Vern Gosdin's Legacy Won't Be Forgotten
It's a shame that a death is often what prompts us to realize what we're going to miss. It's not that I didn't appreciate Vern Gosdin, who died Tuesday night (April 28). After all, most of us who love country music would put him in a hallowed category of singers that includes George Jones, Ray Price, Merle Haggard and a handful of others. But I have to confess that I haven't spent a lot of time listening to Gosdin's music in recent years. Still, his recordings of "Set 'Em Up Joe," "Chiseled in Stone" and "That Just About Does It" will be etched in my mind forever. In revisiting some of those songs today, I realized that those performances endure largely because of the way those records sound. Instead of today's standard production procedure of layering the instrumentation to create a dense, gigantic sound, producer Bob Montgomery was smart enough to give the music some space and let it breathe. In doing so, he showcased the key element -- Gosdin's incredible voice. Gosdin's death will probably cause some people to whine that the young artists of today have no knowledge or appreciation of the masters who came before them. To disprove that theory, check out Jake Owen's version of Gosdin's "Is It Raining at Your House." Taped recently during an appearance on CMT's Unplugged at Studio 330, the fact that he chose to perform this particular song says a lot about how Owen became a country singer in the first place.
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Gary says:
Vern will be missed. What a voice.
Soni Wolfe says:
So sorry to hear of his death -I love his voice and his music
and play it often.
merlefan46 says:
I’m sure his song “The Other Side Of Life” has real meaning to his family now.
Philip Keffer says:
I am glad to say that I had the pleasure of meeting Vern at John A’s and not only was he pleasant and appreciative he invited me to sit down and have dinner with him, so I did. He told me a joke, in the form of a true story, LOL, about his Dad creating a 3 legged chicken so everyone could have a thigh, but yep once he created the 3 legged chicken, no one to catch it so he never found out how it tasted. Lot’s of things will be said about him at this time but I am so glad that I had the opportunity to tell him that 1. He was the greatest singer ever period, and Chisled in Stone was the greatest song ever period. PS. Right now, It’s Raining at My House.
Mary Hightower says:
Vern Gosdin’s “Chisled in Stone” really is exactly how you feel when you lose your husband. I have all of his records, even the real old ones,along with CD’s. They are in my car and I play them all the time. You don’t really know what lonely is till the name of your loved one is chisled in stone. He will be truly missed. He was the “Voice”.
RedMaZ says:
“The Voice”, could tear your heart out when he sang. “Chisled in Stone” may very well be the saddest country song ever. His delivery was impeccable.
“Each time one slips away, we say….man they were great, wish I’d went and seen them their last show. Radio may have buried them…while they’re here lets cherish them…before all our legends are gone”
Legends(what if) by Dale Watson
Rest in Peace Vern Gosdin…
Mark Andel says:
I fell in love with Vern Gosdin the same night I fell in love with my future wife — at one of his concerts. Since then his music has sustained me, inspired me, and kept me focused on what makes a real country singer. The man felt all of what he sang, and sang it with beauty and conviction. There is something profound in this loss, and I hope future generations of country singers will go back to what is important: not huge sudio productions, but an honest voice, singing pure. You are loved, Vern, and you will be missed.
Juanita Bosmeny says:
Juanita
Vern was a great man and singer. I loved every song he done. He had one of the best voices around. Vern you are going to be missed so very much my friend. We need some of these new comers mthat are coming into country to go back to the way you were brought up on good old fashion music. Not with all the new toys they have out their helping them make music. I just loved to here you vern sang Chisled in Stone. You would send cold chills down my spine. I loved you and i’m going to miss you alot. May you rest in the arms of our God. Now you can sang with all the other country singers that have gone on before you.I’ll see you again one day my friend.
Nita
Kevin says:
Brad Paisley also covered “Is It Raining At Your House” on one of his albums. That is one of my favorite songs.
James Mcgee says:
So sorry to hear of his death -I love his voice and his music
and play it often.
cookie amd i pass his songs back and forth in foot he will be missed
Chris Sanders says:
I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with Vern when he was touring during the 80’s. Not only was Vern a great singer, he was a real southern gentleman. Vern put his heart and soul into every song he sang. I will always treasure the memories I have of those times on the road and I will miss Vern dearly. My deepest sympathy to his son and family.
Janet Summers says:
I just thank God that I met and had pictures taken with Vern in Gulfport MS, many years ago. I have all his albums and Karaoke too. He was the smoothest country singer I ever heard. I was in “love” with the Voice and I will always love him. Another singing Angel in Heaven.
