alabama, USA
Died	April 28, 2009(2009-04-28) (aged 74) Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Genres	Country, Gospel
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1967–2009
Labels	Elektra Ovation AMI A&M Compleat Columbia Records VGM
Associated acts	Emmylou Harris George Jones
Website	Official website

Vernon "Vern" Gosdin (August 5, 1934 – April 28, 2009) was an American country music singer. had 19 top-ten solo hits on the country music charts from 1977 through 1990. Three of these hits went to number one: "I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)", "Set 'Em Up Joe" and "I'm Still Crazy".^[1]

Career

Early years

As the sixth child in a family of nine,^[2] Vern Gosdin began singing in a church in Woodland, Alabama, where his mother played piano. Vern and two brothers sang gospel on Birmingham radio station WVOK.^[2] Vern later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he ran the D&G Tap. He idolized The Louvin Brothers and The Blue Sky Boys as a young man.^{[citation needed]}

1960s - West Coast Country music movement

In 1961, he moved to California, where he joined the West Coast Country music movement, first as a member of the Golden State Boys, which became The Hillmen, and included Chris Hillman.^[2] Vern then formed The Gosdin Brothers with brother Rex. The duo hit the charts in the late '60s with "Hangin' On" on the Bakersfield International label, then with "Till The End" on Capitol Records. During the same time period the Gosdin Brothers were featured on Hillman's former Byrds mate Gene Clark's first solo album, the 1967 well-regarded "Echoes: Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers" singing backing vocals on all of the tracks behind the lead vocals of Clark and Lead Guitars of Clarence White, Glen Campbell, and Bill Rinehart (later of the Merry-Go-Round).

1970s - Retirement and comeback

He retired from performing during the 1970s and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he operated a glass company.^[2] In 1976, he signed with Elektra Records and his first hit was a remake of "Hangin' On", which featured Emmylou Harris on harmony vocals and peaked at No. 16. His next single, "Yesterday's Gone", which also featured Harris, became his first Top 10 hit in 1977. Several more hits followed between 1977 and 1979 with the biggest of these hits being a remake of "Till the End" and a cover of The Association's "Never My Love" which also featured harmony vocals from Janie Frickie.

1981-1983: Today My World Slipped Away

In 1981, Vern signed with Ovation Records and scored a Top 10 hit with "Dream of Me". After Ovation Records closed their doors later in 1981, Vern signed with A.M.I. Records where he scored a Top 10 hit in 1982 with "Today My World Slipped Away". (This song later became a number-three hit for George Strait).

He signed with Compleat Records in the early '80s, and in 1984 released "There Is A Season," picked by the Los Angeles Times as best country album of the year. The early 80s also found a great combination of talent as Vern Gosdin traveled from coast to coast opening show's for George Jones. It was during this time that George Jones's manager, Gerald Murray,of Muscle Shoals, AL had the same home office for the two entertainers. George lived in Muscle Shoals at the time and the duo's office facility proved to be a pivot location for great writers and other entertainers including, Hank Williams Jr.

1983-1985: If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right) and There Is a Season

He made the top 10 consistently in the early '80s, really hitting his stride when he teamed with Max D. Barnes as a songwriting collaborator. The pair specialized in songs of cheating and barroom romance, often delivering an over-the-top emotionalism that got Gosdin compared to the ultimate legend of honky tonk vocals -- George Jones. In 1983, Gosdin had two top 5 hits — "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)" and "Way Down Deep." The following year, he had his first No. 1 single with "I Can Tell by the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)",^[1] which had previously been recorded by Gary Morris.^[2]

1987-1989: Chiseled in Stone

After Compleat Records went bankrupt, Gosdin signed with Columbia in 1987. He had success right off the bat with "Do You Believe Me Now." He hit No. 1 once again with a tribute to Ernest Tubb called "Set 'Em Up Joe."^[1] Gosdin's "Chiseled in Stone," co-written with Barnes, won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year award in 1989.

1989-1990: Alone

His 1989 album Alone was a concept album in a traditional country style. It chronicled the dissolution of Gosdin's marriage and included his final number-one hit: "I'm Still Crazy".^[1] From 1989-1991, he released a number of songs and three more made the Billboard top 10: "Right in the Wrong Direction," "That Just About Does It" and "Is It Raining at Your House." "Raining" has been covered by Brad Paisley, and "That Just About Does It" by Willie Nelson

2007 The Vern Gosdin Book

In 2007 Vern Gosdin's manager, Dr. Gerald Murray of Muscle Shoals, AL wrote, True Life Stories About "The Voice". The book told of the life and times the two had togeather and about a few of the many people in Vern's life. Murray was a part of Vern's life for some thirty years and referred to Gosdin as a father, brother and friend.

Later years

Vern continued writing and singing up until April 28, 2009, despite his battle and recovery from his first stroke in 1998. In December 2008, Vern Gosdin announced that www.theVoiceofCountryMusic.com would be releasing "40 Years of the Voice" with the help of a marketing team Tangent Alliance, LLC. This would become his final music project showcasing 40 years of his remarkable career.^[3] It released a total of 101 pure country songs hand selected by Vern himself, 11 new songs recorded in 2008, 14 songs from his 1968 album "Sounds of Goodbye" with brother Rex Gosdin, and 77 of his favorite country and gospel classics.

Death

Gosdin, who suffered a stroke in early April 2009, died at a Nashville hospital the evening of April 28, 2009 at the age of 74.^[4]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Music videos

References

• Hines, Geoffrey (1998). "Vern Gosdin". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 206–7.

External links

• Vern Gosdin Official Website
• Official Tribute Page
• CMT.com: Vern Gosdin
• Articles on Vern Gosdin
• Vern Gosdin remembrance in the Tripwire