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2009-04-30 01:56:58 UTC
Country singer Vern Gosdin dies at age 74
By JOHN GEROME – 3 hours ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Singer Vern Gosdin, who recorded country music
hits like the award-winning "Chiseled in Stone" during a 30-year
career, has died. He was 74.
Michael Illobre, funeral director at Mount Olivet Funeral Home in
Nashville, said Wednesday that Gosdin was under hospice care and died
late Tuesday at an area hospital.
The singer's administrative assistant, Dawn Hall, said Gosdin had a
history of strokes and suffered the latest one a few weeks ago.
"We were quite hopeful there for a while because he was showing signs
of coming back," Hall said.
Until earlier this month, she said, "He was independent and telling me
what to do." He released a box set in December and was renovating his
tour bus for an appearance at the Country Music Association's annual
festival in June.
"Chiseled in Stone" was voted 1989 song of the year by the CMA. In the
tune, an older man tells a younger man who is going through tough
times, "You don't know about sadness 'til you faced life alone, you
don't know about lonely 'til it's chiseled in stone."
Gosdin, who was known as "The Voice," had several other hits in the
1970s and '80s including "Set 'em Up Joe," "I Can Tell by the Way You
Dance" and "I'm Still Crazy."
A number of contemporary country stars mourned the loss.
"He was one hell of a country singer and helped me out a lot on my
very first tour," George Strait said in a statement.
Josh Turner called Gosdin a "singer of sad songs."
"The news of Vern's death puts me beyond sad," Turner said. "He was
one of my unofficial vocal coaches. He taught me what 'country soul
music' was. Country music has lost one of its ambassadors."
During his career, he sang gospel music, bluegrass, folk-rock and then
country. He had a rich baritone, and was once described by Tammy
Wynette as "the only other singer who can hold a candle to George
Jones."
He once said he used life experiences in his music.
"Out of everything bad, something good will come if you look hard
enough — and I got 10 hits out of my last divorce," he said after the
breakup of his third marriage in 1989.
Gosdin wrote or co-wrote many of his recordings. In the late 1960s, he
also wrote "Someone to Turn To," which was recorded by the Byrds for
the soundtrack of the movie "Easy Rider."
He was born in Woodland, Ala., where he grew up chopping cotton and
singing on the Gosdin family gospel music show.
His fans are circulating a petition to get him into the Country Music
Hall of Fame, Hall said.
"We're going to push and push and push and get him the recognition he
deserves," she said. "Fans leave him so many messages all the
time. ... He inspired so many people."
A public visitation is planned for Saturday at Mount Olivet Funeral
Home.
Gosdin is survived by a son.
Ray Arthur
By JOHN GEROME – 3 hours ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Singer Vern Gosdin, who recorded country music
hits like the award-winning "Chiseled in Stone" during a 30-year
career, has died. He was 74.
Michael Illobre, funeral director at Mount Olivet Funeral Home in
Nashville, said Wednesday that Gosdin was under hospice care and died
late Tuesday at an area hospital.
The singer's administrative assistant, Dawn Hall, said Gosdin had a
history of strokes and suffered the latest one a few weeks ago.
"We were quite hopeful there for a while because he was showing signs
of coming back," Hall said.
Until earlier this month, she said, "He was independent and telling me
what to do." He released a box set in December and was renovating his
tour bus for an appearance at the Country Music Association's annual
festival in June.
"Chiseled in Stone" was voted 1989 song of the year by the CMA. In the
tune, an older man tells a younger man who is going through tough
times, "You don't know about sadness 'til you faced life alone, you
don't know about lonely 'til it's chiseled in stone."
Gosdin, who was known as "The Voice," had several other hits in the
1970s and '80s including "Set 'em Up Joe," "I Can Tell by the Way You
Dance" and "I'm Still Crazy."
A number of contemporary country stars mourned the loss.
"He was one hell of a country singer and helped me out a lot on my
very first tour," George Strait said in a statement.
Josh Turner called Gosdin a "singer of sad songs."
"The news of Vern's death puts me beyond sad," Turner said. "He was
one of my unofficial vocal coaches. He taught me what 'country soul
music' was. Country music has lost one of its ambassadors."
During his career, he sang gospel music, bluegrass, folk-rock and then
country. He had a rich baritone, and was once described by Tammy
Wynette as "the only other singer who can hold a candle to George
Jones."
He once said he used life experiences in his music.
"Out of everything bad, something good will come if you look hard
enough — and I got 10 hits out of my last divorce," he said after the
breakup of his third marriage in 1989.
Gosdin wrote or co-wrote many of his recordings. In the late 1960s, he
also wrote "Someone to Turn To," which was recorded by the Byrds for
the soundtrack of the movie "Easy Rider."
He was born in Woodland, Ala., where he grew up chopping cotton and
singing on the Gosdin family gospel music show.
His fans are circulating a petition to get him into the Country Music
Hall of Fame, Hall said.
"We're going to push and push and push and get him the recognition he
deserves," she said. "Fans leave him so many messages all the
time. ... He inspired so many people."
A public visitation is planned for Saturday at Mount Olivet Funeral
Home.
Gosdin is survived by a son.
Ray Arthur