
Ferlin Eugene Husky
was born in Cantwell, Missouri, on December 3, 1925, and grew up the son of a sharecropper on a small Missouri farm. He was named Ferland after one of his father’s friends, but his birth certificate nevertheless read “Ferlin,” and the spelling stuck
Husky’s first Capitol success was the smash hit, “A Dear John Letter,” on which featured artist, Jean Shepard, sang choruses punctuating Husky’s recitation as a soldier whose sweetheart has decided to marry his brother. With the Korean War still underway, the recording entered Billboard‘s country chart in July of 1953, shot to #1, and crossed over to #16 pop. Capitalizing on their success, the duo toured widely-after Husky was officially named guardian for Shepard, not yet twenty-one.
For more information about Ferlin Husky, check out his website at http://www.ferlinhusky.com/Ferlin_Husky_Biography.html