Ken Curtis & The Sons of the Pioneers

[SandLuvsCorps]

Back in the late "70's my parents had the pleasure of meeting Ken Curtis in Apache Junction, AZ. A fine man.



[blewis9505]

Multi-talented performer. God given talent. Sure do miss his voice and presence.

[Jefflevans]

HA...HA...HA...married him an Indian squaw!

[Hawkswill]

Multi talented man. Married Pappy Ford's (the director of The Searchers), daughter and sang at his good friend Ward Bond's (Major Adams of Wagon Train fame),funeral as well as being a pall bearer for him along with other friends Duke Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Dobe  Carey. What a pure and wonderful voice!

[theddavis44]

Did not know Ken Curtis was a singing Cowboy.

[pumpupjam54]

One of my favorite Western's The Searchers, one of the best with a great cast and crew! Go John Ford! And of course this song. Thank you so much for posting it.

[ladycharsw]

I loved Gunsmoke, and old Festus. ! he was from Clovis, Cal, i wanted to meet him. i live in Fresno.

[djs1049]

I just retired and this was one site I was looking for information. Festus would hum a tune cornbread and whiskey. I was wondering what the song is and it's lyrics? I watch Gunsmoke every week on the western channel. I hope they keep it going...............Dave Schulting

[unicorn897]

There will never be another "Sons of the Pioneers". You can't improve on perfection. Thank "GOD" we still have people to remember and share with all the rest of us who care........

[honestbutugly]

roy rogers made it to the country hall of fame twice (dont expect festus there any time soon)Until today i never even knew he sang , and ive studied country music all my life.Wanna blow smoke up a cowboy singer who doesnt get credit? then holler Hank Pennys name.

[MagillJohnM]

Corection its the end title for the film, I do know its Called Ride Away But no Idea who performs it

[MagillJohnM]

Not sure of the song title , But I know for a fact it was the main song in the film THE SEARCHERS

[bankshot101]

where can i find the chords for this song????

[NicooJuan]

ME ENCANTA ESTE TEMA .SERGIO DE ARGENTINA

[eagle45147]

These songs make me wish I was on a horse on the great Western Prairie. 

[1951jmc]

charlie mc cory your not gonna marry him?

[VilMadinah]

Ride away

[VilMadinah]

Ride a way

[elc1960]

Ken did non-westerns as well. That's him as "Dolan" in "Mister Roberts" with Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Ward Bond, Dick Powell, Nick Adams and Jack Lemmon. A great war film that actually has no war scenes in it.

[TTundragrizzly]

heartwarming and awesome. When I hear this song, One man's face comes to my mind. John Wayne. R.I.P. Duke!

-Forever your fan.

[BH206L3]

There was a time in America!

[haverstock1888]

Did not know what a Great singer Ken was one of the best R I P Thomas Haverstock

[lesleyricks]

I just love his, they sing so beautifully. Thanks for posting

[rmf09020]

whoever the 3 are who dislikes this needs too pull there bottom lip over there head and swallow

[code2high]

Never knew Festus was a member of the Sons of the Pioneers......Cool!

[heartfire451]

This song makes me remember one of the great John Ford westerns and one of the greatest films of all time. I got to ride on horse back through monument valley and I must say that Ford and his people were the only guys who ever came clost to getting the beauty of that place. That location almost requires good old technicolor film because thats how beautiful it is.

[debbie6949]

brings back -yesterday- i never know festus could sing like this

[hherman55]

Totally love this song. The Searchers is one of my favorite movies.

[rkaasm]

I truly miss Ken Curtis.  A super human being. Thank you " Festus" for years of happiness.

[sandra7555]

Love that classic " The Searchers" Great song.

We need more Westerns!

[MeThinksThus]

Ken Curtis played the part of Dermmit Fahay (sp?) in The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. He also married John Ford's daughter. With the exception of Maureen O"Hara, these folks are not with us anymore... Sad indeed...

[grace230608]

What a wonderful legacy this man left. Just for people to say about you, that you were one of the finest people they ever knew, worked with, met,etc. is to still say integrity and your name still means alot. How many today can have the same said about them.

[MagillJohnM]

The man was TRULY BLESSED with a GOD GIVEN TALENT, I was lucky enough to meet mister Curtis, when he made a apeareance at a RODEO in San Angelo Texas when I was a kid, still have the photo of me with him.. He did that with every kid there. Will never forget that

[RogerHWerner]

Ken Curits is one of the people that made John Ford's stock company so wonderful. There will never be another group of such extraordinary and talented character actors assembled under one roof. Mr. Curtis was a great actor with a beautiful voice.

