LETTERS
Earl White writes, “Just thought I would give you some more information on Ben Keith. In 1957 I brought Ben to Nashville to go to work for Hawkshaw Hawkins. We roomed together for about a year. That was his first job.” I checked Ben’s interview, and he’d said, “I was working with Hawkshaw Hawkins, and the whole band quit, and left him out on the road. It was after that I started with Faron.” Earl adds, “He was right. He just didn’t finish the story. We wrecked the bus in Virginia Beach. Sammy Barnhart headed for Nashville with the bus. A hurricane blew in I think it was Hazel. Ben and I took the horse truck and headed for Mt Airy North Carolina. When we got there we found out Hawk and Jean was on their way to Nashville. So Ben and I headed for Nashville, too. That is when we both quit.”

Steve Clark says, “Thanks for the update on Ben Keith, I was not aware he had passed. I reread portions of your book about him and he sure seemed like a character. Hope you are enjoying your new home.”

Terry Counts writes, “I love these pix!!! Great job…I remember my first taste of Faron Young, I was 16 in High School (the one that Heath Ledger movie was featured in, 10 Things I hate about you) and heard Faron…I was part-timing at a radio station then so I found out all about it and bought the album, WHICH I STILL HAVE…called Sweethearts or Strangers. About 10 years or so later I went to his concert and wow..he came on stage after the show and we talked for about 20 minutes…he didn’t remember that after I’d gone to work for Deaton but we had some great times..he was a great honest, sincere kinda guy. I still miss him.”

Tom Lipscombe reports from Canada, “Thanks for the newsletter. Have posted it on the ATL Forum:
http://pub3.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=243824250&frmid=204&msgid=807112&cp=1&cmd=show. What a great story about Faron, his brown monogrammed cigarettes, his new Caddy, the Opry, and the three young musicians from Chattanooga. Kudos to Larry Banks.”

Terry Tyson in Nashville says, “Always been a fan of Faron’s! Had the pleasure of becoming friends with Alana this spring. She has helped me since I lost my house and collection in the flood. I would love to get a signed copy and let me know where to send payment.”

Mike O’Neill sends a report that the Opry House will reopen for performances on Friday, 1 October.

Ken Johnson reminds us that Lee Ann Womack will host the 4th Annual ACM Honors show on Monday, 20 September, at the Ryman Auditorium. Marty Robbins and Mel Tillis will receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
While searching for Marty’s band members, I put together a list of names and numbers to call. When the answering machine on one telephone started playing “El Paso,” I knew I’d found the correct Jack Pruett. He played lead guitar for Marty from late 1956 until Marty’s death, with the exception of the early ’70s when Marty stopped carrying a band after his heart surgery. Jack worked with David Houston then. Marty and drummer Louie Dunn gave Jack his nickname. “I think my little bandy-legged, bony legs reminded them of a chicken,” he says. “And then I kind of have the Oriental eyes and cheeks. They hung the bandy-legged chicken and the Oriental wong, so that’s where it come out with Bandy Wong. Most of the band members called me Bandy. Some people still do. I answer to Bandy as quick or quicker than I would Jack.” He lives near Nashville, and I was thrilled to meet Jack at our Marty Robbins band reunion a year ago.

Pruetts, Joe Babcock, Earl White, Haskel McCormick at band reunion

BEN KEITH 1937-2010
Bennett Keith Schaeufele, better known as steel player Big Ben Keith, died 26 July in California. He got his start with Faron Young and spent the past four decades with Neil Young. I’m grateful to have visited the publicity-shy musician/producer at his Gallatin, Tennessee, home in 2000, when he consented to an interview about his days with Faron. He explained the period between the two Youngs by saying, “Faron didn’t work the road that much, and I had to find something else. I started doing demos in Nashville, and got into a session clique for awhile, and kinda stayed at home, and started producing a little bit.” I last heard from Ben in 2006 when I asked if the tornado had damaged his house, and he replied, “It missed us by blocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Ben.” My Sideman Sidebar featured him several months ago, and some information from that newsletter appeared in his online obituaries.

LETTERS
Les Leverett writes, “As always, I enjoyed this newsletter.  In reference to Terry Counts’ letter concerning the song about the cowboys and the buffalo, tell her to make her check out to me in the amount of one zillion bucks, because I know about that song. I have it on a 1972 Vangard double LP entitled The Greatest Songs of Woody Guthrie. It is listed as being 5:25 long. Singing credit is to Jim Kweskin and writing credit is to Woody Guthrie. The song is titled ‘Buffalo Skinners.’ I went to Yahoo and typed in ‘buffalo skinners song’ and there it was! You can listen to Woody sing it in 3:25.”

Terry Counts responds, “Golly gosh, found it. .the lyrics are exactly the same but THE MELODY IS DIFFERENT!! Amazing.”

Larry Blanks says, “I’ve not read your book, but plan on getting a copy. Here’s a Faron story of mine from Oct of 1960. I was a 17-year-old musician from Chattanooga attending the DJ convention. Two friends and I were waiting on the very slow elevator at the Andrew Jackson Hotel in Nashville on Saturday afternoon and Faron walked up with a lady. As we waited, he offered us one of his custom-made cigarettes, rolled in brown paper and with his name imprinted in gold. I didn’t smoke but asked if I could have one anyway. We had a very friendly conversation after that. It seemed to take forever for an elevator to show up that had room for us, and during the wait, Faron asked what we were doing that night. We didn’t have any plans so he said, ‘Why don’t you come with me over to the Opry. I just picked up my new Cadillac today and there’s plenty of room.’ Finally we got on and went down to the basement valet parking. They brought his maroon sedan Deville around and we all piled in. When we got to the Ryman, he pulled up to the back stage door entrance and we all went in. We stood around for a few minutes, then he pointed to some pews on the front row reserved for VIP’s and told us to go there. He then cleared it with the guy watching that area, so we sat down to enjoy the show. During his song, he walked to the edge of the stage and pointed at us and winked. He was one of the most polite, down-to-earth guys I’d met in the music industry. That was my one and only time to meet him, but I’ll never forget it. Looking forward to reading your book.”

Carolyn Babin writes, “I read in last newsletter the word from Williford that Rogers Hampton had passed away. Can you post how deeply saddened both my husband Francis and I are about this. Quite some time ago Williford wrote about Roger and how Faron had him on a pedestal as his hero.  Francis, my husband, and I knew Roger back in time, but had not seen or heard from him since moving to Texas 31 years ago. When I informed Francis about Roger’s illness, he planned to go and visit him in Shreveport, but he had two serious illnesses of late and is just in the last few months re-gaining his health. We are so sorry we did not make that visit to see or even talk with Rogers Hampton.  Francis, too, went to school with him as well as Faron & Williford.”

Andy Williford reports, “The funeral of Rogers Hampton went very well. There was SRO in the chapel. Faron’s old football coach, Clem Henderson 86, gave the eulogy. All of Roger’s classmates, those that are still alive, LOL, were there. Billy Cannon who won the Heisman Trophy at LSU (1959) said, ‘If Rogers had gone to LSU I would have been a backup running back and I would not have won The Heisman Trophy.’”

