A group with the name is still in existence today 2003 and gives occasional concerts in branson, missouri and other spots. Gunsmoke star ken curtis had a prior career in country music. Sons of the pioneers cool clear water vintage 78rpm gramophone. Ken curtis and the sons of pioneers what makes a man to wander by ubsswp. The sons of the pioneers did several songs for the john ford mov read more. Ken curtis july 2, 1916 april 28, 1991 was an american singer and actor best known for his role as festus haggin on the longrunning cbs western television series gunsmoke. Early sons of the pioneers dwelling in beulah land 1937. When perryman returned, curtis remained with the pioneers as replacement for tim spencer who, owing to a voice problem, was becoming more the manager of the group than a singer. Dorcey had him under contract when he leased ken to sing with shep fields band and recorded ken with the pied pipers. In 1949, curtis and shug fisher toured with the sons of the pioneers and others, and during this period was asked to deputize for lloyd perryman for a time. In another memorable, and poignant scene, festus drops a hint that his is gay. In 1935, he left home and for a time studied medicine in college, at colorado springs, until his desire for a musical career saw him mo. The sons of the pioneers sing down by the glenside. The story of the celebrated sons of the pioneers, mentions.
Down by the glenside those bold finnian men youtube. Sons of the pioneers bio the sons of the pioneers was an american cowboy singing group founded in 1933 by leonard slye better known by his later screen name roy rogers, with tim spencer and bob nolan. Ken curtis 1916 1991 was an american born country and western singer and bwestern actor. Ill take you home again, kathleen ken curtis, the sons of. During world war ii, curtis served in the united states army from 1943 to ken actor, enlisted into the usa as an infantryman during wwii.
For much of 1948, curtis was a featured singer and host of the longrunning country music radio program wwva jamboree. Stream ken curtis and the sons of pioneers ride away from the moviethe searchers by yasan parto from desktop or your mobile device. Before becoming an actor curtis performed with the popular sons of the pioneers from 1949 to 1953 as well as singing with the tommy dorsey band. The sons of the pioneers did several songs for the john ford movies wagon master in 1949 and rio grande in 1950. I hope you enjoy this addition to my offerings from my late uncles 16mm film collection. Ken griffis reference book on the sons of the pioneers, hear my song. Ken curtis was the lead singer for sons of the pioneers from 19491953 and this album specifically states it is a collection that concentrates on songs recorded by sons starting in 1949. My personal favorites are twilight on the trail and last round. Cool clear water the sons of the pioneers ken curtis festus leonard slye roy rogers gunsmoke ken curtis festus sings old trail gunsmoke theme song click here. Song information for ill take you home again, kathleen ken curtis, the sons of the pioneers on allmusic. Leonard frank slye aka len sly would later change his name to roy rogers rogers was a.
Ken curtis room full of roses sons of the pioneers ken curtis july 1916 april was an american singer and actor best known for his role as festus haggin on the longrunning cbs western televisi. Sons of the pioneers with roy rogers down along the sleepy rio grande 1937 vocalion record. Morning open thread ya cant tell by lookin edition. Curtis continued to sing with the sons of the pioneers. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from ken curtis. They were soon joined by others including karl farr, hugh farr, lloyd perryman,and pat brady they remained popular into the 1950s. It was dorsey who recommended he change his name to ken curtis from curtis gates.
Ken curtis, gunsmokes festus, dead at 74 upi archives. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. In rio grande 1950 he was a guitarplaying leadsinging tenor with the regimental singers. Hubert paul flatt, name changed to ken carson november 14, 1914, centrahoma, ok april 7, 1994, jacksonville, fl ken carson was a popular singer on the radio when he met the sons of the pioneers in the late 1930s. Gunsmoke trail the music was written by rex koury as thematic material, but hollywood music publisher max herman saw its. May 19, 2011 after leaving shep fields, ken went on to be a member of the sons of the pioneers for a number of years. Preferring countrywestern to swing, curtis joined the sons of the pioneers singing group in the 1940s, and in this capacity appeared in several western films. Ken curtis and the sons of pioneers what makes a man to wander. Song information for down by the glenside ken curtis, the sons of the pioneers on allmusic. Curtis met his first wife, lorraine page, at universal studios, and they were married in 1943. He had a minor hit with tommy dorcey in 1941,when he briefly replaced frank sinatra. He was best known for his role as festus haggen on the longrunning gunsmoke television series 1955 1975. He met a man named leonard frank slye, who had dropped the e from his family name and introduced himself as len sly.
Kencurtisfans is a place to celebrate the life and talent of ken curtis. Another book about the group, first published in 1974, is called hear my song, the story of the celebrated sons of the pioneers by ken griffis, and is available on the pioneers website. The six members who made the sons of the pioneers famous in the late 1930s with their closeharmonied western style music were elected into the country music hall of fame in 1980. Get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music sports. Listen to music from ken curtis like cowboy kaputt. Curtis wain gates, 2 july 1916, on a farm near lamar, colorado, usa, d. Ken curtis as a member of the sons of the pioneers and also on gun smoke. Love song of the waterfall the sons of the pioneers. In 2001, a book about the group was published, titled the sons of the pioneers by bill oneal and fred goodwin. Ken curtis had a fabulous voice and the songs he sang lead with the sons of the pioneers will vouch for that. Jan 05, 2020 sons of the pioneers so long to the red river valley with lyrics and chords. Ken curtis joined the sons of the pioneers as a lead singer from 1949 to 1952. Keep a light in your window tonight tommy doss, lloyd perryman, the sons of the pioneers. Cool water, recorded in 1947, reached fourth position in the us country charts and in 1948 reached seventh position in the us county charts.
While appearing in john ford westerns, he initially utilized his musical talents before turning to straight acting. Ken curtis july 2, 1916 april 28, 1991 was an american singer and actor best known for his role as festus haggen on the longrunning cbs western television series gunsmoke. Get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music. Jul 25, 2017 ken curtis july 2, 1916 april 28, 1991 was an american singer and actor best known for his role as festus haggin on the longrunning cbs western television series gunsmoke. Sign in deleted video long may we love by jiggys78s. Sep 18, 20 roy rogers,dale evans and sons of pioneers. Room full of roses ken curtis, the sons of the pioneers. Tumbling tumbleweeds sons of the pioneers with roy rogers duration. Although he appeared on gunsmoke in other roles he first appeared in his iconic role along in season 8 and episode, us haggens. Considering the kind of scruffy, backwoods, uneducated, deepsouth hillbilly types he played, many people would be surprised to hear that ken curtis wasnt actually born in the south but in the small town of las animas, colorado, the son of the town sheriff. He is not identified personally but his voice is the the mellow tenor in these records.
Sons of the pioneers music, videos, stats, and photos. Ken curtis and the sons of pioneers ride away from the. And in 1976, the sons of the pioneers were inducted into the country music hall of fame. Columbia pictures felt that curtis had star potential, and gave the singer his own series of westerns in 1945, but ken seemed better suited to supporting roles. Tumbling tumbleweeds sons of the pioneers with roy. Although best known as an actor, ken curtis was a member of the sons from 1949 until 1953. Ken curtis room full of roses sons of the pioneers. Ken curtiss songs stream online music songs listen free. Ken curtis july 1916 april was an american singer and actor.
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