Roy Drusky

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Roy Drusky


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Roy Frank Drusky Jr.
Alias = Roy Drusky
Born = birth date|1930|6|22|mf=y
Died = death date (aged 74)|2004|9|23|mf=y
Origin = Atlanta, Georgia
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Country Music
Occupation = Singer, songwriter, producer, actor, disc jockey
Years_active = 1953-2004
Label = Starday Records, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Mercury Records
Associated_acts = Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Priscilla Mitchell
URL =

Roy Drusky (full name Roy Frank Drusky Jr., June 22, 1930 - September 23, 2004) was a country music singer who was popular from the 1960s through the early 1970s.

Early life and career

A native of Georgia, Roy Drusky became a popular country singer during the 1960s, known for his baritone voice. He sounded much like fellow country singer Eddy Arnold; both were known for their orchestral country songs.

Roy was born Roy Frank Drusky Jr. in 1930, in Atlanta, Georgia. He did not do much singing until the late 1940s, when he joined the Navy. 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. Originally planning to become a baseball player, he began his music career in the early 1950s performing on a Decatur, Georgia radio station. He attended Emory University, after finishing his service in the Navy and studied veterinary medicine. During this time, he also played country music with a group he founded, called the Southern Ranch Boys.

Drusky also worked as a disc jockey. In 1953, he signed with Starday Records; the first single he released was called "Such a Fool." That same year, he joined the Grand Ole Opry. A couple of years later, he recorded for Columbia Records, but none of his work gained much success.

Work as a songwriter

Faron Young, a well-known country singer himself, helped Drusky's career by recording his songs. Two songs Drusky wrote, "Alone With You" and "Country Girl," Young turned into major #1 country hits. After that, Drusky moved on to Decca Records.

Height of his career

In 1960, Roy 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 legendary country singer Patsy Cline into big success in the early '60s as well. Bradley helped smooth out Drusky's orchestral tones; the next year, Drusky reached the Country Top 10 with the single "Second Hand Rose."

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. He cut a lot of duets with Priscilla Mitchell: one of his biggest hits with her was the #1 hit "Yes, Mr. Peters." (Mitchell was the wife of Jerry Reed, another well-known country singer.) During his career, Drusky racked up a number of Top 40 Country hits.

Some of his Top 40 songs were written by famous songwriters. Singer/songwriter Liz Anderson wrote "Pick of the Week" for him. Kris Kristofferson wrote "Jody and the Kid." Another song, "Red, Red Wine," was written by Neil Diamond. After 1965, though, his chart success was beginning to fade away.

Television career

While also being a successful country singer, Drusky also had a small television career. In 1965, he appeared in the movie "White Lightnin' Express" and two other films as well, "The Golden Guitar" and "Four Acre Feud".

Decline and comeback

After 1965, Roy Drusky's success on the country charts was wearing away. He racked up a couple other Top 10 hits like "Where the Blue and Lonely Go" in 1969 and made a good comeback in 1970 with the Top 5 hit "Long Long Texas Road," his first Top 5 country hit in six years. After that, his career success in country music faded away for good.

His albums and singles went into a rapid downfall, due to the changes in country music during the 1970s and '80s. He returned though to writing and producing music, the latter of which he had done since the 1960s. After doing not much in the 1980s, he went into more country-Gospel during the 1990s.

Death

On September 23, 2004, Roy Drusky died at age 74. It was said that he had died from a lengthy illness he had been battling for a long time. He had no funeral service, but only a memorial service.

Discography

Hit singles

elected albums

ources

* "Country Music: The Rough Guide"; Wolff, Kurt; Penguin Publishing
* LP Discography.com
* All Music.com