Peter Trenholm writes from Pugwash, Nova Scotia, Canada, “I’ve been really enjoying these newsletters & thanks for keeping them coming.”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
Darrell McCall arrived in Nashville in 1958 with Donny Young (aka Johnny Paycheck). They didn’t succeed as a “brother” singing duo, and Donny fronted Faron’s band. When he moved on, Darrell called Faron and requested to be his harmony singer. Faron asked if he could do the harmonies like Donny Young, and Darrell said they had sung together. “Faron just took me under his wing–like a son,” Darrell explains. “He’d pull me up when I got out of hand, and he’d tell me I did all right when I did okay. I looked at him like a daddy and a big brother. We’d act crazy, and wrestle every once in a while, but as far as having any problems with each other, we never did.” Darrell fronted a reconstituted band in 2007 when we held a Deputy reunion during the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree to celebrate the publication of Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story.  Darrell tours regularly throughout Texas, records for Heart of Texas Records, and can be contacted through http://www.darrellmccallcountry.com/.

LETTERS
Jeannie Seely says, “It is amazing how many things you don’t even think about that must be replaced….a church youth group from Knoxville came up this week  to help flood victims and they have done a wonderful job cleaning up my yard, cutting shrubs…and still carrying out trash.  All these things give us all so much hope…. I appreciate you and your friends…please extend my heartfelt thanks!!”

Andy Williford writes, “Diane, you remember me telling you about Faron’s close-knit group even up to his death.  Well Faron’s hero, he would say so if he were alive today, Rogers Hampton passed away this morning, July 5.  All of us feel like a part of our life has died, and actually a part of our life has. Funeral services are pending in Shreveport, Louisiana. Tell your readers about a big part of Faron’s life, that few people outside of country music knew very little about.”

Kenny Clark sends an update on Larry Hunt, saying he plays “bass guitar with one hand. Since having a stroke and losing the use of his right hand, he has learned to play by hammering and fretting at the same time with only his left hand. He is full time bass player for Nashville Rash.  He was Marty’s bass player for about ten years.”

Patty Walley writes from Hesperia, California, “Have been getting your emails for some time now and really enjoy them. We did love Faron’s music and I did get to meet and see him many times in concert and the book was just great could not put it down till I finished it. Am looking forward to Marty book also. Did get to see him in person several times also what a singer. Now you need to do a book on another great guy Merle Haggard. Thanks for all the news on email we love it.”

Terry Counts comments, “Good writeup! I have all Marty’s cd’s and the cowboy songs are my favourites…the old man used to sing them to me (when he was in the mood) and play guitar…one of my favourites he did was a song about cowboys going to work for this guy someplace in buffalo country and the guy cheated the boys at the end of the season..so they killed him and left him buried in ‘that goddam buffalo ground’..I’d give a zillion bucks to know the name of that song, I’d love to have it. I think it is an old, old public domain thing…bet Marty knew it! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!”

“Just John” Hamilton reports, “I received your book with your autograph several days ago. Thank you! Please forgive me for not letting you know right away when Live Fast, Love Hard arrived. Unlike some who have said they couldn’t put the book down once they started reading it, I find myself savoring it in small bites. There are many similarities between Faron’s and my family of origin and his, my brother’s and my experiences as boys and young adults. I find myself needing to put the book down after a chapter or two and let the reality of Faron Young settle into my soul (if that makes any sense!). To plow through too quickly would deprive me of the many memories and the attendant emotions that your book is bringing to me. I just finished Chapter 10, and am sleepy, so I’ll pick up with Chapter 11 later today. Got your latest newsletter yesterday. Thank you! I especially liked the part about Marty Robbins and ‘The Cowboy In The Continental Suit.’ What a genius: Marty could make a good song out of anything it seems.” John adds, “I find myself identifying, too, with Faron’s band and family members that got angry and fed up with him as a ‘walking contradiction’ (from a Kris Kristofferson song); and I shake my head at my own willingness to forgive him and get back on the bus with him (into the book, in my case!).”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
Cal Sharp played steel guitar for Faron Young most of the decade of the ’80s. The Deputies jokingly called their boss the “Beast From the Back of the Bus,” and Cal says, “Sometimes we would be up front in the bus trying to relax after a long night slaving over a hot guitar, thinking Faron was safely passed out in the back, and suddenly he would appear on a search and annoy mission.” When I contacted Cal for an interview in 2000, he generously offered to send me his log of ten years of traveling with Faron. This notebook enabled me to reconstruct Faron’s schedule for that period. Seven years later, I finally met Cal. He plays in the Wild Country band in Nashville and can be found on the Steel Guitar Forum and his website at http://www.calsharp.com/.

“The Cowboy in the Continental Suit” hit the charts in June 1964 and climbed to number three. Marty Robbins had worn a European-cut continental suit during a movie premier, and a newspaper called him “the cowboy in the continental suit.” Marty thought that was a neat title for a song. “I have to be inspired to write,” he said, “and that inspired me to write a song. It didn’t take me very long.” Marty described the song: “He’s dressed in a continental suit, and he comes to ride this big buckskin called the Brute. No one has ever ridden this horse, and anyone that can ride him gets a thousand bucks. And he opens the gate, and this buckskin comes running out, and he grabs him around the neck, and pulls himself up on the back of this buckskin, and rides him.” The horse was ashamed to have been ridden by a cowboy in a continental suit. Marty owned the real-life Brute, who appeared at age twenty on the cover of the 1979 All-Around Cowboy album. Marty told Ralph Emery the following year, “I only ride him maybe once a year or once every two years. Every time I get on him, he tries to throw me off. I just stay with him until he gets tired of messing around. After I saddle him and ride him, then I’ve gotta rub him down and give him a little more corn. For a fifteen minute ride, you’ve got to spend a couple hours, and it’s not hardly worth it. I’d rather just get on a chopper and buzz off down the street.”

LETTERS
Jeannie Seely offers this update on the Nashville flood: “It is overwhelming at times, but I think we are all holding up pretty well…it seems as tho some of the agencies are slow to the draw ie building permits, decisions etc.  Maybe we are just impatient….we all want to be home! Again I appreciate you and your organizations…..and your prayers….keep those coming! It just breaks my heart to see so many still waiting to hear ‘their fate’……hopefully we will all have good news soon…if you haven’t heard from me in awhile…..shoot me a reminder.”

Ronny Robbins explains, “Dad’s deal with MCA was for so many sides per year.  He paid for his own sessions and MCA pulled the ones for his albums and Dad then kept all of the unused masters, so the only thing that MCA can re-issue are the sides off of the original MCA albums. He performed ‘Back Home Again’ and ‘Country Roads’ for a TV special, riding on a motorcycle down Wilson Pike. They had to take the shots several times and I think he grew to really like the songs, which is why he used them on his stage show, but honestly, I can’t remember if he actually recorded them in the studio.  BTW, the unused masters went back to CBS as a peace offering when he re-signed in the end of ’75. That’s where the Lost and Found album came from.”

Travis McCauley says, “I wanted to write you to say thank you so much for allowing your book Live Fast Love Hard: The Faron Young Story to be distributed  through the NLS (National Library Service For The Blind and Physically Handicapped.) I just finished reading it and it was excellent!  If I may, I would like to reiterate what I’m sure many book reviewers have said: I started reading and couldn’t put it down. I am blind myself, and it was a real treat to read that Faron took time to talk with John Morris who was also blind. I have had the privilege of meeting a lot of country artists myself. However, I unfortunately did not meet Faron. But, after reading that story about John Morris, I know now that I could have met him had I got to attend one of his concerts. I also wanted to ask you if you still had your mailing list? I have changed e-mail addresses and would like to be put back on it if possible. Again, thank you so much for distributing your books through the NLS and I hope to read many more of your books in the future.”

