Jud Strunk
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Jud Strunk | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Justin Roderick Strunk Jr. |
Born | Jamestown, New York, U.S. | June 11, 1936
Died | October 5, 1981 Carrabassett Valley, Maine, U.S. | (aged 45)
Genres | Country, pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Banjo |
Years active | 1973–1976 |
Labels | Columbia, MGM, MCA |
Justin Roderick Strunk Jr. (June 11, 1936 – October 5, 1981)[1] was an American singer-songwriter and comedian.
Biography
Early years
Born in Jamestown, New York, United States,[1] 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.[2]
"Daisy A Day"
Although much of Strunk's material was humorous, his most popular song was not. "
Laugh-In
Strunk was a regular member of the Laugh-In cast during its last season in 1972 and 1973.[1]— During the Laugh-In Looks at the News segment, he often reported fictitious sporting events "directly from Farmington, Maine, spahts capitol of the wahld".
Other material
Strunk also wrote three humorous songs that made it into the country music charts, and he toured with the
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 October 5, 1981,[3] he suffered a heart attack just after take-off in the aircraft at Carrabassett Valley Airport, in Maine. The plane flipped over, falling some 300 feet, killing him instantly along with his passenger, Dick Ayotte, a long-time friend and local businessman. Strunk was 45 years old.
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country | US | AUS[4] | |||
1970 | Jud Strunk's Downeast Viewpoint | — | — | — | Columbia Records |
1971 | Jones' General Store | — | — | — | MGM Records |
1973 | Daisy a Day | 18 | 138 | 25 | |
1973 | Mr. Bojangles And Other Favorites | — | — | — | Harmony |
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 | AUS[4] | CAN Country |
CAN Pop | CAN AC | |||||
1969 | "The Santa Song (AKA Santa's Got A Moto-Ski)" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Rockland Recording Studio | "A Special Christmas Tree" | |
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 | 1 | 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 | — | 68 | 20 | 71 | — | Melodyland Records | "I Wasn't Wrong About You" | |
"Pamela Brown" | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | — | "They're Tearing Down a Town" |
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Jud Strunk | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ [1] [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Famous People Who Died in Aviation Accidents 1980s". Planecrashinfo.com. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
External links
- Jud Strunk at Find a Grave
- Jud Strunk discography at Discogs