Roy Huskey, Jr.

Roy Milton Huskey (December 17, 1956 – September 6, 1997), known professionally as Roy Huskey Jr., was a prominent American upright bass player in country music from Nashville, Tennessee. Huskey performed alongside musicians such as Chet Atkins, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, George Jones, Steve Earle, Doc Watson and many others. His father, Roy Madison "Junior" Huskey, was also a notable bass player.

Career Huskey began his career at the age of 16 backing up Del Wood on the Grand Ole Opry in 1971. His first job as a touring musician was with Roy Acuff as one of his Smoky Mountain Boys.

Acoustic musician and friend John Hartford said, "In as much as the bass is the heartbeat of country music, and in as much as he was country music's most important bass player, I would say country music has just had a major heart attack." Another notable instrument Huskey inherited from his father was a Gibson 1920 Style-J mando bass. The elder Huskey owned two of the Style-J instruments and had given one to Roy Acuff. The other remained in the Roy Huskey Jr. estate following his death and was on loan for a time to bass player Dave Pomeroy.