Mike Reece writes, “Thank you for leaving a comment on my Faron Young post. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Truly an underrated singer, in my opinion, is Faron Young. He was an outstanding vocalist, as far as I’m concerned, certainly one of my favorites. May I include a link to your website on my blog? I’d be more than happy to do so, so that my readers can learn more about your book on Faron, as well as the other interesting items on your site. By the way, when looking at it, I saw you are a runner, which my wife and I have started doing. Our hope is to run the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon. Thanks again, for taking time to read my blog.” The address is http://ultimatetwang.com/blog/.

Linda Reynolds writes, “I read your book and loved it. I never hear anything about him. There will never be another Faron. He was a great artist. I was a young teenager when Faron did ‘Hello Walls.’ I liked him at that time because he reminded me of my doctor. I really did not pay too much attention to his music after that, but a few years ago, I started listening to Roadhouse and I think he was one of the greatest performers of that time. I didn’t even remember him passing away until I got to searching for his music. I think his story is one of the saddest that I have heard. If he could have hung in, he would be right up there with Ray Price and so many more of the older singers.”

Carolyn Babin says, “When I read all the nice things people write about Faron Young and their reading your book about him, it is wonderful. He was a good man in so many ways, his faults should be forgiven. His talent and contribution to Country Music will be appreciated down through the years by all his peers and those he left behind. We all loved him despite his shortcomings.”

“Just John” Hamilton writes from Portland, Oregon, “I just finished reading your June 9^th letter. I was a little kid when ‘Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young’ was number one, and I still remember my older brother Gary singing that song while banging out chords on some old guitar. Dad, a Lawrence Welk fan, enjoyed Faron Young as a TV and radio personality as well as a crooner. Dad thought Faron should have been a weekly mainstay on the Lawrence Welk Show, which raises the question: Was Faron Young ever a guest on the Lawrence Welk Show? If I had read your book on Faron Young, I probably wouldn’t have to ask that question. So, today I order the book!”
Response: I haven’t heard any mention of Faron being on the show. We watched Lawrence Welk every week, too.

Ken Johnson says, “In response to Tom Kaufman, the Faron Young song he is searching for is properly titled ‘She Went A Little Bit Farther’ a single that peaked at #14 on the Billboard Country Chart in May 1968. The song was reissued in 2009 on an import CD from the British Hux label. Originally released on Faron’s 1968 album Here’s Faron Young, that LP has now been paired with Faron’s 1970 album Occasional Wife as a ‘two-fer’ (Hux 105).”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
Marty Robbins played a show at Savannah High School in Tennessee in 1953, and Earl White was one of the students there. When bass player Lightnin’ Chance saw the 230-pound football player, he said, “Well, look at old Seldom Fed.” (Earl told that story at the Marty Robbins Band reunion last year, and Ronny Robbins said, “I often wondered where the term ‘seldom fed’ came from. That’s what Dad always called me, growing up.”) Earl moved to Nashville after high school and, at the beginning of 1955, became an original member of Marty’s first official band, the Teardrops. By the time Marty stopped using fiddles; Earl was a Grand Ole Opry staff musician. He’s been playing his fiddle on the Opry stage for over 55 years. And no pink slip yet, Earl says.

LETTERS
Laurie Matheson, my editor at the University of Illinois Press sends this update on publishing Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story in paperback: “The marketing folks have decided to give the book another year in hardcover. Sales were very good last year, about double those of the previous year, and the book is selling well through the wholesalers and Amazon, which is really wonderful. Therefore we’ll stay with the hardcover for the present and reassess the situation in six months.”

Terry Counts says, “OH GOSH! Delia’s house on Boscobel Street brought back so many memories!! We lived on the 800 block of Boscobel when we first moved to Nashville back in the 70s. I remember that house well. They are all so beautiful in that area. What a neat memory to hit me in the face. I love it. THANKS!”

Susan Molina writes, “I read a lot of books about the history of country music. I just purchased your book on Faron Young. Haven’t read it yet, but was reading the notes on the back and saw you are a Navy retired captain, which led me to your website. I am a retired aviation storekeeper chief. I plan to purchase Navy Greenshirt, and am looking forward to your Marty Robbins book (my favorite). Enjoyed your book list. Have read a lot of them, and got ideas for others. Looking forward to Live Fast Love Hard.  Am currently reading Ralph Emery’s 50 Years Down a Country Road.”

Tom Kaufman of Denton, Maryland, says, “I am currently reading the book you wrote on the life and times of Faron Young, Live Fast, Love Hard. Thanks to the Library of Congress (as well as whoever else is responsible), I’m able to read this book on my digital player.  Although I did get a print copy for Christmas (I am visually impaired, so there are lots of books that I either have to scan, or hope it’s available through NLS). Anyhow, am enjoying the book and am wondering where I can get a recording of Faron’s ‘Where Your Love Stopped She Went A Little Bit Farther.’ Am almost sure it’s available on CD but am not perfectly sure. Am looking forward to hopefully being able to read the book on Marty Robbins when it comes out. Hopefully it, too, will be made available to NLS so those of us who are blind or visually impaired can read it.”

Wanda Anderson writes, “Thanks so much for adding me to the newsletter list for Marty Robbins and Faron Young. I am delighted to hear about the forthcoming book about Marty. They both were so talented and so different from the talents of today. I live in Nashville and am pretty sure Brush Hill Rd would have flooding damages, since the Pennington Bend just on the other side of the river was severely flooded. I knew Barbara Pruett and was with her on several occasions. She was certainly respected at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Country Music Foundation, as someone very knowledgeable about Marty. The last time I saw her was at the CMHOF; I was a volunteer for many years. I also was in the presence of Faron many times when he would guest at the Opry. He was in a class of his own.”

Robert MacMillan writes from Arisaig, Scotland, “Re David Corne’s comments in newsletter of 12^th May – Marty told me himself on his one and only concert appearance at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Scotland, that he had recorded ‘Back Home Again’ – a song he featured on his concert tour – and also ‘(Take Me Home) Country Roads.’ This would have been during his MCA/Decca period.  It’s begs the question – why have MCA not released a compilation culled from his recordings for them. I know they have issued a ten track Hits package but that’s all!!”

And more from David Corne (tarquin45): “Further to my mentioning recently the unreleased songs that Marty may have in the vaults of Columbia/MCA, it also puzzles me how certain songs were never released in Marty’s lifetime. I recently played ‘Long Long Ago’ to somebody who couldn’t believe that such a sensitive and beautiful performance had laid in the vaults and had never been released in Marty’s lifetime. I had the same reaction when I played the same person ‘Ever Since My Baby Went Away’ by Jack Greene and ‘Jimmy And Me’ by Bobby Sykes. Just where are the Marty versions of two absolutely lovely ballads both sung superbly by the two singers I named, but oh, to have had Marty sing them himself? Another great composition ‘Sweet Cora’ by Marty elicited the comment ‘How can this have never been released?’ I think Marty’s superb songwriting skills are very underrated; he seemed to be able to write songs on any subject and for any genre. He must be one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time. I have had over 5,000,000 hits on youtube with Marty’s videos and songs and I feel proud and privileged to have helped keep the great man’s name alive. I must also thank Ronny Robbins for never ‘pulling the plug’ on what for me is a labor of love.”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
I met Pete Wade and Jack Evins at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, following a panel discussion hosted by Eddie Stubbs for Ray Price’s former Cherokee Cowboys . Pete played lead guitar as one of Faron’s Country Deputies in 1957. He still does session work and appears on Ernest Tubb’s Midnite Jamboree. Jack backed Marty Robbins in 1953, when Marty first moved to Nashville and didn’t have a band. Jack was the Cherokee Cowboy steel guitarist at the time. He stayed with Ray Price until 1959, when he left the music business to become a United States marshal. He wanted a career with retirement benefits and time for his family. “I put my guitar under the bed and I didn’t take it out for four years,” Jack told me. “I wouldn’t listen to country music at all, because I knew if I did I’d be right back in it again. It was tough to quit. I didn’t play any for thirty years. But I watched Marty as he rose up to be a tremendous star. I was honored that I had known him and played with him for that time.”

