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Vern Gosdin | |
|---|---|
 Gosdin performing on TNN, 1999 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vernon Gosdin |
| Born | (1934-08-05)August 5, 1934 Woodland, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 2009(2009-04-28) (aged 74) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country,gospel,bluegrass,folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer,songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals,guitar |
| Years active | 1967–2009 |
| Labels | Elektra Ovation AMI A&M Compleat Columbia Records VGM |
| Formerly of | Emmylou Harris George Jones George Strait |
Vernon Gosdin (August 5, 1934[1] – April 28, 2009)[2] aka Country music's "The Voice", was an Americancountry musicsinger. He had 19 top-10 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".[3]
As the sixth child in a family of nine,[4] Vern Gosdin began singing in Bethel East Baptist Church in his birth place ofWoodland, Alabama, United States,[1] where his mother played piano. Gosdin and two brothers sang gospel onBirmingham radio stationWVOK.[4] Gosdin later moved toChicago, Illinois, where he operated the D&G Tap. He idolizedThe Louvin Brothers andThe Blue Sky Boys as a young man.[citation needed]
In 1961, Gosdin moved to California, where he joined the West Coast Country music movement, first as a member of the Golden State Boys,[1] which becameThe Hillmen, and includedChris Hillman.[4] Gosdin then formed The Gosdin Brothers with brother Rex. The duo appeared on the charts in the late 1960s with a song titled "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 formerByrds mateGene Clark's first solo album, the 1967 well-regardedGene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers,[1] 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).
Gosdin retired from performing during the 1970s and moved to Cartersville, Georgia, where he operated a glass company.[4] In 1976, he signed withElektra Records and his first hit was a remake of "Hangin' On", which featuredEmmylou Harris on harmony vocals and peaked at No. 16.[1] His next single, "Yesterday's Gone" written by Wayne Hinsen Bradford who also wrote for Emmylou Harris, which also featured Harris, became his first Top 10 hit in 1977.[1] Several more hits followed between 1977 and 1979 with the biggest of these hits being a remake of "Till the End" and a cover ofThe Association's "Never My Love" which also featured harmony vocals fromJanie Frickie.[1]
In 1981, Gosdin signed withOvation Records and scored a Top 10 hit with "Dream of Me". After Ovation Records closed their doors later in 1981, Gosdin 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 forGeorge Strait).
In January 1982, during a trial that examined the attempted assassination of music producerGary S. Paxton, Darryl C. Langley claimed under oath that he and his cohort were hired attackers employed by Gosdin, who worked closely with Paxton and was alleged to be disgruntled in their working relationship. Gosdin was never arrested or charged and repeatedly refused to confirm or deny involvement for the remainder of his life.
Gosdin signed with Complete Records in the early 1980s, and, in 1984, releasedThere Is A Season, picked by theLos Angeles Times as best country album of the year.The early 1980s also found a great combination of talent as Gosdin traveled from coast to coast opening shows for George Jones.
Gosdin made the top 10 consistently in the early 1980s, really hitting his stride when he teamed with 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 toGeorge Jones.[1] In 1983, Gosdin had two top 5 hits — "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)" and "Way Down Deep" with the former earning him a nomination for theGrammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. 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)",[3] which had previously been recorded byGary Morris.[4] On September 22, 1985, Gosdin appeared at the original Farm Aid concert at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium.
After Compleat Records went bankrupt, Gosdin signed with Columbia in 1987. He immediately had success with "Do You Believe Me Now", and scored another No. 1 hit with a tribute toErnest Tubb called "Set 'Em Up Joe".[3] Gosdin's "Chiseled in Stone", co-written with Barnes, won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year award in 1989 and earned them a nomination for theGrammy Award for Best Country Song.
Gosdin's 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".[3] From 1989 to 1991, he released a number of songs and three more made theBillboard top 10: "Right in the Wrong Direction", "That Just About Does It" and "Is It Raining at Your House". "Raining" has been covered byBrad Paisley andLorrie Morgan, and "That Just About Does It" byWillie Nelson.
Gosdin suffered a stroke in 1998, but he continued writing and singing up until his death. In 2009, Gosdin collaborated with Joe Sins of the country music duo The Sins to write and record his final four songs.
Gosdin suffered another stroke in early April 2009, and died at a Nashville hospital on the evening of April 28 at the age of 74.[2] His remains were buried atMount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)" | Best Male Country Vocal Performance | Nominated |
| 1989 | "Chiseled in Stone" | Best Country Song | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Vern Gosdin | Top New Male Vocalist | Nominated |
| 1989 | "Set 'Em Up Joe" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Chiseled in Stone | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Vern Gosdin | Horizon Award | Nominated |
| "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)" | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| 1984 | Vern Gosdin | Horizon Award | Nominated |
| 1988 | Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |
| Chiseled in Stone | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 1989 | "Chiseled in Stone" | Single of the Year | Nominated |
| Song of the Year | Won |
