Jud Strunk
| Jud Strunk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Justin Roderick Strunk, Jr. |
| Born |
June 11, 1936 Jamestown, New York |
| Died |
October 5, 1981 (aged 45) Carrabassett Valley, Maine |
| Genres | Country, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Banjo |
| Years active | 1973–1976 |
| Labels | Columbia, MGM, MCA |
Jud Strunk (born Justin Roderick Strunk, Jr., June 11, 1936—October 5, 1981) was an American singer, songwriter and comedian.
Biography
Early years
Born Justin Roderick Strunk, Jr. in Jamestown, New York, he was raised in Buffalo, New York, where as a small boy his showmanship became evident. After he learned to play the banjo, Strunk began entertaining locals and went on to wide recognition after appearances on national television network shows such as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Academic
He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1959 with a B.A in History.[1]
"Daisy A Day"
Although much of Strunk's material was humorous, his most popular song was not. "Daisy a Day", which Strunk wrote and recorded in 1973, is a gentle, sentimental ballad in 3/4 time, describing the relationship between a boy and girl who ultimately grow old together. For every day of their lives, he gives her a daisy as a sign of their love. In the last verse, she has died, but her widower husband continues to make daily visits to her grave. The song made the Billboard Top 20 on both the country and pop music charts. A cover version Een Roosje, M'n Roosje (A Rose, My Rose) by Conny Vandenbos reached No. 7 on the Dutch Top 40 hit list in 1974.
Laugh-In
When Strunk performed this song on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (seated on a stool and accompanying himself on banjo), a bizarre decision was made to film his performance on a set resembling a lunar landscape, apparently to remind the audience that this song had been played on the moon. Strunk was a regular member of the Laugh-In cast during its last season; he often reported fictitious sporting events direct "from Farmington, Maine."
Correction: The lunar surface explanation does not hold water. The final manned lunar landing, Apollo 17, occurred in December 1972. Strunk did not release 'Daisy' until 1973.
Other material
Strunk also wrote three humorous songs that made it into the country music charts, and he toured with the Andy Williams Road Show. One of these songs, "The Biggest Parakeets in Town," was a tongue-in-cheek story of a woman who is a bird fancier. Its central joke is the unspoken pun of "parakeets/pair o'tits" used in the title. Other singles, such as "Next Door Neighbor's Kid" and the patriotic "My Country," appeared on various Billboard surveys. Strunk also scored a songwriting hit with “Bill Jones' General Store” [sic], the title track of his 1971 album of a similar name; Canadian musician Tommy Hunter charted in the top 20 on the country and adult contemporary charts in Canada with the song.
Last years and death
Strunk became a folk hero in Maine, and in 1970 narrowly lost the election for Senate seat in the state legislature. He was also a private pilot and purchased a 1941 Fairchild M62-A. On 5 October 1981,[2] he suffered a heart attack while taking off in the aircraft at Carrabassett Valley Airport in Maine and was killed instantly along with his passenger, local businessman Dick Ayotte. He was 45 years old.
Legacy
Jud's sons contribute to the Sugarloaf Community, with Jud's grandson performing onstage at The Rack on Sunday afternoons.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | |||
| 1970 | Jud Strunk's Downeast Viewpoint | — | — | Columbia Records |
| 1971 | Jones' General Store | — | — | MGM Records |
| 1973 | Daisy a Day | 18 | 138 | |
| 1977 | A Semi-Reformed Tequila Crazed Gypsy Looks Back | — | — | MCA Records |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
Record Label | B-side | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Pop | US AC | CAN Country |
CAN Pop | CAN AC | |||||
| 1970 | "Children at Play" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Columbia Records | "Self-Eating Watermelon" | Jud Strunk's Downeast Viewpoint |
| 1971 | "Bill Jones General Store" | — | — | — | — | — | — | CoBurt Records | "The Runaway" | Jones General Store |
| 1972 | "Daisy a Day" | 33 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 5 | MGM Records | "The Searchers" | Daisy a Day |
| 1973 | "Next Door Neighbor's Kid" | 86 | — | 22 | 85 | — | 50 | "I'd Prefer to Do It All Again" | ||
| 1974 | "My Country" | — | 59 | — | — | — | — | Capitol Records | "The Will" | |
| 1975 | "The Biggest Parakeets in Town" | 51 | 50 | — | 20 | 71 | — | Melodyland Records | "I Wasn't Wrong About You" | |
| "Pamela Brown" | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | "They're Tearing Down a Town" | |||
References
- ↑ http://www.vmialumni.org/page.aspx?pid=206&reid=g%2fazM8Xz2z4%3d&bbsys=0&bbrt=0
- ↑ 1997-2013 PlaneCrashInfo.com. "Famous People Who Died in Aviation Accidents 1980s". Retrieved 25 July 2013.