Werly Fairburn

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2020}}

Werly Fairburn (November 27, 1924 – January 18, 1985) was an American rockabilly musician.

Fairburn was born near Folsom, Louisiana. In his youth, he listened to the Grand Ole Opry and old-time music ("hillbilly music") on the radio. He learned to play guitar from an old, local blues musician. When World War II began, he took a job at a New Orleans shipyard before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in Hawaii. When he returned to New Orleans, he considered a singing career, but to make a living he learned how to cut hair. In 1948 he became known as the "Singing Barber" when he broadcast on WJBW from his barber shop.{{cite web|last1=Eder|first1=Bruce|title=Werly Fairburn {{!}} Biography & History {{!}} AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/werly-fairburn-mn0000206658/biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=27 June 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Luster|first1=J. Michael|title=Crescent City Country: Hillbilly Music in New Orleans|url=http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/LFFCrescentCityCountry.html|website=Louisianafolklife.org|accessdate=27 June 2016}}

In March 1955, Werly joined the cast of the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, where he performed alongside Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bob Luman, David Houston and other early rockabilly stylists. Werly remained with the Hayride through the end of 1957. His first album appeared on Trumpet Records in the 1950s. Over the years he recorded for Columbia, Capitol, and Savoy. Fairburn also owned a label called Milestone Records—not to be confused with the like-named jazz label later founded by Orrin Keepnews{{Cite news|title=The Note Book|author=|date=August 17, 1962|work=The Hollywood Reporter|page=8|quote=Werly Fairburn, president of Milestone Records for the past three years, debuts on the label as a singer with 'You Are My Sunshine.'|id={{ProQuest|2339635630}}}}{{Cite magazine|title=R. Bialek Buys Milestone Line|author=Kirby, Fred|date=September 2, 1967|magazine=Billboard|page=1|quote=Milestone began on a limited basis last year with Keepnews handling production and serving as an advisor part time. [...] A greatly increased sales and distribution network is being set up for the new label...|id={{ProQuest|1286226760}}}}—in the 1950s and 1960s. Fairburn's music blended country, blues, and New Orleans rhythm and blues (R&B). He was popular in New Orleans and in Dallas, where he performed on the Big D Jamboree. His song "I Guess I'm Crazy" was covered by Jim Reeves. His 1956 single "Everybody's Rockin'" is considered a rockabilly classic. Fairburn moved to California in the 1960s and performed until his death in 1985.