Jud Strunk
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Born Name:
Justin Roderick Strunk Jr.
Born Date: June 11, 1936
Born Place: Jamestown, New York
Died Date: October 5, 1981
Died Place: Carrabassett Valley, Maine
Occupations: Singer-songwriter, comedian, banjo player
Brief Biography: Justin Roderick "Jud" Strunk Jr. was known for his charting folk-country ballads and dry, regional wit, Strunk became a household name in the 1970s through national television appearances and his signature musical-comedy routines. He achieved major crossover success with his 1973 hit single "Daisy a Day".
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Strunk attended the Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated with a history degree in 1959. It was during his college years that he picked up the tenor banjo and began entertaining crowds. In 1960, he relocated to Farmington, Maine. He performed on the U.S. Armed Forces entertainment circuit and eventually appeared in the Broadway musical Beautiful Dreamer. Maine became his adopted home, and its local culture and geography heavily inspired his career as a storyteller and folk hero.
Rise to Fame and Television Success:
Strunk’s career skyrocketed in the early 1970s when he became a semi-regular performer on the hit television comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. On the show, he brought his unique brand of humor to a national audience, frequently playing a news reporter from Farmington, mockingly branding it the "sports capital of the world". His down-to-earth, charming persona and skilled banjo playing earned him his own ABC-TV special, The Jud Strunk Show, in 1972. He also made guest acting appearances on popular television shows, including two episodes of Bewitched.
Musical Highlights:
While his comedy was sharp, Strunk was a highly successful recording artist. He blended novelty humor with deep sentimentality, recording albums like Downeast Viewpoint (1970) and Jones' General Store (1973).
"Daisy a Day" (1973): His signature song, a heartwarming and bittersweet love ballad, reached number 14 on the Billboard Pop charts and cracked the Top 20 on the Country charts.
"The Biggest Parakeets in Town" (1975): A humorous novelty song that highlighted his double-entendre comedy style. The song became a Top 20 country hit in Canada and peaked at number 50 on the U.S. charts.
Political Run:
Deeply involved in his local community, Strunk entered politics and narrowly lost a 1970 election for a seat in the Maine State Senate.
Born Date: June 11, 1936
Born Place: Jamestown, New York
Died Date: October 5, 1981
Died Place: Carrabassett Valley, Maine
Occupations: Singer-songwriter, comedian, banjo player
Brief Biography: Justin Roderick "Jud" Strunk Jr. was known for his charting folk-country ballads and dry, regional wit, Strunk became a household name in the 1970s through national television appearances and his signature musical-comedy routines. He achieved major crossover success with his 1973 hit single "Daisy a Day".
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Strunk attended the Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated with a history degree in 1959. It was during his college years that he picked up the tenor banjo and began entertaining crowds. In 1960, he relocated to Farmington, Maine. He performed on the U.S. Armed Forces entertainment circuit and eventually appeared in the Broadway musical Beautiful Dreamer. Maine became his adopted home, and its local culture and geography heavily inspired his career as a storyteller and folk hero.
Rise to Fame and Television Success:
Strunk’s career skyrocketed in the early 1970s when he became a semi-regular performer on the hit television comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. On the show, he brought his unique brand of humor to a national audience, frequently playing a news reporter from Farmington, mockingly branding it the "sports capital of the world". His down-to-earth, charming persona and skilled banjo playing earned him his own ABC-TV special, The Jud Strunk Show, in 1972. He also made guest acting appearances on popular television shows, including two episodes of Bewitched.
Musical Highlights:
While his comedy was sharp, Strunk was a highly successful recording artist. He blended novelty humor with deep sentimentality, recording albums like Downeast Viewpoint (1970) and Jones' General Store (1973).
"Daisy a Day" (1973): His signature song, a heartwarming and bittersweet love ballad, reached number 14 on the Billboard Pop charts and cracked the Top 20 on the Country charts.
"The Biggest Parakeets in Town" (1975): A humorous novelty song that highlighted his double-entendre comedy style. The song became a Top 20 country hit in Canada and peaked at number 50 on the U.S. charts.
Political Run:
Deeply involved in his local community, Strunk entered politics and narrowly lost a 1970 election for a seat in the Maine State Senate.