FARON YOUNG’S SECOND HOME
I’ve been wondering whether Faron and Hilda’s second home survived the flooding. They moved to the house on Brush Hill Road near the river in 1956, close to where Hubert Long lived,  The house was much larger than their first one, and they considered it a step up to be able to afford it. Soon after moving in, they remodeled the kitchen into what Hilda still remembers as her favorite kitchen.  Pink and charcoal and metal were popular at the time. They installed pink metal cabinets, along with a hanging refrigerator, a dishwasher and a hanging freezer that looked like a cabinet. The fireplace on the other side of the breakfast nook had charcoal bricks, “It was a gorgeous kitchen, metal, that was the thing back then,” Hilda says.

BARBARA PRUETT OBITUARY
Barbara’s obituary is in the Washington Post: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=barbara-j-pruett&pid=142879957. I had no idea it would mention me. Note that she would like memorial donations sent to the Country Music Foundation. The memorial service will be this Saturday, May 22, at 2 p.m. at Cleveland Park Congregational Church, 3400 Lowell St. NW, Washington, DC 20016.

LETTERS
Jean Earle sends this sorrowful note from the UK: “Thank you for the latest newsletter. Lots to read. I have been so sad to see all of the flood pictures from Nashville. Nothing in our papers or on the T.V. but found them on our computer. We had the most dreadful news on the Tuesday after the flooding….our lovely friends who we have known for 35 years were caught in a flash flood on the way to church and were both drowned. We just could not believe it ….Billy and Frankie Rutledge were the first folk we met when we visited Nashville in 1975… When they realised we had travelled from England with the hope of seeing Faron, they said they could take us to see him! What a thrill….we went to Pine Street and saw Faron in his office. Wonderful!! Billy and Frankie have remained our dearest friends for 35 years …we returned to their home many times and they came to England to see us many times too. We are still in shock and heartbroken. Terry Counts and Alana Young have been very supportive to us. Bye for now. Hope Nashville soon recovers.”

Jenny Jones writes, “Thanks for adding me to the Faron Young and Marty Robbins newsletter.  I do not watch a lot of news; and did not realize how bad the flood was in Nashville; until I heard from Billy Walker’s step-daughter and saw the pictures on the e-mail newsletter I just read from you.  It is such a shame that beautiful memories are being washed away.”

Dave Rogers, who flew from Washington DC to Nashville to visit his granddaughter, reports, “I went to see the Grand Ol Opry yesterday but it was closed for flood repairs. I drove along the river and saw the homes with piles of carpets and insulation and clothes outside. It was sobering. Then went to the Hard Rock Cafe and it was closed for flooding. There is such a difference here. Instead of ‘Oh poor me’ it is ‘How can I help.’ Really amazing.”

PJ “Steelman” Jenkins recalls, “In 1981, I was leaving the old Municipal Auditorium, as I pushed the door open, Marty was walking in. I did an about face and walked with him, he chatted with me like I was his long, lost brother. When we got to the steps at the edge of the stage, he turned and shook my hand and said, ‘This is where I leave you, Friend.’ The only time I had an opportunity to meet him. . . . For the Marty Robbins bio, I can hardly wait.  And then I can’t wait to see what great artist you will take on next.”

Terry Counts says, “As usual great letter! I thought I would let folks know that HEE HAW is on dvd.. you might have them try online at the  Ernest Tubb record shops, or Amazon. they were selling them at the Dollar general store but not anymore..but they are out there folks..they did have a TV commercial selling them but I don’t know if it still is.”

Ron Reagan writes, “In response to David Corne, I’d suggest he probably does have access to Hee Haw if he saw a satellite channel offering Porter Wagoner and The Wilburn Brothers.  Hee Haw airs on RFD-TV as do the other two mentioned shows.”

Sheree Homer says, “Thanks for adding me to the newsletter subscription list. Interesting as always. Glad to be informed of what is going on in Nashville. I saw bits and pieces on TV. I, too, cried when I saw the Opry stage underwater. Feel terrible for everyone involved. I can’t imagine losing my possessions. Please keep me informed if you hear exactly what was ruined at the museum. So much history there. I hope they were able to get out the most important items. Although it isn’t good that photos were destroyed either. Very sad. I wanted to go back to Nashville soon since I haven’t been there since I was very young. I don’t even remember it. Thanks again for the information.”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
I interviewed Ray Edenton for both Faron’s and Marty’s biographies.  Although I’ve never met him, we talked several times on the phone. He moved into Ma Upchurch’s boarding house in Nashville in the fall of 1952. “There were probably 10-12 musicians living there, including Faron,” Ray told me. “I was on the road all the time. I remember him being there when I first went there. . . . Always a lot of music in the house. There were so many players, so many different bands, everything from bluegrass to pop.” A few months after Faron left in November to join the Army, Ray was assigned by WSM to back a singer recently arrived from Arizona. Marty Robbins had an early morning radio show sponsored by Martha White Flour, and he needed a band to travel with him to shows in the local area. Ray played rhythm guitar for Marty for almost three years and lead guitar on his rockabilly sessions. “Marty called me in to do the session on ‘Singin’ the Blues,’ Ray says. “I played lead electric guitar on it. That was the last session I did with Marty for 15-16 years.” When I mentioned in 2006 about someone who didn’t know if Ray was still living, Ray replied, “Most people, even after they’ve seen me, don’t know whether I’m living or not. I’ll be 80 years old in November. I haven’t played anything since–’91, I guess. But I’m still kickin’ around.”

Delia Upchurch’s house at 620 Boscobel in Nashville, fifty years later

ROBINSON VS. PETTY LAWSUIT
All I know about Ronny and Janet Robinson suing Jason Petty is what I read in this Tennessean article: http://tinyurl.com/2ac26np. However, as a writer, I do know something about protecting copyrights and trademarks. It’s the responsibility of an owner to challenge violations, because trademark protection can be lost if you can’t prove to a judge you did your best to stop unauthorized use. If Marty’s children don’t fight to preserve his name and image, they may lose control over it. They seem to be following proper procedure by sending a letter and then negotiating use of the rights. I read online comments about “greed,” and I wonder how it can be greed to spend thousands of dollars to protect what’s yours from someone who expects to use it for free. I hope the two sides reach an agreement, because it would benefit all fans to have Marty’s music promoted. I also hope Ronny succeeds in overcoming the copyright difficulties he’s having in trying to repackage Marty’s old TV shows. He can’t issue them without permission of all copyright holders.

