In Once a Haggen (S9, E18), Ken Curtis sang with Slim Pickens "Six Shiny Black Horses" - a haunting composition by Curtis himself. A shiny black carriage All draperied like snow Six shiny black horses Are pulling so slow The road to the graveyard Is lonesome and Long Who passed the last judgment Was he right or wrong | The Legacy of Gunsmoke

Here's a young Ken Curtis ("Festus") singing with the original, premiere cowboy singing group, The Sons of the Pioneers, They Formed in 1934, but as different band members step up, they're still performing. They're known for their unique harmony - the gold standard to which all other western groups aspire. | The Legacy of Gunsmoke

BOOM TV CHARACTER OF THE DAY: Festus Haggen (played by 7/2 birthday boy, Ken Curtis) from “Gunsmoke” | BoomUnderground.com

Ken Curtis, who played Festus on Gunsmoke, was actually a fantastic singer in real life. Here he ”dumbs it down” for the show. | Hillbilly Talk with Shane Simmons

Some of you asked how Ken Curtis talked when he wasn't in character. In 1969, Bette Rogge interviewed him with Buck Taylor. Here's the Ken Curtis excerpt. I love how easily he can move from the Festus character to himself. | The Legacy of Gunsmoke