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Vern Gosdin
The Voice
Vernon Gosdin (August 5, 1934 – April 28, 2009) was an American country music singer. Known as "The Voice" 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 (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)", "Set 'Em Up Joe", and "I'm Still Crazy".
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In 1961, Gosdin moved to California, where he joined the West Coast Country music movement, first as a member of the Golden State Boys. 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.
He 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 and peaked at No. 16. His next single, His next single, "Yesterday's Gone", which also featured Harris, became his first Top 10 hit in 1977. In 1981, Gosdin signed with Ovation Records and scored a Top 10 hit with "Dream of Me" In 1982, he scored a top 10 hit with with "Today My World Slipped Away", through A.M.I. Records. The early 1980s also found a great combination of talent as Gosdin traveled from coast to coast opening shows for George Jones.
Gosdin made the top 10 consistently in the early '80s, really hitting his stride when he teamed with Barnes as a songwriting collaborator. The pair specialized in songs of cheating and barroom romance, often delivering an over-the-top emotionalism that got Gosdin compared to the ultimate legend of George Jones. In 1983, Gosdin had two top 5 hits — "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)" and "Way Down Deep" with the former earning him a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. The following year, he had his first No. 1 single with "I Can Tell by the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight.
After Compleat Records went bankrupt, Gosdin signed with Columbia in 1987. He had success right off the bat with "Do You Believe Me Now." He hit No. 1 once again with a tribute to Ernest Tubb called "Set 'Em Up Joe." Gosdin's "Chiseled in Stone", co-written with Barnes, won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year award in 1989 and earned them a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.
Gosdin's 1989 album Alone was a concept album in a traditional country style. It chronicled the dissolution of Gosdin's marriage and included his final number-one hit: "I'm Still Crazy". From 1989-1991, he released a number of songs and three more made the Billboard top 10: "Right in the Wrong Direction," "That Just About Does It" and "Is It Raining at Your House.
Gosdin, who suffered a stroke in early April 2009, died at a Nashville hospital the evening of April 28, 2009, at the age of 74. His remains were buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