LETTERS
David Corne sends this note from the UK: “I’d just like to thank the folks who were kind enough to respond to my query about Marty appearing on ‘Hee Haw.’ This programme has never been aired in the UK (and it’s unlikely that it ever will). Having said that, we are able to see at long last on one of the satellite channels both the Wiburn Brothers and Porter Wagoner shows (both 40 years too late!). Better late than never I s’pose! I must say how highly Johnny Cash obviously rated Marty; his latest appearance on youtube on John’s show singing ‘Jolie Girl’ and a very funny Gabby Hayes skit reminds us of not only what a superb vocalist Marty Robbins was (aside from his great songwriting ability), but also what a funny man he also was. I don’t know many artists who appeared on the Cash show 4 times, but Marty did. Regarding unreleased songs, I’ve always understood that Marty did actually record both ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’ and ‘Back Home Again’ both John Denver classics, but whether they will ever see the light of day is another matter.”

Dominique “Imperial” ANGLARES writes from France, “Yesterday, we got a report on the French TV about the situation in Nashville with some very impressive movie footages make from plane. I hope the Tennessee State government will handle better the situation than they did in New-Orleans when the Katrina flood came in. That’s pretty sad to know about Jeannie Seely’s house and to see the Opry Stage under water. Personal belongings and a large part of the American musical history should be lost forever. We just can’t help from here but all our prayers goes for the folks fighting against that new Mother Nature anger and we truly hope the Volunteers State folks can get over that mess pretty soon. Of course, our wishes came to the Louisiana Bayou folks too and we hope British Petroleum will stop that oil slick spreading across the Gulf of Mexico. Hold tight, Southern friends and know about our care.”

Ken Johnson reports, “In case you didn’t see the Today Show this morning (Wed. 5/5) Laura Bush appeared to promote the release of her new book. She also answered several questions submitted by viewers. When asked about music that she enjoys, the former First Lady indicated two of her favorite artists were Bob Marley and Van Morrison. She then said she was also a big fan of country music and mentioned Faron Young and George Jones! Enjoyed your latest newsletter – thanks for the mention. Sad about the Nashville flooding. Hope that irreplaceable items were saved from the floodwaters.”

Ron Dias writes, “How is the Marty book coming? I am looking forward to it; your book on Faron was great. If you hear from Jennie Seely or know of a way I can contact her let me know. I am a devoted fan of hers and I feel so bad. I have many signed items of hers here at home; she has been very kind to me.”

An update from Les Leverett on the Nashville flood: “The Willie Nelson & Friends Country Store and Museum is fine. Water got up to the door, but not inside. . . . I am also concerned about Marty’s museum items. But also Tex Ritter’s, Hank Snow’s, etc, etc! Brenda Colladay, Opry archivist, called me Monday to tell me that the museum was afloat. I don’t know how bad it is, as they worked all Sunday trying to save what they could. . . . Sad to say, she said all photographs are gone. The Gordon Gillingham photos that were made before my arrival on the scene are all on electronic retrieval systems. I don’t know about the old photos from early days, but all my work of 32 years is apparently gone.  She wanted to know if I would allow them access to my files for copying.”

Lucy Coldsnow Smith writes from Los Angeles, “I have been in contact with my friends in Nashville and the flooding is bad. I have one friend that lives on the Cumberland River and she is flooded, as of today she has not been able to get to her house. I am just thankful that they are all still alive. I am going to Nashville on Thursday . . . . I cannot believe that Marty’s office has been flooded. That office was my creation. Many years ago.”

Mike O’Neill writes, “lt was sad to see the Opry house stage flooded and all of the dressing rooms are behind the stage on the lower level. I am sure that Marty could write a song about the May Flood. Your News letter is always interesting.”

My business partner Jylinda White says, “I really enjoyed reading your news letter. Thinking about the devastation in Nashville is so heartbreaking. I was just in the Opry House a few years back and to see it now is simply unbelievable.”

Steel player Cal Sharp writes from Nashville, “I’ve got a new blog at http://steelguitarmadness.com/insanity that you might find interesting. Pass it on if you do. Luckily, I wasn’t flooded at home, though my Saturday night gig was a wash, since nobody could get there.”

Terry Counts says, “Great issue as always. One of my favourite pix is one with George Jones, Faron Young and Marty Robbins, taken on the stage at Hee Haw. Billy Deaton had it on his wall for decades, they were all laughing and having a great time. Sam Lovullo loved these 3 guys and had them as often as he could. Nashville is bad, bad. I cried when I saw the flooding at the Opry House. I haven’t heard yet if it flooded the stage..that circle of wood from the old Ryman on the centre of the stage is AWESOME..first time I went there and I stood on that circle I felt in awe, absolutely..of the history I was standing on.” She adds, “I cried when I saw that…yes, all Roy Acuff’s stuff in Room 1…the whole place…omg..last I heard the Hall of Fame was only basement, and I hope it stays that way…so much there that can’t be replaced.”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
Pete Wade, “Shorty” Lavender, “Strollin’” Tom Pritchard, and Lloyd Green made up the second set of Faron Young’s Country Deputies, during the period January 1957 through March 1958. I erred last week in saying Ben Keith joined the band in 1957; he followed Lloyd in 1958. Lloyd didn’t originally plan to be the world-class steel player he’s known as today. He intended to follow in the footsteps of his favorite uncle, who was a career Navy officer. “I was in R.O.T.C. and would have entered the Army as a 2nd Lt. had I completed college,” he told me, “but Nashville beckoned so I became self-educated, immersing myself in history and archaeology, in addition to music.” My daughters and I visited Lloyd and Dot at their home in Nashville in 2003, and Lloyd tuned the guitar April had chosen at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop as her trip souvenir. Lloyd answered many questions for me while I was writing Faron’s biography, and he reads this newsletter regularly. Hello, Lloyd!

My main worry was about Jeannie Seely and her home on the Cumberland River, until her note on Facebook told us she’s safe but her home is now part of the river. Here’s a photo of Jeannie in front of her house when I visited several years ago. Connie Smith and Marty Stuart lived down the street.

Jeannie sang on the Tuesday night Opry. When someone expressed amazement that she’d be willing to perform, she said, “Well, it isn’t like I can sit home on my couch and watch TV.” She said she could either laugh or cry, and she didn’t want to cry.

BARBARA PRUETT’S MEMORIAL SERVICE
Barbara’s memorial service is scheduled Saturday, May 22, 2010, at 2 pm at Cleveland Park Congregational Church in Washington, DC. The address is 3400 Lowell Street NW. The church can be contacted at 202-363-8211 or info.cpcchurch@gmail.com. I will be there.

LETTERS
Ken Johnson responds to David Corne in the UK: “I can confirm two Marty Robbins appearances on Hee Haw. Both happened during the third season of the program (1970-71) which aired on CBS-TV on Tuesday night 8:30-9:30pm ET. Marty guest starred on October 13, 1970 and again on January 19, 1971. Seems odd that Marty did not guest star again after that. Hee Haw would appear to be an excellent showcase for Marty’s comedic ability. Perhaps there were some issues at play that prevented additional appearances on that show. Nashville is a town where politics plays a major role in your career.”

Sandy Daens says, “Have been enjoying your newsletters. David Corne asked whether or not Marty ever appeared on Hee Haw and The Andy Williams Show. According to my records, Marty appeared on Hee Haw twice in season 2, on episode #34 which aired October 13, 1970, and episode #46 which aired January 19, 1971. I have nothing in my records showing he ever appeared on The Andy Williams Show.

