Resource id #75
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Ken Curtis

Ken Curtis (born Curtis Wain Gates; July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American actor and singer best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the CBS western television series Gunsmoke. He appeared on Gunsmoke earlier in other roles (such as “Brisco” in S4E32’s “Change of Heart"). His first appearance as Festus was in season 8, episode 13, "Us Haggens", which debuted December 8, 1962. His next appearance was Season 9, episode 2, October 5, 1963, as Kyle Kelly, in "Lover Boy". Curtis joined the cast of Gunsmoke permanently as Festus in "Prairie Wolfer", season 9 episode 16, which debuted January 18, 1964. The episode often is confused with a 1969 episode of the same title made five years later (S13E10).

Birth and Death Data: Born July 2, 1916 (Lamar), Died April 28, 1991 (Fresno)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 32 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-067935 10-in. 9/26/1941 Love sends a little gift of roses Ken Curtis ; The Pied Pipers ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-067938 10-in. 9/26/1941 The anniversary waltz Ken Curtis ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-068699 10-in. 12/23/1941 The lost chord Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-068801 10-in. 12/23/1941 Someone's rocking my dreamboat Ken Curtis ; Shep Fields ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-068802 10-in. 12/23/1941 Let's say goodnight with a dance Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-071916 10-in. 2/16/1942 Long may we love Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-071917 10-in. 2/16/1942 Dear old pal of mine Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-071918 10-in. 2/16/1942 The caissons go rolling along (The artillery song) Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-073292 10-in. 5/28/1942 This is worth fighting for Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-073293 10-in. 5/28/1942 You're too good for good-for-nothing me Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-073294 10-in. 5/28/1942 You're easy to dance with Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-073416 10-in. 3/10/1942 Breathless Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-073417 10-in. 3/10/1942 Mad about him, sad without him, how can i be glad without him blues Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-073418 10-in. 3/10/1942 The tale of Peter and the Wolf Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-073419 10-in. 3/10/1942 I'm gettin' mighty lonesome for you Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-073858 10-in. 5/1/1942 Whisper that you love me Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-073859 10-in. 5/1/1942 Nursie!Nursie! Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-073860 10-in. 5/1/1942 Wonder when my baby's coming home Ken Curtis ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor E0VB-3536 10-in. 2/4/1950 Roses Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble and vocal harmonies vocalist  
Victor E0VB-3537 10-in. 2/4/1950 The eagle's heart Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble and vocal harmonies vocalist  
Victor E0VB-3538 10-in. 2/4/1950 The land beyond the sun Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal ensemble, with string band vocalist  
Victor E0VB-3539 10-in. 2/4/1950 I told them all about you Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal ensemble, with string band vocalist  
Victor E0VB-3573 10-in. 3/10/1950 Wagons west Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Victor E0VB-3574 10-in. 3/13/1950 Rollin' dust Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Victor E0VB-3575 10-in. 3/13/1950 Song of the wagonmaster Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 32 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Curtis, Ken," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100085.

Curtis, Ken. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100085.

"Curtis, Ken." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100085

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ken Curtis

Discogs: Ken Curtis

IMDb: Ken Curtis

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Curtis, Ken, 1916-1991 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91104951

Wikidata: Ken Curtis - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q949696

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/34666809

MusicBrainz: Ken Curtis - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8d54e7bb-3edb-452c-a4ea-6e57cbbdcb22

ISNI: 0000 0000 4083 895X - http://www.isni.org/isni/000000004083895X

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/293562

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