100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
Vern Gosdin took a long and winding road to Nashville, but once he got there, he became one of the most significant traditional voices of his generation.
Born and raised in Alabama, Gosdin sang gospel with his family as a child. After a brief time in Chicago, Gosdin moved to California in the early sixties. As part of the West Coast country scene, he was one of the Hillmen alongside Chris Hillman, who would later be part of the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and the Desert Rose Band.
Gosdin then formed a duo with his brother Rex. As the Gosdin Brothers, they had a minor hit with “Hangin’ On” in 1967. After a brief retirement in the first half of the seventies, Gosdin launched a solo career with the same single, and it went higher on the charts, thanks to harmony vocals provided by Emmylou Harris.
Gosdin had the classic journeyman experience as a Nashville recording artist, scoring hits for several different labels in the late seventies and throughout the eighties. He became known as the Voice, and influenced not only the singers that came after him, but even some of his peers of the time. In the late eighties, he reached a new career peak with Columbia Records, scoring eight top ten hits, with two #1 singles among them.
The absolute highlight of his tenure at Columbia was the award-winning “Chiseled in Stone.” Thought it didn’t hit the top five, it became Gosdin’s signature song and powered the veteran singer to his first gold record. His epic 1989 album Alone is often cited as his strongest work, as it was written in the wake of his failing marriage.
Gosdin didn’t have commercial success after leaving Columbia, but he did continue to record and perform up until his death in 2009. Stars like George Strait and Brad Paisley have since covered Gosdin tracks, and he is often cited as an influence among up and coming traditionalist singers.
Essential Singles:
- Till the End, 1977
- Today My World Slipped Away, 1982
- If You’re Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do it Right), 1983
- I Can Tell by the Way You Dance (You’re Gonna Love Me Tonight), 1984
- Set ‘Em Up Joe, 1988
- Chiseled in Stone, 1988
Essential Albums:
- till the End, 1977
- Today My World Slipped Away, 1982
- If You’re Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do it Right), 1983
- Chiseled in Stone, 1988
- Alone, 1989
Next: #71. Johnny Paycheck
Previous: #73. Tennessee Ernie Ford
Love Vern Gosdin! I need to listen to more of him. “Set ‘Em Up Joe” is my favorite.
It is hard to know where to place Vern Gosdin – he did not have great sustained commercial success – he was 42 when his first solo chart hit appeared and his vocals didn’t really fit either the “Nashville Sound” or “Outlaw” sound that dominated the years between 1962 and 1976.
Qualitatively, based on his best recordings, I’d have Vern in my top twenty. Based on his voice alone, he’d be in my top ten. In terms of commercial influence, Kevin has him placed a little low – I’d have him about number sixty on that score. As I said, a hard artist to place, but a magnificent performer . I treasure all of his recordings
The Voice of Country Music is what old friends like George Jones and Merle Haggard used to call him. They were all in ‘awe’ of this man’s voice. One of the very few that will send chills down your spine.
There’s a great collection on ebay and amazon called 40 Years of The Voice. 101 songs. I can listen all day to this man.