Ken Curtis

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

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
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
Victor	E0VB-3576	10-in.	3/13/1950	Chuckwalla swing	Sons of the Pioneers	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Victor	E0VB-3712	10-in.	7/17/1950	Old man atom	Sons of the Pioneers	Comic monologue, with male vocal ensemble and string band	vocalist
Victor	E0VB-3713	10-in.	7/17/1950	What this country needs (is a good old fashioned talk with the Lord)	Sons of the Pioneers	Male vocal ensemble, with recitation and string band	vocalist
Victor	D9VB-2606	10-in.	12/14/1949	Let's go west again	Ken Curtis ; Sons of the Pioneers	Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal chorus	vocalist
Victor	D9VB-2609	10-in.	12/14/1949	Wedding dolls (from your wedding cake)	Ken Curtis ; Sons of the Pioneers	Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal chorus	vocalist
Decca	L 10949		5/16/1958	Sugar lips	Ken Curtis		vocalist
Decca	L 10950		5/16/1958	Kiss and run lover	Ken Curtis		vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Curtis, Ken," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100085.

Curtis, Ken. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100085.

"Curtis, Ken." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.