Blessing to all of Vern’s family for their loss.
Janet Summers
Pearl, MS 39208
Big AJ fan says:
love Vern’s music. he will live on in those recordings.
RIP
Patsy says:
What a sad day for me. I loved his voice so much and was
in hopes that he would be able to record again - just once more. I saw him two years ago and knew then that he was (like me) getting old and his health was failing. I just wanted to keep him a little longer. Rest in peace Vern. You are loved and will be missed and awful lot. Patsy
Debbie says:
What a Shame!! This was on amazing man !! Fortunately i got to meet him at the Ryman a few years back !!! He will truely be missed !!
Cindy says:
So sad…what a man what a voice! Another angel has been added in heaven…will be missed so very much! His music will always be in my heart!
Teresa Shaw says:
A very, very sad day for me. I have loved Vern for many years. No one can even come close to the “Voice”. I only got to meet him once,at a show at Renfro Valley in Mt. Vernon, KY, but I’ll never forget that day! Love you Vern.
J.R. Journey says:
Yep. We’ll miss you, Vern. But you’ll be on my stereo …
brenda says:
i am saddened to hear of his death but i will always remember in heart when i listen to one of my favorite c.d’s of him he sure could sing gospel music so i hope someone like Vince Gill gets to sing a gospel song at his funeral i think he would love that .
nikkis120 says:
My heart aches at this news, I adored “that voice” one of my all time favorite songs by Vern was Do You Believe Me Now, I used to phone the dj in Nashville every am and ask him to please play it and right on cue he would, you will be deeply missed!
My thoughts and prayers and ofcourse my deepest sympathy to his family and friends, may God ease your pain and help you in this sad time. God Bless You All!
Nikki
aleene cooper says:
I consider myself so fortunate to have met and visited with Vern Gosdin at Fan Fair. He was such an humble and sincere person . He truly appreciated his fans. My pictures with him I will treasure.
wayne sadler says:
Wow what a shock!!!! I will miss him dearly! After singing his music for years on stage i will be saddened to sing them again, but then i think,, Vern would want his music to live on , so everyone , sing them real pretty!! But no one can sing them like VERN
Amy says:
I learned more about Vern Gosdin when Josh Turner was performing some of his songs during his concert sets. He will be missed.
Joyce trail says:
I just loved to hear Vern sing he had a very strong good country voice and never swayed from his country roots .He will be missed for sure .
Dyane Hatfield says:
We will miss Vern,But oh the sound in Heaven now that he has joined the others that have passed.We can listen to his recordings and remember the wonderful times those that were fortunate to either meet him or see him on stage.He will always be remembered for his wonderful voice.
gary michael says:
vern wa a true honest gentleman….we so enjoyed chatting with him in nashville at a past “fan-fair”!
D says:
Vern will go down in Country Music History as one of the TRUE LEGENDS, He will be missed by his fans. Vern was REAL COUNTRY vs the stuff comin out now, RIP Vern you will never be forgotten here.
chris says:
i had the chance to meet Mr. Gosdin a couple years ago at a George Jones concert at the Ryman, i was there to meet the possum but that didn’t happen because he had so many fans waiting for the meet and greet but as i was standing back stage talking to a little old man in a chair, George turned and looked my way and said come on out Vern and as soon as he came back off stage i shook his hand and told him how big of a fan i was of his and all the country greats, he was just a normal down to earth man that God blessed with a “VOICE” he will be missed but on the bright side he is singing better than he ever did up in heaven with all of his old friends like Mr. Jerry Reed, Porter Wagoner, Eddy Arnold, and Don Helms just naming a few we have lost in the past year R.I.P VG
kaye says:
Sincere condolences to Vern Gosdin’s family, friends and fans! It is so nice to have the CMT Blog honor these beloved country artists who pass. And it is also so good to see so many good and decent comments.
Verna says:
What a sad day to lose my favorite singer. Happy that I got to meet and talk to him in the 80’s. Loved his song with EmmyLou “Til The End”. Now he can sing with brother Rex in heaven “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”. He will be greatly missed. Keep his music alive, fans.
