Last week I gave a detailed look at one of the finest – vocalist and actor Ken Curtis. Going to1949 I'd like to continue where I left off.
It was in the spring of 1949 when a lengthy tour, the Sons of the Pioneers Western Jamboree, was scheduled for a month of Texas appearances. This was March 1949. The Pioneers stage show would feature performances by Carolina Cotton and the Oklahoma Sweethearts, as well as Ken Curtis and Shug Fisher performing as a duet act.
While on the trip, Ken was asked to temporarily fill in with the Pioneers since their tenor vocalist Lloyd Perryman had to rush back to California due to a family situation. Ken made a remarkable impression, and after the tour, Tim Spencer announced his retirement from performing. Ken was offered the lead vocal spot, accepting the position in April 1949.
Ken's buddy Shug Fisher was also offered the bass player and comic spot as Pat Brady was now committed to working with Roy Rogers in a sidekick role.
Ken made his RCA recording debut with the Pioneers on April 28, 1949. This was the session where they introduced "Riders in the Sky" and Ken was the featured soloist on Tim Spencer's composition "Room Full of Roses."
Released that summer, "Roses" ended up seeing major chart success, going to number one on the Hit Parade.
While Ken was with the Pioneers, they were fortunate to grab some movie work. In 1950 they participated in three film projects: doing the soundtrack to Ben Johnson's "Wagonmaster," appearing in Spade Cooley's "Everybody's Dancin,'" and John Wayne 's "Rio Grande."
The "Rio Grande" appearance was very well done. Dressed in dashing cavalry uniforms, the group was featured frequently with Ken carrying the lead vocals on all song selections. One scene featured Ken and the group on the romantic ballad, "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen."
A number of radio transcription broadcasts were recorded during this time, and in 1950 the Pioneers became regulars on Rex Allen's CBS radio show. In late 1951 the group got their own daily radio broadcast, the Lucky U Ranch, heard over all ABC affiliates. In February 1953, Ken and Shug left the Pioneers and continued the radio series.
Ken and Shug formed a new group, the Ranch Hands, which worked together for around two years. They were featured in a short-lived television show, “Song Stories of the West.”
From 1955 to September 1957, Ken returned to the Pioneers to sing lead on the RCA recording sessions. During this time they performed in one of the finest Western films ever produced, John Wayne's "The Searchers."
Ken played the role of Charlie McCorry, a country sounding Texas Ranger. Ken's talents with voice characterization really shines, and the Pioneers would sing the opening theme. Most film historians rank "The Searchers" in the top ten all-time greatest Westerns.
The Sons of the Pioneers were also featured on a twelve-song album recording during this time, honoring country music songwriter Fred Rose. Released as "One Man's Songs" in 1957, the album featured material you wouldn't expect to hear. It proves the Sons of the Pioneers could handle anything vocally, and I feel the electric guitar was too much. But it's worth noting, the guitarist on that session was none other than Chet Atkins!
Film and television work would continue for Ken from 1958 going forward, and his singing roles became fewer. Many remember Ken as "Monk" on “Have Gun Will Travel.” This position led him to a permanent position at CBS in 1964 on the James Arness series, “Gunsmoke.” Ken remained there as Festus until the series ended in 1975. Ken's performances on the series were some of best of his career; his idea for Festus was based on a Colorado individual from his youth known as Cedar Jack. It's a unique coincidence that Ken was Marshall Dillon's deputy, doing things on the television series that he had lived through in real life when his father Dan Gates was the Bent County, Colorado Sheriff in the 1920s.
Ken's wonderful career continued all the way into the early 1990s, his final project was a made for television movie, "Conagher" starring Sam Elliott. Ken actually passed away during filming, April 28, 1991.
Ken was married three times and had no children. In 1943, he married Universal Pictures actress Lorraine Page. They divorced and in 1952 Ken married Barbara Ford, daughter of famed movie director John Ford. Ford was responsible for getting Ken into a number of John Wayne films. In 1966, Ken married rodeo cowgirl Torrie Connelly.
As for the best of Ken Curtis, that's a tough one. I think his finest recording with the Sons of the Pioneers is the 1957 recording of "The Restless Gun." There's hours upon hours of YouTube footage from song sessions to movie and television clips. No matter what, you won't be disappointed. Ken was a quality actor and vocalist who truly enjoyed his work and his fans still love him today.
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