Ron Reagan adds, “Someone wrote wondering if Marty appeared on Hee Haw and, of course, he did.  I’m a huge fan of Hee Haw btw so here goes….”
Season 2, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/13/1970
Music:
Buck Owens, the Buckaroos, the Hagers, Susan Raye and Buddy Alan Owens – “Sing a Happy Song”
Marty Robbins – “I’m So Afraid of Losing You”
Grandpa Jones – “You’ll Make Our Shack a Mansion”
Connie Eaton – “Ring of Fire”
Roy Clark – “Black Sapphire”
The Hagers – “Everything Is Beautiful”
Marty Robbins – “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me”
Buck Owens and Susan Raye – “Tennessee Bird Walk”
Season 2, Episode 17 – Aired: 1/19/1971
Music:
Marty Robbins – “Beggin’ to You.”
Marty Robbins – “I’ll Have to Make Some Changes.”
Connie Smith – “Louisiana Man.”
Connie Smith – “I Never Once Stopped Loving You.”
Roy Clark – “White Lightnin’”
The Hagers – “Flowers Need Sun, Too.”

Jenny Jones asks, “Could you please add me to the list that receive the Faron Young-Marty Robbins newsletter. Shirley Johnson forwarded me the latest and I really enjoyed it. I worked with the Billy Walker fan club and Billy and I were close friends till his death nearly four years ago.”

Tom Barton asks, “Just curious — has Ronny Robbins mentioned anything about his father’s unreleased recordings? Supposedly, Marty had his own studio and recorded many songs that have never been released… It would be a shame for them to never see the light of day…I heard an interview with Ronny and his mother on (I think WSM) the 20th anniversary of Marty’s death and there was some discussion of the topic. As I recall, Ronny indicated there was quite a bit of material, and he would work on getting it released. Unfortunately, nothing new has come forth. Anyway, it is just a thought.”
Ronny Robbins responds, “Not sure but I think I may have been talking about the Spotlight shows, not anything audio though.”

“Just John” Hamilton in Portland, Oregon, writes, “Hi, Diane. I always enjoy your publications, and today’s was especially interesting for me. I love it when you take on the establishment! Thanks for sharing Gladys Van Dyke’s note with your readers. I saw Leroy Van Dyke in concert, back in the late 1960′s or early 1970′s. A most impressive entertainer, his show was most professional. Just before his encores he threw his accoustic guitar into the air and walked off stage. My heart sank when it looked like that fine instrument was going to crash to the floor! The audience gasped, and then the bass player took a step forward and caught the guitar in mid-air: obviously a planned stunt, and quite entertaining. The audience went wild over Leroy’s singing and and really whooped it up during his encores. I’m pretty sure it was a Saturday night; hopefully one in which Mr. Van Dyke had to turn down the Opry to appear in Portland.”

Arie den Dulk, in reference to the photo of me and the Country Deputies, comments, “Kenny Sears and his wife are great artists. They performed in Holland last year and we went and met them after the show and said ‘Hello’.”

Terry Counts writes, “Loved this issue, nice to see Ray Emmett getting deserved notice..he is and was a very good musican and friend of mine to this day..first time I ever saw Ray, I had only been working for the Deacon for maybe 2 weeks..he was gone out of the offices that day..and I went to the ladies room and came back in and here’s this guy sitting in Deacon’s desk in his office and he looked at me and I looked at him and I think I said who the hell are you and what are you doing there… both of us were so surprised!!! I’ll never forget it..or the time Artist Stu Phillips thought we were married..we laughed our heads off at that one ,too..he’s a good man and a great picker..(not as good as mine was but good!)”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
When steel player Bennett Keith Schaeufele joined the Nashville musician’s union in 1956, the secretary said, “Oh! You’re not going to use that name, are you?  Why don’t you use Ben Keith? People will remember it better.” So he became Ben Keith. The following year he signed on as one of Faron Young’s Country Deputies, joining Tom Pritchard on upright bass and Odell Martin on guitar. By 1960, the Deputies were Ben, Odell, Darrell McCall, and Roger Miller. Ben left the band in 1963, did demos and session work for awhile, and some producing. My sister and I visited him at his Gallatin home in 2000. By then he had toured for years with Neil Young. He told me he produced CDs for Jewel but didn’t mention her debut CD, Pieces of You, sold more than ten million units. It is still one of the best-selling albums of all time by a female artist.

CLIFFIE STONE PIONEER AWARD
And in 2010 the ACM remembers Marty again. He and Mel Tillis are being given the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. Looking at the list of previous recipients, I’d say they’re both long overdue for the award. Still, I’m happy any time either Marty or Mel gets public recognition. Thanks to Ken Johnson for sending this link: http://www.acmcountry.com/awards/specialawards.php

LETTERS
Gladys Van Dyke sends this note: “This was a most interesting piece, since my husband, Leroy Van Dyke, got caught up in the same Opry idiocy. When the ’26 weeks’ rule was put in place, Leroy tried to adapt, but only made something like 22 appearances. The next year the Opry management reduced the requirement to 20 appearances, and Leroy was only able to do 18 or 19. Leroy spoke to Ott Devine, Grand Ole Opry Manager, and told him he would have to take a leave of absence, inasmuch as he (Leroy) had to make a living, and the Opry was tying up too many weekends. Following this, Leroy came back to the Opry occasionally as a ‘guest’ performer, until Hal Durham was named Opry manager. Then, for unknown reasons, Leroy was not booked on the Opry for 17 years. Leroy’s ‘Auctioneer’ is a country classic, the anthem of auctioneers around the world; and his ‘Walk On By’ was named by Billboard Magazine as the biggest country single of all time, based on number of sales, number of plays and number of weeks in the charts. It went to number one and stayed for 19 weeks, was in the charts for 42 weeks.”

Carolyn Babin says, “Enjoyed reading all these posts and learning some things I did not know about from the past. And, it confirms that the entertainment business was certainly NOT easy for the artists themselves. I am remembering when the Opry cut so many of the greatest. I never attended another show after being there with Faron so many years ago and being back stage. He introduced me to so many of the stars at the time. This was about ’52 I think. I remember how sweet, polite and cordial every one of them were. The Carters, Roy Acuff, Dottie West, Ray Price (who at the time was rooming at the same place Faron was….and I think I told you before that Mrs. Young and I spent two nights at Eddy Arnold’s home. What a gorgeous home to me at the time…I felt I was in a mansion!  We had traveled to Nashville and back by Greyhound bus.”

George “Red” Freeman writes from Little Rock, Arkansas, “I thoroughly enjoyed your book about Faron Young, having had the opportunity to appear on shows with him a few times in the early 70s. You definitely did your research on his band members. I don’t know how you managed to get all those names. I don’t think I could even come up with all the names of band members I worked with from about 1964-mid 80s. I worked off and on with a fairly well known South Dakota entertainer named Sherwin Linton so I kind of came to love SD and was married to an Aberdeen lady for several years. I even saw a friend listed that I worked with for a short while in Minneapolis: Leon Boulanger. I had wondered whatever became of Leon. Thanks again for the book and now I think I will find your Hidewood book to read. Best of luck in all your endeavors.”

David Corne in the UK says, “I was saddened to read about the death of Barbara Pruett. Her book Fast Cars And Country music is an absolute bible for any fan of Marty’s. RIP Barbara. It was good to see Joe Babcock talking about his two great songs ‘Won’t You Forgive’ and ‘Ghost Train’ in your newsletter. In my opinion they both could easily have been the ‘A’ sides of the records they were so good. Joe had about 21 songs recorded by Marty I believe and he also was a member of the Glaser Brothers for a while. . . . I was pleased to see Marty singing ‘The City’ on the Cash show which is on youtube. It’s always been said that Marty was uneasy with television appearances, but whenever he appears on shows such as this he looks so relaxed and at ease. Perhaps he hid it well. Regarding his television performances on other shows than his own, I believe he appeared on the Dean Martin Show, where he may have sung a medley with the Everly Brothers, but is there anyone to confirm that Marty ever appeared on Hee Haw or The Andy Williams Show, I wonder? It looks like his Marty Robbins Spotlight Shows will never see the light of day unfortunately due to copyright issues.”

