John 'Dusty' King (born Miller McLeod Everson, July 11, 1909 – November 11, 1987) was an American singer and film actor renowned for his Westerns particularly the Range Busters series.
Biography Everson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Everson travelled the country working a variety of jobs, such as chauffeuring motorcars from Detroit to Cincinnati, lumberjacking in New Mexico, and working as a ranch hand in Arizona.Rainey, Buck Serial Film Stars: A Biographical Dictionary 1912–1956, 2005, McFarland, p.714
Everson found himself a radio announcing job in Covington, Kentucky then returned to Cincinnati where he announced, hosted, and sang. Hearing him on the radio, bandleader Ben Bernie hired him as a singer with Everson changing his name to John King. Noting his good looks and popularity, Bernie recommended him to Hollywood with Zeppo Marx also agreeing with Bernie.
Hollywood King was contracted to Universal Pictures making several films and playing the lead in the serial Ace Drummond. He made appearances in films for other studios before being hired by Monogram Pictures to play the lead in a Cinecolor Western, The Gentleman from Arizona in 1939. The following year King would play "Dusty" in the Range Busters series of Westerns.
The Range Busters were Monogram's version of Republic Pictures' The Three Mesquiteers. King played the singing cowboy alongside of Ray "Crash" Corrigan who was later replaced by David Sharpe and comedy relief Max Terhune with his dummy Elmer for a total of 18 films in the series.
In Haunted Ranch (1943), Sharpe leaves the trio to enlist in the US Army in the Spanish–American War. Not only did Sharpe actually enlist in the US Army Air Forces but King himself was drafted in the USAAF serving in Special Services in Arizona.
After discharge there were no film offers, so King returned to radio, later buying a station. He later left the radio industry to run a waffle shop in La Jolla, California.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1935 Stolen Harmony Fagin in Skit Uncredited1935 The Affair of Susan Boy in Fun House Uncredited1935 His Night Out Salesman Uncredited1935 Three Kids and a Queen Reporter Uncredited1935 Fighting Youth Singing Band Leader 1936 The Adventures of Frank Merriwell Bruce Browning Serial1936 Next Time We Love Juvenile Uncredited1936 Dangerous Waters Singing Sailor 1936 Sutter's Gold Alvarado Jr. Uncredited1936 Love Before Breakfast Johnny Uncredited1936 Nobody's Fool Master of Ceremonies Uncredited1936 Crash Donovan Johnny Allen 1936 Postal Inspector Ralph Uncredited1936 Ace Drummond Ace Drummond Serial1936 Three Smart Girls Bill Evans 1937 The Road Back Ernst 1937 Merry-Go-Round of 1938 Tony Townsend 1938 The Crime of Doctor Hallet Dr. Philip Saunders 1938 State Police Sgt. Dan Prescott 1938 Breaking the Ice Henry Johnson 1938 Sharpshooters Prince Alexis 1938 Charlie Chan in Honolulu Randolph 1939 The Three Musketeers Aramis 1939 Inside Story Paul Randall 1939 The Hardys Ride High Philip 'Phil' Westcott 1939 Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation Howard Stevens 1939 The Gentleman from Arizona Pokey Sanders 1940 Midnight Limited Val Lennon 1940 Half a Sinner Larry Cameron 1940 The Range Busters 'Dusty' King 1940 Trailing Double Trouble 1940 West of Pinto Basin 1940 Blame It on Love Jeff Wadsworth 1941 Trail of the Silver Spurs Dusty King 1941 The Kid's Last Ride 1941 Tumbledown Ranch in Arizona 1941 Wrangler's Roost 1941 Fugitive Valley 1941 Saddle Mountain Roundup 1941 Tonto Basin Outlaws 1941 Underground Rustlers 1942 Thunder River Feud 1942 Law of the Jungle Larry Mason 1942 Rock River Renegades Dusty King 1942 Boot Hill Bandits 1942 Texas Trouble Shooters 1942 Arizona Stage Coach 1942 Texas to Bataan 1942 Trail Riders 1943 Two Fisted Justice 1943 Haunted Ranch Dusty King posing as Hank Travers 1946 Renegade Girl Cpl. Brown (final film role)
Notes
External links
King at B Westerns website