5 December 2007

FARON YOUNG, FORTY-THREE YEARS AGO: On Sunday, December 6, 1964, The Nashville Tennessean headline announced, “Opry Drops 12 Top Stars.” The caption under Faron’s photo, one of four on the front page, said “Opry favorite.” The other eight photos appeared inside the paper. The WSM public relations director called it “just a routine thing” to […]

28 November 2007

FARON YOUNG, TWENTY-SIX YEARS AGO: At the end of November 1981, Faron was a guest on Ralph Emery’s WSM radio show. Ralph asked about the origin of his name, and Faron replied, “I don’t have no idea. I used to say it was a Biblical name, and it’s not. Because I had several people who […]

21 November 2007

FARON YOUNG, TWENTY-THREE YEARS AGO: Faron appeared as a guest on Nashville Now on November 23, 1984. Ralph Emery commented, “I have never seen you so dressed up in my life,” and asked if he had jury duty somewhere. Tennessee Ernie Ford, another guest on the show, said, “Looks like he’s gonna go preach.” Faron […]

14 November 2007

FARON YOUNG, FIFTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: Faron was enjoying life as a new recording artist in Nashville, and living with other musicians at Mom Upchurch’s house, when he received his draft notice. He went into the U.S. Army on November 16, 1952. When asked whether he was drafted or joined voluntarily, he told an interviewer, “You […]

7 November 2007

FARON YOUNG, FIFTY YEARS AGO: One of Faron’s movies was released and another filmed in November 1957. Raiders Of Old California was shown in special screening during the disc jockey convention, and then Faron headed to New York City for the filming of Country Music Holiday. In Raiders Of Old California, Marshal Faron Young shoots […]

31 October 2007

This newsletter has now begun its third year. Although I get requests to change to a Marty Robbins newsletter, I don’t know when I’ll have enough information to do that. The University of Illinois Press has redesigned its Web site, and here’s the link to the new page for Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron […]

24 October 2007

Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story is available online and in most bookstores. Stores not currently carrying the book can order it upon request. FARON YOUNG, THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: Faron performed at Dance Town U.S.A. in Houston on 28 October 1972. Bob Claypool interviewed him for a Houston Post article, dated 11/12/72, “A night […]

17 October 2007

FARON YOUNG, THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: Connie Smith and Faron presented an award at the Country Music Association awards show on October 16, 1972. Connie recalls, “Faron was always razzing me about being a fanatic, and all that, so when we went out on stage to present the award together, I just said, ‘Faron, if you […]

10 October 2007

FARON YOUNG, FIFTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: Faron recorded “Goin’ Steady” on October 12, 1952, a month before his induction into the Army. He’d written the song while on the road touring with Hank Snow. He used the melody of Claude King’s “She Knows Why,” and he received advice on the lyrics from his manager, Hubert Long, […]

3 October 2007

FARON YOUNG, FIFTY-TWO YEARS AGO: A Grand Ole Opry package came to the Dade County auditorium in Miami, Florida, on October 4, 1955. Minnie Pearl and Faron Young were two of the performers. Country music was popular in Miami at the time and a huge crowd pushed at one another to get tickets. Gordon Terry […]