[jadegreenkaty]

Along with Gunsmoke, I really liked him in The Searchers.

[325eagles1]

Ken Curtis and the a Poineers are like Elvis and the Jordnairs. Great stuff. Keep it coming

[Bobbi886]

Whitt702, thank you so much. I have two of his later movies, but he doesn't sing in them. I appreciate your taking the time to help me. Bobbi

[Bobbi886]

I found the CD's on You Tube. And blanket Head101, you do realize the man is no longer with us. Only in our hearts and memories.

[Duketributechannel]

God bless you dear Ken..

another brighting star in the western sky

[etresanchez]

great lyrics, pure philosophy. Truth. Those who really are alive, are they who are always searching...

[BlanketHead101]

I'll thank you too get your hands of my prescious

[Bobbi886]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a CD of Ken Curtis singing as himself, and not Festus. Have that. Just Ken would be great. Thank you.

[whitt702]

@Bobbi886 Ken Curtis made several movies as a young singing cowboy star with the Hoosier Hotshots. The one I have on tape is "Moonlight Serenade" because he had Merle Travis as a guest.

Check other areas for Ken Curtis movies. Hope this helps.

[Bobbi886]

I doubt it also. I wish they had him sing on the show.

[ErnstBecker]

Ken Curtis -- Gunsmoke's dog eared deputy. Could there have been better? I doubt it.

[cmsgram]

Question: Did the Sons of Pioneer record

"They Call the Wind Maria (Mariah)? For one reason or other I recollect hearing it on the radio in the late 40s, early 50s?

[deniseobx252]

Ed Ames sang it.

[jbriggs1966]

Harve Presnell, who just passed away this past year, did a great version in "Paint Your Wagon".

[Bobbi886]

I agree with Winchester, He was brave, honest and could sing with the best of them. God bless.

[william2230]

if you want to start a fight in a truck stop call someone festus see what happens

[winchester18862003]

I would probably take it as a complement.

[winchester18862003]

I always liked Festus. Saw him live at the Snake River Stampede Rodeo. I wish somebody would post that song about mules that he did. "Nuthin' but an it"

[Kinschdorfer]

Festus for President!!!!!

[levi80352]

ok eu estava com saudades !

[snidersl46]

Bob Nolan is not performing in The Sons of the Pioneers when this song was recorded. The beautiful baritone voice you hear is Lloyd "Tommy" Doss the only living member of the Pioneers from the 50's and 60's.

[ArkRed1]

One of the finest fellows I ever worked with. I toured with Ken from 1974-78. Every performance was a classic. The look on people's faces when Ken started singing was priceless. A lot of people don't know that Ken took Frank Sinatra's place as band singer with Tommy Dorsey when Sinatra hit the big time. Rest in peace my friend.

[beesjubilee]

My fathers name was Clifford Prine, and he and Ken Curtis grew up together in Las Animas, Colorado. Ken Curtis's father was the Sheriff of Las Animas when he and my father were kids. They were brouoght up in the Dust Bowl days. Ken Curtis always kept in touch with my fathers sister, Evelyn Kerr and her husband, also born and raised in Las Las Animas wiith Ken, in Longmont, Colorado unitl his death.

[dajones2100]

@ArkRed1 My dad was chief of police in Des Moines, Ia...and him and Ken were really good friends.. He use to come to our house to visit, and they went to CA..and visited him...He was a great man and a great singer.. May they both rest in peace...

[lawrie31]

@ArkRed1 That's not correct...Dick Haymes replaced Sinatra...Curtis came along later

[piadinaconmortadella]

good old times !

[sslconsole]

Good God I never realized Ken was Festus Haggen!

[Jeansschwimmer]

Ken Curtis was given a horribly squeaking voice in the dubbed German version of "Gunsmoke"- so when he was once invited to sing countrysongs in a TV-show the audience watched and listened completely flabbbergasted.

[akytilop]

"I'd thank you to take your hands off of my financee"! said Ken Curtis to Jeffrey Hunter in The Searchers. Or something like that.

Ken Curtis was directo John Ford's son in law.

[selmer6player]

ken was just plain cool. remember 'gunsmoke?' thanks for the post.

[Labaron26]

This was an era in History that will never be repeated. It has been turned to a shamble by that group that try to imitate it and call themselves Country Western singers, when they bare no resemblance whatsoever to the ones that I, and others can remember in years past and they never will.

[lumpagogo]

baron is true. The idiot NASCARS poison everything they do.

[rparker0]

What do you expect? Non Athletic Sports Centered Around Rednecks is the NASCAR logo!

