Country Singer Ferlin Husky Has Died

Country Hall of Famer Ferlin Husky passed away Thursday (March 17) at the age of 86. Ferlin had been hospitalized with breathing trouble in suburban Nashville earlier in the month and at one time was in critical condition. Upon his release he was under hospice care. Ferlin has been hospitalized each of the last two years with pulmonary and cardiac problems. Born in 1925 in Cantwell, Missouri, he served in the Merchant Marines in World War II before returning as a disk jockey in Bakersfield, California. It was there he performed under the name of Terry Preston. He initially recorded under that name for Capitol Records before switching to his real name, but also recorded parody records as Simon Crum. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1955 and moved to Nashville. Ferlin appeared 51 times on the Country charts from 1953-1975. More importantly, six of his songs crossed over to the Pop charts, including "A Dear John Letter" (with Jean Shepard, #4-1953), "Gone (#4-1957) and "Wings Of A Dove" (#12-1960). He was elected to the Country Hall of Fame in 2010.