Born Justin Roderick Strunk, Jr. in Jamestown, New York, he was raised in Buffalo, New York, where as a small boy his showmanship became evident. After he learned to play the banjo, Strunk began entertaining locals and went on to wide recognition after appearances on national television network shows such as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Although much of Strunk's material was humorous, his most popular song was not. "Daisy a Day", which Strunk wrote and recorded in 1973, is a gentle, sentimental ballad in 3/4 time, describing the relationship between a boy and girl who ultimately grow old together. For every day of their lives, he gives her a daisy as a sign of their love. In the last verse, she has died, but her widower husband continues to make daily visits to her grave. The song made the BillboardTop 20 on both the country and pop music charts. A cover versionEen Roosje, M'n Roosje by Conny Vandenbos reached No. 7 on the Dutch Top 40hit list in 1974.
''Laugh-In''
Strunk was a regular member of the Laugh-In cast during its last season. He often reported fictitious sporting events "directly from Farmington, Maine".
Other material
Strunk also wrote three humorous songs that made it into the country music charts, and he toured with the Andy Williams Road Show. One of these songs, "The Biggest Parakeets in Town," was a tongue-in-cheek story of a woman who is a bird fancier. Its central joke is the unspoken pun of "parakeets/pair o'tits" used in the title. Other singles, such as "Next Door Neighbor's Kid" and the patriotic "My Country," appeared on various Billboard surveys. Strunk also scored a songwriting hit with "Bill Jones' General Store", the title track of his 1971 album of a similar name; Canadian musician Tommy Hunter charted in the top 20 on the country and adult contemporary charts in Canada with the song.
Last years and death
Strunk became a folk hero in Maine, and in 1970 narrowly lost the election for Senate seat in the state legislature. He was also a private pilot and purchased a 1941 Fairchild M62-A. On 5 October 1981, he suffered a heart attack just after take-off in the aircraft at Carrabassett Valley Airport in Maine. The plane flipped over, falling some 300 feet, killing him instantly along with his passenger, Dick Ayotte, a longtime friend and local businessman. Jud was 45 years old.
Legacy
Jud's sons contribute to the Sugarloaf Community, with Jud's grandson performing onstage at The Rack on Sunday afternoons.
