Vernon Sandusky, Edna, will be inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame 2010 on March 6 in Lawrence at Liberty Hall. This is an individual induction. Last year, he was inducted as part of a group called the Poe-Kats.
He got started in music when he was only 16 years old. He had been a singer since a small child. He graduated from Labette County High School in 1956 and went to Coffeyville College. He started playing his guitar and singing with Bobby Poe and the Poe-Kats.
In 1958 he toured with Wanda Jackson for a couple of years. He was on her first album in 1958. He went to Hollywood, played the guitar and was a back-up singer in that album on her major single “Let’s Have a Party.” This was her biggest hit. Roy Clark later played for Wanda Jackson as did Rodney Lay from the Coffeyville area.
Vernon went to the East Coast in 1960 where he stayed for about 10 years. He formed a group called the Chart Busters between 1964 and 1969. They made the Top 30 list and sold almost a million copies of “She’s the One.” Another song, “Why Don’t You Be My Girl” made the Top 50. A song called “New Orleans” was a good record that made its way up the charts.
Vernon made records with several record companies–namely, Mutual Records, Crusader Records and Bell Records.
He moved back to Kansas in 1969. He started playing with Rodney Lay in 1969. They are still working together. They toured with big names like Freddie Fender, and Jody Miller whose recording was “Queen of the House.” He joined Roy Clark in 1976 and worked with him for twenty years until 1996.
Vernon has his own carpet cleaning business in Edna and Coffeyville.
He recently performed on New Year’s Eve in Bartlesville.
Vernon was 71 in June. The guitar has been his major instrument, but he also plays the electric bass as well.
He emphasized that he still loves the music.