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Roy Drusky
Drusky in 1969
Background information
Born	Roy Frank Drusky, Jr. (1930-06-22)June 22, 1930 Atlanta,Georgia, U.S.
Died	September 23, 2004(2004-09-23) (aged 74) Portland, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Country music
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1953–2004
Labels	Starday Records,Columbia Records,Decca Records,Mercury Records,Chapel Records
Formerly of	Eddy Arnold,Jim Reeves,Priscilla Mitchell

Roy Frank Drusky, Jr. (June 22, 1930^[1] – September 23, 2004) was an Americancountry music singer and songwriter popular from the 1960s through the early 1970s. Known for his baritone voice, he was known for incorporating theNashville sound and for being one of the first artists to record a song written by Kris Kristofferson ("Jody and the Kid"). His highest-charting single was the number-one "Yes, Mr. Peters", aduet withPriscilla Mitchell.

Drusky was born in 1930 inAtlanta, Georgia, United States.^[1] His mother, a church organist, had tried for years to get her son into music as a child, but he was focused more on sports, allegedly declining a contract with theCleveland Indians,^[2] then beginning his music career in the early 1950s performing on aDecatur, Georgia, radio station. He began singing while in the US Navy during the 1940s, and later attendedEmory University and studied veterinary medicine.^[1] During this time, he also played country music with a group he founded, the Southern Ranch Boys.^[1]

Drusky also worked as a disc jockey.^[1] In 1953, he signed withStarday Records;^[1] the first single he released was called "Such a Fool". That same year, he joined theGrand Ole Opry.^[1] A few years later, he recorded forColumbia Records, but none of his work gained much success.^[1]

Faron Young, a well-known country singer, helped Drusky's career by recording his songs.^[1] Two songs he wrote, "Alone With You" and "Country Girl", Young turned into number-one country hits.^[1] After that, Drusky moved on toDecca Records. He also wrote "Anymore",^[1] which charted forTeresa Brewer in 1960.

Drusky charted inCashbox with "Wait and See" and "Our Church Your Wedding" in 1959.

In 1960, Drusky finally struck it big. At Decca Records, where he worked with producerOwen Bradley, he released a single called "Another", which he co-wrote. Bradley was a well-known producer who had led country singerPatsy Cline to big success in the early 1960s. Bradley helped smooth out Drusky's orchestral tones; the next year, Drusky reached the Country Top 10 with the single "Second Hand Rose".^[1]

In 1963, Drusky switched toMercury Records and released his first hit from his new record company the same year he signed on to it. The song was called "Peel Me a Nanner", which was written byBill Anderson.^[1] He cut several duets withPriscilla Mitchell; one of his biggest hits with her was the number-one hit "Yes, Mr. Peters".^[1] During his career, Drusky racked up a number of top-40 Country hits.^[1]

Some of his top-40 songs were written by famous singer-songwriters.Liz Anderson wrote "Pick of the Week" for him, as well as "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers", which is best remembered by the concurrent hit byMerle Haggard, although Drusky's was the more successful record at the time.Kris Kristofferson wrote "Jody and the Kid". Another song, "Red, Red Wine", was written byNeil Diamond.

Drusky appeared on most of the country music television programs of the era, and in 1965, he appeared in the movieWhite Lightnin' Express and two other films,The Golden Guitar andFour Acre Feud.^[1]

Drusky had his most successful record in several years with 1970's "Long Long Texas Road", a top-five hit.^[1] He continued to score several top-40 country hits with the occasional low-charting single.

Drusky's last top-40 country song was a remake of "A Satisfied Mind" in 1973. which had earlier been a hit for bothPorter Wagoner andJean Shepard. He made his last appearance on theBillboard charts in 1974, but occasionally recorded on smaller record labels into the 1990s. He also recorded a number of gospel albums forChapel Records during this period. He returned to writing and producing music, the latter of which he had done since the 1960s.

Drusky's membership with the Grand Ole Opry ensured him exposure for decades long after the radio hits stopped coming. He appeared regularly on theGrand Ole Opry until the year of his death, singing the hit songs he had racked up in the 1960s and 1970s, in addition to performing country standards from other artists, which became a tradition at the Opry.

On September 23, 2004, Drusky died at age 74 from complications stemming from lung cancer, which he fought for several years.^[3]

Drusky joined theSeventh-day Adventist Church in 1980. He traveled and performed with Kenneth Cox Ministries for 15 years. His wife Bobbye and he had three sons, Roy Frank, III ("Twig"), Tracy Alan ("Tad"), and Darel Bryon ("Tip").^[4]

• ^A"Three Hearts in a Tangle" also peaked at number 35 on theBillboard Hot 100.^[6]

• Country Music: The Rough Guide; Wolff, Kurt; Penguin Publishing
• AllMusic.com

• 1930 births
• 2004 deaths
• American country singer-songwriters
• American male singer-songwriters
• American Seventh-day Adventists
• Grand Ole Opry members
• Starday Records artists
• Singers from Atlanta
• Chapel Records artists
• Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state)
• 20th-century American male singers
• 20th-century American singer-songwriters
• Deaths from lung cancer in Tennessee
• Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)

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