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Posts Tagged ‘Cliffie Stone’

Died On This Date (March 17, 2011) Ferlin Husky / Country Legend

Posted by themusicsover on March 17, 2011

Ferlin Husky
December 3, 1925 – March 17, 2011

Ferlin Husky was a country music singer who launched his career in 1945 and released a string of hits that stretched through the mid ’70s.  During WWII Husky, a Merchant Marine, entertained the troops on his ship.  After the war, he landed a recording contract with Capitol Records thanks to the help of Cliffie Stone.  In 1953, he scored his first #1 hit with the Jean Shepard duet, “A Dear John Letter.”  The hits continued with such records as “Gone” and “Wings Of A Dove.”  He also dabbled in acting during the late ’50s.  Husky suffered from heart problems since the 1970s and passed away from cardiac trouble on March 17, 2011.  He was 85.

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Ferlin Husky

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Died On This Date (January 17, 1998) Cliffie Stone / Country Singer

Posted by themusicsover on January 17, 2010

Cliffie Stone (Born Clifford Snyder)
March 1, 1917 – January 17, 1998

Cliffie Stone was a country singer, musician and songwriter as well as a producer and A&R man for Capitol Records during the label’s early years.  As a bassist, he played in big bands that became popular throughout Southern California thanks to appearances on local radio shows.  In 1946, he was hired by Capitol where he signed Tennessee Ernie Ford and Hank Thompson, among others.  He released a handful of his own albums during the 1950s.  During the ’60s, Stone found more success with his own publishing company, Central Songs.  On January 17, 1998, Cliffie Stone died of a heart attack at the age of 81.

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Cliffie Stone

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Died On This Date (November 15, 2003) Speedy West / Pedal Steel Great

Posted by themusicsover on November 15, 2009

Wesley “Speedy” West
January 25, 1924 – November 15, 2003

SpeedyWestSpeedy West was one of country music’s greatest pedal steel guitarists.  He is best remembered for his work with Jimmy Bryant and Tennessee Ernie Ford.  Born and raised in and around Springfield, Missouri, West learned to play the peddle steel at an early age, and after WWII, he and his young family moved to Los Angeles to follow his dream after learning of tremendous opportunities for musicians in the area.   His big break came in 1948 when Spade Cooley hired him to perform in his big swing band.  West soon met Cliffie Stone who was doing A&R for Capitol Records, and by 1949, he was a full time session player.  It was soon after that West began recording with Bryant.  Over the first five years of the 1950s, West played on upwards of 6000 recordings by over 175 artists.  That list includes Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford, and Johnnie Ray.  During the late ’50s, West worked with Bobby Bare, helping he establish his career, and then playing on his records.  Work for country musicians began to dry up in Los Angeles by the early ’60s, so West moved to Tulsa to manage Fender Instruments’ distribution center.  He continued to play, but not nearly as much as he had in California.  West suffered a massive stroke in 1981 that left him unable to play.  He was 79 when he passed away on November 15, 2003.

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Speedy West

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