Juanita Buckley sends condolences: “I’m so sorry to hear about Barbara J. Pruett passing away. I knew Barbara when she put out the newsletter to all of Marty’s fans across the world. She, like Marty, left us with a lot of memories and information. Her Fast Cars and Country Music is like my Bible for Marty Robbins. Had she not compiled all the information in one book a lot of information about Marty would have went by the way side. My prayers are with her family & friends. She will be missed.”

Sheree Homer writes, “I am a fan of your work. I have seen and hope to buy soon your biography on Faron Young. He is also one of my favorite country singers along with Marty Robbins. Looking forward to your bio about Marty. Congratulations on your published works. I am also a writer. I had my first book, Catch That Rockabilly Fever, published last year by McFarland Publishers. Currently working on my second bio, Rick Nelson’s musical career.”

June Bourke sends this note from New Zealand: “I thoroughly enjoy your news letters that arrive regularly, but first I must thank you for introducing me to Stuart Weiss, re my C.D. that mum and dad have recorded on. Stuart tells me the Hill  Billy Pals (my parents) got a good response, when he played them, and a big thank you to you. Reading the message from Tom Lipscombe, I have to add, I have been a huge fan of Kitty Wells, since I was a youngster, and when I became serious about my singing and songwriting, I focused a lot on her style at the beginning. . . . She was to come out to New Zealand a few years back, but if I remember, due to ill health, it was cancelled. Hank Snow is another one of my idols, and my father met him many years ago, here in New Zealand, Dad sang a lot of his songs for all of his career in country music here in N.Z, well over 60 years of entertaining. Dad is now 90 and still has a good voice. Once again thank you, love receiving the news.”

Steve Clark says, “Thanks for the latest newsletter and the new feature ‘Sideman Sidebar.’ I think that will be a popular item. I think it is very interesting to see how some of these folks end up. I was listening to XM radio on my way home today where Dallas Wayne was interviewing DJ Tracy Pitcox and Pitcox was telling about the time he purchased a stage costume from Rose Maddox for a museum he runs in Texas. She was selling the dress to pay for prescriptions! While I am too young to remember her, I have heard she was a big star back in the 1940s.”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
My second noteworthy sideman is Ray Emmett. He hosted one of my Country Deputy reunions in his log cabin home and helped me track down several of the Deputies. He also put together the band when Darrell McCall hosted the Country Deputy Reunion on the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree the night we celebrated the release of Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story. Ray fronted the Deputies for Faron and played electric bass from 1973-1980 and from 1988 until the end. He also sang harmony on Faron’s records. Ray had a solo career for awhile in the 1980s, and that might be when I saw him at the Nashville Palace. I don’t remember the year, just that I didn’t introduce myself because I didn’t think someone famous would talk to me. Ray and Renee live at the end of the road in the Goodlettsville forest in a large log cabin built from historic wood. Kenny Sears, Ray Emmett, Diane Diekman, Jerry Merhar, Richard Bass, Cootie Hunley

FIRED FROM THE GRAND OLE OPRY
Both Marty and Faron experienced being “let go” by the Opry. Marty hosted the Prince Albert portion of the Opry on March 1, 1958, and was told by W. D. Kilpatrick after the show that the Opry no longer needed him. “He indicated in a conference Saturday morning that he no longer needed Grand Ole Opry,” Kilpatrick stated in an interview. “We simply cannot deal with prima donnas on this show.” He added, “Robbins has displayed insubordination recently, which just could not be tolerated any longer.” Marty’s explanation was, “I said the right thing to the wrong person.” He’d urged the radio station to establish a staff country music orchestra as it had already done with pop musicians. He stated, “I said during the discussion that if Jim Denny were still here, he’d have the Opry fully sponsored and would have a network television show.” But WSM had fired Denny eighteen months earlier and assigned Kilpatrick as Opry manager. A few days after firing Marty, WSM executives met with him and decided they had made a mistake. The station issued a statement that “Marty Robbins had not at any time said or indicated he ‘did not need the Grand Ole Opry.’” Marty served as a strong Opry presence for the rest of his life. Faron refused to return after he picked up The Nashville Tennessean on Sunday, December 6, 1964, and saw the headline, “Opry Drops 12 Top Stars.”  Faron’s photo was on the front page, above the caption, “Opry favorite.” Faron said he had been warned “they was gonna let everybody go that didn’t make 26 weeks of Saturday nights.”  But he’d been told he would be retained. “So the next day the paper come out,” he recalled, “and there I was in there.” When he complained to Opry management, the response was, “We had to do it, Faron. We let the rest of them go.” WSM invited everyone back a few weeks later, after realizing, according to Faron, “they made a big mistake, the powers-to-be at the Opry at that time.”  It would be 20 years before Faron returned to the Opry stage.

BARBARA J. PRUETT 1943-2010
Barbara and I became acquainted after I purchased Marty Robbins: Fast Cars and Country Music, to use as a research guide in writing Twentieth Century Drifter. Barbara had published the bibliography in 1990, in the hope someone would use it someday to write a biography of Marty Robbins, and she was happy to hear I was doing that. She suggested I join the Country Music Association, and she served as one of my references. She had donated her Fast Cars research materials to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and I went through the boxes when I visited Nashville last summer. Barbara and I occasionally met for coffee, and she’d send me notes asking how the book was coming. Whenever I didn’t hear from her for awhile, I’d then get a note explaining she’d been sick and in the hospital. She looked forward to reviewing my completed manuscript. But my emails started bouncing, and her phone was disconnected. She died Tuesday, March 16, 2010. There will be a memorial service in Washington DC sometime in April.

LETTERS
Robert MacMillan writes, “Always look forward to your newsletter – and I’ll be contacting Brian O’Reilly of Hux Records with suggestions for country re-issues. It’s great to have two of Marty’s albums out on CD for the first time especially as I think one of the songs on the album ‘The City’ is just a great song. It epitomises country music to me – simple, melodic (heartbreak) story line plus of course, the voice of Marty Robbins – nothing finer! ‘The City’ was, of course, written by Marty and I believe he doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his songwriting ability – the sheer diversity of his writing is quite amazing! As David Corne indicated in your last newsletter Rural TV is being aired here in the UK and Marty Robbins Jr was the guest on The Willburn Bros Show singing ‘Love Of The Common People.’ Re: your correspondent Tom Biddlecombe and his search for ‘Yellow Bandana’ by Faron Young. This is available in the UK on the Polygram/Spectrum CD release ‘All American Country – 18 Original Country Classics’ by Faron Young a 1996 release no 552554-2. Can’t help with ‘Johnny Rondo’ or ‘Crutches’ tho!”

David Royle says an Internet site “gave me this hint about you and your interesting life. Enjoyed reading about Faron & Marty.”

Rob Romano writes, “My father passed away in October and I’ve been cleaning out his house. I came across a box of old papers and found a post card from 1954. On the front are two pictures of Faron Young and on the back is a type written invitation saying Faron will be in New Jersey (I forgot the details). It was mailed from Maplewood New Jersey. Also, with that post card was another of an Indian, or a child dressed as an Indian, and it looks like it is signed Spinning Sun on the back. Anyway, I didn’t know who Faron Young was and looked him up. Your site was great and I now realize who Faron was. I’ll be sure to check out some of his music. And, do you know if Faron had any people dressed as Indians or have you heard of Spinning Sun?”

