George Avak, (November 6, 1932 - January 24, 2021) was an American traditional and contemporary country singer. Born George Nazor Avak in Hartford, he was the son of George Avak and Virginia (Mollis) Avak. He rew up in West Hartford, and resided in Burlington and Wolcott.
George was a graduate of Hall High School and Bryant College. He joined the Marines after school. Upon his return, he resumed with his band called the CT Valley Boys where he entertained people with his beautiful voice and guitar. In the late 50’s, he became the sheriff at Cowboy Valley, a western -themed tourist town in Killingworth. Executives from Colt Manufacturing Co. saw his gun act and asked him to become the company’s gun demonstrator. George trained at a Colt gun range and earned the title, “Fastest Gun Alive” and “King of the Colt 45,” after the company clocked his draw at .3 seconds. An entertainer at heart, he took his gun show all over the country and helped train Hollywood gunslingers including Hugh O’Brien at Warner Brothers studio for many years. He ultimately dropped the act after President John F. Kennedy was gunned down on Nov. 22, 1963.
George was a volunteer with the Tunxis Hose Company No. 1 in Unionville, played the guitar and sang at several establishments in Connecticut including the Hotel Worthy in Unionville and other places with juke boxes where people could listen to his records. George continued singing and playing the guitar and made his way to Tennessee and became famous in the country music circle in the mid 70’s with his hit, “I’ve Loved You All Over the World.” He performed at the Grand Ole Opry alongside Dolly Parton and Tex Ritter and signed with a recording studio in Oakville Tennessee where he produced 2 albums (LPs) and several 45’s.
Living in Burlington, George had a small farm that included a beautiful Tennessee Walker horse that he fondly called King George. He raised pheasants, goats, rabbits, chickens, and hens. He also planted several grape vines on the property. He entertained the kids on Savarese Lane by making a chariot out of the front end of a model T Ford which was hitched up to his horse. He also gave rides to kids at the Shell station on Rt. 44 in Avon. George owned a restaurant called The Baghdad (renamed Avak’s) in Bristol where he performed with his band called “The Secrets” every Friday and Saturday night and a second restaurant called Cozy Corner in Wolcott. He bought a cottage on Cedar Lake in Wolcott where he lived for several years with his kids. They were able to enjoy snowmobiling, boating, fireworks, ice skating and bon fires.
George had an incredible green thumb. He always had a large vegetable garden with several varieties of tomatoes and a keen knack to grow any flower you can imagine. For 16 years he traveled the state with his exotic butterfly collection which turned into a business which his son John helped him run. George displayed exhibits from his collections at museums and gave lectures at libraries. Later in life, he started a landscaping and lawn cutting business until his retirement. George was once quoted as saying, “Everything I do I love. And if I love it, I can’t leave it alone. “George continued to play the piano, guitar, and sing every single day to the delight of his friends and family. His beautiful voice never faded.
He died at his home on January 24, 2021 at the age of 88 years and was laid to rest with his parents in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.
(Edited from his official obit)