Roy Drusky Explained

Roy Drusky
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Roy Frank Drusky, Jr.
Birth Date:22 June 1930
Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Death Place:Portland, Tennessee, U.S.
Instrument:Vocals
Genre:Country music
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Years Active:1953–2004
Label:Starday Records, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Mercury Records, Chapel Records
Past Member Of:Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Priscilla Mitchell

Roy Frank Drusky, Jr. (June 22, 1930 – September 23, 2004) was an American country music singer and songwriter popular from the 1960s through the early 1970s. Known for his baritone voice, he was known for incorporating the Nashville 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 No. 1 "Yes, Mr. Peters", a duet with Priscilla Mitchell.

Biography

Early life and career

Drusky was born in 1930 in Atlanta, 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 the Cleveland Indians,[2] then beginning his music career in the early 1950s performing on a Decatur, Georgia radio station. He began singing while in the US Navy during the 1940s, and later attended Emory 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 with Starday Records;[1] the first single he released was called "Such a Fool". That same year, he joined the Grand Ole Opry.[1] A couple of years later, he recorded for Columbia Records, but none of his work gained much success.[1]

Work as a songwriter

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 No. 1 country hits.[1] After that, Drusky moved on to Decca Records. He also wrote "Anymore",[1] which charted for Teresa Brewer in 1960.

Height of his career

Drusky charted in Cashbox 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 producer Owen Bradley, he released a single called "Another", which he co-wrote. Bradley was a well-known producer who had led country singer Patsy 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 to Mercury 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 by Bill Anderson.[1] He cut a lot of duets with Priscilla Mitchell: one of his biggest hits with her was the No. 1 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 by Merle 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 by Neil Diamond.

Drusky appeared on most of the country music television programs of the era; and in 1965, he appeared in the movie White Lightnin' Express and two other films as well, The Golden Guitar and Four Acre Feud.[1]

The 1970s

Drusky had his most successful record in several years with 1970's "Long Long Texas Road", a top 5 hit.[1] He continued to score several top 40 country hits with the occasional low-charting single.

Drusky's last top 40 country was a remake of "A Satisfied Mind" in 1973 which had earlier been a hit for both Porter Wagoner and Jean Shepard. He made his last appearance on the Billboard charts in 1974, but occasionally recorded on smaller record labels into the 1990s. He also recorded a number of gospel albums for Chapel Records during this period. He also 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 the program 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.

Death

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

Personal life

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

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumUS Country
1961Anymore with Roy Drusky
1962It's My Way
1963Roy Drusky
1964Songs of the Cities14
Yesterday's Gone14
1965Pick of the Country11
Country Music All Around the World18
The Great Roy Drusky Sings
1966Roy Drusky's Greatest Hits7
Together Again (w/ Priscilla Mitchell)14
In a New Dimension20
If the Whole World Stopped Lovin17
1967Now Is a Lonely Time31
1968Greatest Hits Volume 233
Jody and the Kid27
1969Portrait of Roy Drusky33
My Grass Is Green37
1970I'll Make Amends38
The Best of Roy Drusky42
All My Hard Times20
1971I Love the Way You've Been Lovin' Me3
1976New Lips
1977Ramblin' Man
1979English Gold
1982Songs Of Willie Nelson
1984Country Sunshine

Singles

YearSingleChart PositionsAlbum
US Country[5] CAN Country
1960"Another (Just Like Me)"2Anymore with Roy Drusky
"Anymore"3
"I Can't Tell My Heart That" (with Kitty Wells)26single only
1961"Three Hearts in a Tangle"A2Anymore with Roy Drusky
"I'd Rather Loan You Out"10
"I Went Out of My Way (To Make You Happy)"9singles only
1962"There's Always One (Who Loves a Lot)"17
"Second Hand Rose"3
1964"Peel Me a Nanner"8
"Pick of the Week"13Pick of the Country
"Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall"41singles only
1965"All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers"6
"Yes, Mr. Peters" (with Priscilla Mitchell)1Love's Eternal Triangle
"White Lightnin' Express"21Roy Drusky's Greatest Hits
"Slippin' Around" (with Priscilla Mitchell)45Love's Eternal Triangle
1966"Rainbows and Roses"20In a New Dimension
"The World Is Round"10
1967"If the Whole World Stopped Lovin'"12If the Whole World Stopped Lovin
"New Lips"25Now Is a Lonely Time
"Weakness in a Man"18Greatest Hits Volume 2
"I'll Never Tell on You" (with Priscilla Mitchell)61single only
1968"You Better Sit Down Kids"2621Jody and the Kid
"Jody and the Kid"249
"Where the Blue and Lonely Go"1016Portrait of Roy Drusky
"My Grass Is Green"14My Grass Is Green
1969"Such a Fool"742
"I'll Make Amends"1133I'll Make Amends
1970"Long Long Texas Road"54
"All My Hard Times"912All My Hard Times
1971"I Love the Way That You've Been Lovin' Me"1525I Love the Way That You've Been Lovin' Me
"I Can't Go On Lovin' You"37
"Red Red Wine"1716I Must Be Doin' Something Right
1972"Sunshine and Rainbows"58
"The Last Time I Called Somebody Darlin'"2563
1973"I Must Be Doin' Something Right"3260
"That Rain Makin' Baby of Mine"5065
"Satisfied Mind"2538singles only
1974"Close to Home"81
"Dixie Lily"45Peaceful Easy Feeling
1976"Night Flying"81Night Flying
1977"Betty's Song"91single only

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music. Colin Larkin. Guinness Publishing. 1993. First. 0-85112-726-6. 124/5.
  2. Web site: roy drusky three hearts in a tangle live. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/dfn6h2kQHxs . 2021-12-21 . live. August 6, 2021. YouTube.
  3. News: Roy Drusky, Grand Ole Opry Singer, dies at 74. The New York Times. September 27, 2004. May 12, 2018.
  4. Web site: Roy Frank Drusky III. 2004-09-29. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2022-04-20.
  5. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc.. August 2008. 130. 978-0-89820-177-2.
  6. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. 271. 2011. 978-0-89820-188-8.