# Larry Verne > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Larry_Verne > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Larry_Verne.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Verne > Source revision: 1353141946 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American novelty song artist (1936-2013)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Larry Verne | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Larry Vern Erickson | birth_date = {{birth date|1936|2|8}} | birth_place = [Minneapolis, Minnesota](/source/Minneapolis), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2013|10|8|1936|2|8}} | death_place = [Sylmar, California](/source/Sylmar%2C_Los_Angeles), U.S. | instrument = | genre = [Novelty songs](/source/Novelty_songs) | occupation = [Singer](/source/Singing) | years_active = 1960–1963 | label = [Era Records](/source/Era_Records) }} '''Larry Vern Erickson''' (February 8, 1936 – October 8, 2013) was an [American](/source/Americans) [novelty song](/source/novelty_song) [vocalist](/source/singing). ==Biography== Verne recorded two [U.S.](/source/United_States) [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) [chart](/source/record_chart) [hit single](/source/hit_single)s in 1960, "Mr. Livingston" (No. 75) and "[Mr. Custer](/source/Mr._Custer)" (No. 1, and No. 9 [R&B](/source/Rhythm_%26_Blues)).{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=larry-verne-mn0000136585 |tab=biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Larry Verne Biography |first=Steve |last=Leggett |publisher=[All Media Network](/source/All_Media_Network) |website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) |access-date=August 9, 2017}} "Mr. Custer" was [written](/source/songwriter) by Fred Darian, [Al De Lory](/source/Al_De_Lory), and Joe Van Winkle.{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/130 130]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/130}} The [record](/source/gramophone_record) sold over one million copies, earning a [gold disc](/source/music_recording_sales_certification). In the [UK](/source/UK_Singles_Chart), "Mr. Custer" was successfully [covered](/source/cover_version) by [Charlie Drake](/source/Charlie_Drake). "Mr. Custer" was featured on an album of novelty songs recorded by Verne called ''Mr. Larry Verne'', which was released that same year. After growing tired of the [music industry](/source/music_industry), Verne quit to become a successful builder of [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood%2C_California) film sets, which he did for 35 years before retiring.{{cite web |url=http://www.jerryosborne.com/11-17-03.htm |title=Ask 'Mr. Music' Jerry Osborne |first=Jerry |last=Osborne |website=Mr. Music |date=November 17, 2003}} ==Death== Verne died on October 8, 2013, of heart failure in [Sylmar, California](/source/Sylmar%2C_California), at the age of 77.{{cite web |url=http://www.thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2013b.html#sthash.mjP45JcW.J2HfhYGX.dpbs |title=July to December 2013 |website=The Dead Rock Stars Club |access-date=August 9, 2017}} He had long suffered from Alzheimer's disease and had suffered three strokes.{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/11/passings-larry-verne-1936-2013.html |title=Passings: Larry Verne (1936 - 2013) |website=Vintage Vinyl News |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109055835/http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/11/passings-larry-verne-1936-2013.html |url-status=dead }} ==Discography== ===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center; |- !rowspan="2"|Year !rowspan="2"|Title !colspan="2"|Peak chart
positions !rowspan="2"|Record Label !rowspan="2"|[B-side](/source/A-side_and_B-side) !rowspan="2"|Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" !align=centre| [US
Pop](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) !align=centre| [US
R&B](/source/Hot_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Songs) |- |rowspan="2"| 1960 |align=left| "[Mr. Custer](/source/Mr._Custer)" | 1 | 9 |rowspan="8"| [Era](/source/Era_Records) |rowspan="1"| "Okeefenokee Two Step" |rowspan="2"| ''Mr. Larry Verne'' |- |align=left| "Mr. Livingston" | 75 | — |rowspan="1"| "Roller Coaster" |- |rowspan="3"| 1961 |align=left| "Abdul's Party" | 113 | — |rowspan="1"| "Tubby Tilly" |rowspan="1"| |- |align=left| "Charlie at the Bat" | — | — |rowspan="1"| "Pow, Right in the Kisser" |rowspan="1"| |- |align=left| "The Speck" | — | — |rowspan="1"| "Beatnick" |rowspan="1"| |- |rowspan="2"| 1962 |align=left| "I'm a Brave Little Soldier" | — | — |rowspan="1"| "Hoo-Ha" |rowspan="1"| |- |align=left| "The Coward That Won the West" | — | — |rowspan="1"| "The Porcupine Patrol" |rowspan="1"| |- |rowspan="1"| 1964 |align=left| "Return of Mr. Custer" | — | — |rowspan="1"| "Running Through the Forest" |rowspan="1"| |- |} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{AllMusic |class=artist |id=larry-verne-mn0000136585}} *{{Discogs artist|450507-Larry-Verne}} *{{IMDb name|0894526}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Verne, Larry}} Category:American male singers Category:1936 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Musicians from Minneapolis Category:Era Records artists Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California Category:Singers from Minnesota {{US-singer-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Larry Verne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Verne) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Verne?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.