[lumpagogo]

Knowing per parker.

[OEDBrowser]

@Labaron26 I agree 100% !! There was such integrity to the old recordings and empathy with the song., including a tangible time and place about the performance !! Modern performers can never achieve that honest effect !! That was the Golden Era for all music including all the great jazz performers and singers. There is also that vital ingredient ' Nostalgia' !!!!

[elc1960]

@OEDBrowser Even if someone doesn't care for the song, they can appreciate the fact that the performers did it in ONE COMPLETE TAKE with no overdubs, a feat unequaled in the modern "protools" era. The person who invented that device that bends notes for people so they get that "gurgling" sound should be strung up by his . . . well, you get my drift. That sound surfaced with Cher's "Believe" in 1999, and now modern music is forever poisoned by it. A damn shame.

[rhapsodyinblah]

Beautiful, just beautiful.

[114Pilot]

I believe the arrangement used in the album was a little different from the one used in the movie soundtrack. Nonetheless, it's a great song and the 'Sons' never sounded better. Also, I don't think I've ever read a better selection of comments than the ones that have been posted for this. You are to be commended!

[changsau]

my father comes to my house on vacation and watches gunsmoke everyday but i dont think he knew about this i know i didnt thanks

[BubbaTxx]

What is the official title of this song? I looked up the albums the Son's of the Pioneers produced and can't find it. This song is so wonderful and the movie always leaves me in awe.

[curleyb3]

Thank you for the comment. As I understand the name is "The Searchers" by the Sons of the Pioneers and it's in the Albumn "Western Classics"

[Baskerville22]

I believe this is played in the concluding minute of The Searchers. Curtis has a good role in the movie.

[1985Fla]

Is definitly that way, the song is from "the searchers", awfully good movie!!!!!!!

[RogerHWerner]

Yes its called The Theme from The Searchers. Lyrics were written by Stan Jones who was one of the SOP.

[NYDutch1968]

I think the official song title is "Ride Away" written by Stan Jones who also wrote "Ghost Riders in the Sky".

[librarybob1958]

@BubbaTxx Theme from "The Searchers." It's heard under the opening credits of the John Wayne/John Ford classic, music by Max Steiner and lyrics by Stan Jones.

A native of Lamar, Colorado, the son of the local sherrif, Ken Curtis was a fine singer, long before he became the iconic Festus Haggin on "Gunsmoke." In addition to singing lead with the SOTP, he succeeded Dick Haymes with the Tommy Dorsey band in the 40's. You won't hear him on any of their records, though, due to the AFM ban.

[dist1roadwarrior]

thank you so very much for sharing this

[curleyb3]

Thank you Jerry for your comment of Ken Curtis. You have quite a collection of records. That's Great!!! There is a video of Ken singing "Room full of Roses on there" also.

Curley

[lacowboy90211]

Thanks for putting this together. I've been a Sons of the Pioneers fan (P-nuts, they used to call their fan club) since I can remember. Growing up in West Texas in the 1940s, they were Gods to my parents, uncles and aunts. I saw them in concert in Fort Worth 1949, not long after Ken Curtis joined them. I met them all and got their autographs. Another great solo of his is Room Full of Roses. I have, I believe, every record they made from the late 30's through the 50's.

Jerry in L.A.

[STOPNORTHERNHATRID]

FESTUS!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that show! Bonanza to!

[kkcowgirl]

This is fantastic!! I was an adult before I knew "Festus" was in Sons. I heard him sing in a film once, and was blown away. Would you ever guess Festus possessed such a voice??!

Thanks so much for posting!

[Phillip72471]

tripped me out

[AgustusIII]

I'm a big Festus FAN

[bluejohncreek]

most enchanting song to introduce a movie there ever was!!!

[NYDutch1968]

...and the most enchanting song to end a movie. Looking out from a dark cabin into a bright barren landscape with John Wayne framing the door, grabbing his arm and turning and walking away slowly in his patented pigeon-toed style, alone. It's great to hear the entire song. Great post!!!

[globalnettuber]

This song is used in the movie "The Searchers" with John Wayne, Ward Bond, Ken Curtis

[CokeMentoProductions]

ken curtis is my grandpas cousin

[RubyWraith]

Mr. Curtis was a phenomenal singer and actor. He is sorely missed. May God rest his soul.

[setty420]

festus and doc were great on gunsmoke

[curleyb3]

Thank you for your comment. Yes Both Ken & Doc were great.

[evilangal1976]

I agree they were always at each others throats, and made a lot of humor out of it.