Twangtown7 says:
Man…I just wanna cry. Country music lost a great, great man.
liz says:
I always said if I was stuck on an island and could only have one cd to listen to, it would be Vern Gosdins.. he was the best..Im so glad I got to meet him several times and get pictures taken with him and I will miss seeing him at fan fair..We’ve got to get him into the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME…I LOVE YOU VERN
anna fletcher says:
You are gonna be missed greatly. From the gang in Breathitt County KY….Babs, Dana, Shanna and Ashley
Sarah Cravens says:
What a loss for all of us country music fans…but he left us a lot of great, great music…Thanks Vern Gosdin…RIP
Ricky McDermon says:
I was pleased to read all of the many fans of Vern Gosdin, one of the best ever. I was once a hard drinker, and an avid fan of anyone able to put the depths of what a pain creates a man to go down as far as many of us have at some time in our life. Vern Gosdin played many of my old stomping grounds, and (if I was free), I was there!
His music was so damn real, it hit right where it hurt!
I’ve been sober for over 20 years now, but I still put on Vern’s records(yeah LPS) and I can appreciate them more sober having lived them inebriated. God rest your soul; you will not be forgotten! Thanks for the memories. Ricky McDermon in Macon, Ga 4/29/09
Ryan Hallford says:
Vern was truly one of the greatest country/gospel singers of all time. Thanks for the wonderful music and memories. God rest your soul.
wanda milam says:
you will be missed so much your still # 1 to me.
your still the man…….
wanda milam
grenada ms.
Darlene Cash-Laudicina says:
Vern was a great man. I met him when I was seven years old. My dad remodeled his home here in Atlanta in the mid seventies. I still remember riding in his son’s VW beetle and spending time with Vern and his family. He was a true southern gentleman. I have loved his music and his voice all of my life.
Vern, rest in peace. You are loved by all and will be greatly missed.
Paul says:
Excellent article Calvin. I agree that the production on those Columbia records was perfect, but Vern Gosdin could rip your heart out of your chest no matter what kind of production with which he was saddled. He was that good
Julie says:
I was so sad to hear that Vern Gosdin had passed away, he was such a great singer and all of his songs someway somehow touched someone. He will be greatly missed.
Don says:
I had the pleasure of seeing Vern Gosdin September 2007 at the theater in Natchez, MS. He may have had trouble walking, and had to take several breaks…he may have not sang many songs but those few moments he was on stage telling his jokes and singing his heart out….were priceless. Thankfully I have the whole thing recorded and will cherish it for always. He brought tears to they eyes of everyone in that theater that night with his amazing voice. Vern, you will be missed greatly by many.
Russell says:
I picked up my love of Vern from my dad who also passed this year. Got to see him live once at an outside show near Ardmore, AL with my dad. Never forget it. What a great loss this is to all of us. Many say Chiseled in Stone is the saddest song ever, I say Today My World Slipped Away. That song gets me every time. Vern WAS classic country, the country I grew up in and with. Gonna miss you Vern.
Joe Maloney says:
I never realized Vern had passed until today while surfing.My wife died from cancer in March 09 and my two favorite songs haunt me.Chiseled was a song Paulette loved to hear me to sing and the lyrics to It’s Not Over Yet (On the bed lies your pillow)( the perfume that I bought you still lingers everywhere)hits me like a hammer every time.I miss them both so terribly.
Rose Shebelski says:
I learned of Vern Gosdin’s passing while surfing the Internet. I had no kwowledge that he was in ill health and I am disappointed that we here in Saskatchewan were not made aware of his ill health and passing. I wish I would have attended his concernt while he was on tour, unfortunately he never came to Saskatchewan. My sympathy goes out to his family. From what I am reading, Vern must have been a special, humble man. Truly a great entertainer and singer. I am sure you will continue entertaining in heaven, will miss you, rest in peace.
Rose Shebelski says:
Hi Steven and family.
It’s been two years since your dad’s passing. Here in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan we are saddened. We only wish that your dad had made a trip to Saskatchean he would have had a sold out croud. My friend in 2006 was visiting Lss Vegas and I ask him to pick up a Vern gosdin 8 track and of course he did. I cheris it now. I only wish that Vern’s mates understood what his career was all about. It is obvious he was a kind,gentle,considerate man. He was an entertainment. This is what he did best.
Steven, cherish your memories of your precious Dad. Let him sing in heaven like he did here on earth. I hope you read this message with some comfort. Sing to all the angels in heaven.
Kathryn G. Lindfors says:
Vern lived a life giving us beautiful songs. Songs that I
love and listen to today. Wish he were still here to give us more of his heart. He is so sadly missed. Kathy Guerra Lindfors of Slidell,La.