Larry Verne
{{Short description|American novelty song artist (1936-2013)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Larry Verne
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Larry Vern Erickson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|2|8}}
| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|10|8|1936|2|8}}
| death_place = Sylmar, California, U.S.
| instrument =
| genre = Novelty songs
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 1960–1963
| label = Era Records
}}
Larry Vern Erickson (February 8, 1936 – October 8, 2013) was an American novelty song vocalist.
Biography
Verne recorded two U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart hit singles in 1960, "Mister Livingston" (No. 75) and "Mr. Custer" (No. 1, and No. 9 R&B).{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=larry-verne-mn0000136585 |tab=biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Larry Verne Biography |first=Steve |last=Leggett |publisher=All Media Network |website=AllMusic |access-date=August 9, 2017}} "Mr. Custer" was written by Fred Darian, Al De Lory, and Joe Van Winkle.{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/130 130]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/130}} The record sold over one million copies, earning a gold disc. In the UK, "Mr. Custer" was successfully covered by Charlie Drake. "Mr. Custer" was featured on an album of novelty songs recorded by Verne called Mister Larry Verne, which was released that same year.
After growing tired of the music industry, Verne quit to become a successful builder of Hollywood film sets, which he did for 35 years before retiring.{{cite web |url=http://www.jerryosborne.com/11-17-03.htm |title=Ask 'Mr. Music' Jerry Osborne |first=Jerry |last=Osborne |website=Mr. Music |date=November 17, 2003}}
Death
Verne died on October 8, 2013, of heart failure in Sylmar, California, at the age of 77.{{cite web |url=http://www.thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2013b.html#sthash.mjP45JcW.J2HfhYGX.dpbs |title=July to December 2013 |website=The Dead Rock Stars Club |access-date=August 9, 2017}} He had long suffered from Alzheimer's disease and had suffered three strokes.{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/11/passings-larry-verne-1936-2013.html |title=Passings: Larry Verne (1936 - 2013) |website=Vintage Vinyl News |access-date=August 9, 2017}}
Discography
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center; |
| rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Title !colspan="2"|Peak chart !rowspan="2"|Record Label !rowspan="2"|B-side !rowspan="2"|Album |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
!align=centre| US !align=centre| US |
| rowspan="2"| 1960
|align=left| "Mr. Custer" | 1 | 9 |rowspan="8"| Era |rowspan="1"| "Okeefenokee Two Step" |rowspan="2"| Mister Larry Verne |
| align=left| "Mister Livingston"
| 75 | — |rowspan="1"| "Roller Coaster" |
| rowspan="3"| 1961
|align=left| "Abdul's Party" | 113 | — |rowspan="1"| "Tubby Tilly" |rowspan="1"| |
| align=left| "Charlie at the Bat"
| — | — |rowspan="1"| "Pow, Right in the Kisser" |rowspan="1"| |
| align=left| "The Speck"
| — | — |rowspan="1"| "Beatnick" |rowspan="1"| |
| rowspan="2"| 1962
|align=left| "I'm a Brave Little Soldier" | — | — |rowspan="1"| "Hoo-Ha" |rowspan="1"| |
| align=left| "The Coward That Won the West"
| — | — |rowspan="1"| "The Porcupine Patrol" |rowspan="1"| |
| rowspan="1"| 1964
|align=left| "Return of Mr. Custer" | — | — |rowspan="1"| "Running Through the Forrest" |rowspan="1"| |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AllMusic |class=artist |id=larry-verne-mn0000136585}}
- {{Discogs artist|450507-Larry-Verne}}
- {{IMDb name|0894526}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Verne, Larry}}
Category:American male singers
Category:Musicians from Minneapolis
Category:Deaths from dementia in California
Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California
Category:Singers from Minnesota
{{US-singer-stub}}