Vern Gosdin
Vernon Gosdin, known as country music's "the Voice", was an American country music singer. 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 ", "Set 'Em Up Joe", and "I'm Still Crazy".
Career
Early years
As the sixth child in a family of nine, Vern Gosdin began singing in Bethel East Baptist Church in his birth place of Woodland, Alabama, United States, where his mother played piano. Gosdin and two brothers sang gospel on Birmingham radio station WVOK. Gosdin later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he operated the D&G Tap. He idolized the Louvin Brothers and the Blue Sky Boys as a young man.1960s: West Coast Country music movement
In 1961, Gosdin moved to California, where he joined the West Coast country music movement, first as a member of the Golden State Boys, which became the Hillmen, and included Chris Hillman. 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, the Gosdin Brothers were featured on Hillman's former Byrds mate Gene Clark's first solo album, the 1967 well-regarded Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers, 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.1970s: Retirement and comeback
Gosdin retired from performing during the 1970s and moved to Cartersville, Georgia, where he operated a glass company. In 1976, he signed with Elektra Records, and his first hit was a remake of "Hangin' On", which featured Emmylou Harris on harmony vocals and peaked at number 16. His next single, "Yesterday's Gone", written by Wayne Hinsen Bradford, who also wrote for Emmylou Harris, also featured Harris, and became his first top-10 hit in 1977. Several more hits followed between 1977 and 1979, with the biggest of these hits being a remake of "Till the End" and a cover of the Association's "Never My Love", which also featured harmony vocals from Janie Frickie.1981–1983: "Today My World Slipped Away"
In 1981, Gosdin signed with Ovation Records and scored a top-10 hit with "Dream of Me". After Ovation Records closed later in 1981, Gosdin signed with AMI Records, where he scored a top-10 hit in 1982 with "Today My World Slipped Away"..In January 1982, during a trial that examined the attempted assassination of music producer Gary S. Paxton, Darryl C. Langley claimed under oath that his cohort and he 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, released There Is a Season, picked by the Los 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.