Ralph Larson writes, “Thank you for your interesting e-mail that I look forward to reading. For HUX Records, I would suggest they re-issue Marty’s 1972 album Good and Country.  Many of the songs were written by Marty, as well as Bill Johnson (Love Needs) and my favorite ‘I’m Wanting To,’ written by Ronny Robbins and Karen Russell. As for improving your e-mail, I think you have a pretty good formula.  You may wish to expand to covering or highlighting other artists, especially the lesser known ones.” He adds, “I thought more about my suggestion on expanding your e-mail, and I would like you to interview former disc jockeys for their thoughts and memories. [Tracy Pitcox and Charlie Douglas] really knew the performers and I think they would add a new dimension to your web site. Thank you again for your assistance and your newsletter.  Continued best wishes and I look forward to reading your book about Marty Robbins.”

Joe Babcock suggests, “The people with Hux records might consider re-releasing some of Marty’s singles that were never put in albums.  I had a single record by Marty on ‘Won’t You Forgive.’  It was on the other side of ‘Ruby Ann’ and as far as I know it has never been re-released in an album. I think the same might have happened to ‘Ghost Train,’ also a charting single. I don’t think it was ever re-released in an album. There may be other single records that disappeared in the same way.”

Ken Johnson offers, “In response to Tom Biddlecombe regarding the Faron Young songs he is searching for: ‘The Guns Of Johnny Rondo’ was reissued in 2009 on an import CD from the British Hux label. Originally released on Faron’s 1970 album Occasional Wife, that LP has now been paired with Here’s Faron Young from 1968 as a ‘two-fer’ (Hux 105). Hux did a superb job remastering both Mercury albums in stereo from the original master tapes. Great vintage Faron honky tonk. ‘Yellow Bandana’ is available on two different Faron Young hit compilations – Golden Hits (Mercury 526254) from 1995 and The Hits (Mercury 558082) released in 1998. You are correct that ‘Crutches’ is only available at this time on the 1978 vinyl LP or cassette That Young Feeling (Mercury SRM-1-5005) No CD release so far.” He adds, “I was so glad Hux reissued these 2 albums. Hopefully they will reissue additional Mercury LPs by Faron – especially the 1960s stuff. Nice to see the new Hux Marty Robbins ‘two-fer’ CD. I’ve Got A Woman’s Love is especially exciting as it contains his 1972 hit ‘The Best Part Of Living’ which makes its CD debut. Columbia apparently was scrambling for material at the end of Marty’s contract as that LP is an unusual mixture of new tracks, single B sides and previously released LP sides. ‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’ is a fine compilation album but does not offer much that hasn’t already been available on CD in many other collections. I wish they would have selected Marty’s excellent 1971 album Today. That LP contains non-CD hits ‘The Chair/Seventeen Years’ and ‘Early Morning Sunshine’ along with some great other tracks including one of MY all-time favorites, ‘I’m Not Blaming You.’  I will recommend that album to Hux for a reissue along with By The Time I Get To Phoenix, It’s A Sin, and I Walk Alone. Enjoy your blog – Faron & Marty are two of my all-time favorites.”

Everett Corbin would like to see “articles/features on the GREAT country songs of the past. BMI used to put out booklets citing this information and send it out to BMI writers.”

Cal Sharp, former Country Deputy, checks in to say, “I wrote a couple books a long time ago that never got published, so I decided to put one of them up as an ebook. Ebooks will be big, I think. It’s at http://chevysummer.net/.  I have another one called The Beast From the Back of the Bus, a murder mystery set in Nashville. Guess who the lead character is. It’ll be up soon.”

Craig Johnson writes from Virginia, “I’m sitting here in Charlottesville’s Panera listening to my I-Touch and web surfing. Marty Robbins’s ‘Red River Valley’ came on the headset, not one of his better known songs, but I’m such a fan, I loaded everything I could find. I grew up in an Air Force family and was born in Texas (Webb Air Force Base). Some of my fondest memories of childhood in Texas include Marty Robbins. El Paso was like Ave Maria to me; the Ballad of the Alamo like my National Anthem of sorts. . . . I found your website while looking for information on Marty’s family. My purpose was to only drop a note or email telling them the comfort and peace I get from listening to Marty’s songs. I must have been a cowboy in a previous life for sure. YouTube has a great number of Marty TV performances, as I’m sure you are aware. Thanks for your website. Good stuff.”

Tom Lipscombe suggests, “You asked for suggestions on what you should do after the Marty book is published. Why not do what you do best? Write another book. This time, do it for a living person: Kitty Wells. Her success in the 1950s and 1960s was so enormous that she still ranks as the sixth most successful female vocalist in the history of the Billboard Country Charts. Of course, the big advantage is, that she is still alive at age 91.”

Jeff Wolfe reports, “Last year when I was in the El Paso airport, they had remodeled it, and gone is Marty’s Cantina and also the pictures of Marty accepting the key to the city back in the 70s.  Also gone is the proclamation from the Mayor of El Paso naming the day ‘Marty Robbins Day.’  I contacted the airport, and after several weeks of back and forth, was told the items were ‘in storage.’  I tried to get them for the Friends of Marty Robbins museum, but to no avail.  Needless to say, I was sad to see Marty removed from the El Paso Airport. Lastly, I’d like to urge any Marty Robbins fan to visit Jesse Lee Jones at Robert’s Western World in Nashville, should they get the chance.  He and his merry band of musicians played for us at the 19th annual Friends of Marty Robbins Tribute in Willcox, AZ, last Saturday night (3/6) and they were unbelievably great!”

Steve Clark of Fort Mill, South Carolina, sends this great idea: “Something that has always interested me is the people behind the stars. The band members. If you have ever listened to Eddie Stubbs radio show you see how he will introduce certain records — ‘Tommy Jackson kicks off on fiddle or a young Buddy Emmons steel on this Ernest Tubb song.’ Whatever happened to the great musicians? Did they retire, still play or quit music? I remember reading that Billy Byrd, of Ernest Tubb fame, drove a Nashville taxi in later years. Why? Driving a taxi make a better living than playing in a first rate band? Had problems with Ernest, or tire of traveling or what? This could be a lot of research but I bet you have already interviewed many band members and this could be a great feature for a newsletter.”
Response: Thanks, Steve! See below.

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
I’ll begin this new section with Joe Vincent, who played steel guitar for both Marty and Faron. I met Joe in 2000, when he came to my first Country Deputy reunion. In 2009, he came to my first Marty Robbins Band reunion. Joe went to Nashville in search of a music career after his Army discharge in 1953. He was working with Big Jeff at WLAC radio when Marty Robbins came to the station looking for a steel guitarist who could sound like Little Roy Wiggins. Joe played on Marty’s Dallas recording sessions, and the two men often toured in Texas. About a year later, Hubert Long booked Marty on a show with Faron Young, who had just gotten out of the Army. Hubert invited Joe to become part of the band he was organizing for Faron. Joe didn’t know what to do, and he finally decided to go with Faron, thus becoming one of the original Country Deputies. He left Faron in late 1956. “Brother Elvis came along, and completely turned country music around,” Joe recalls.  With steel guitar players on the decline, he decided to go back to school and “get into something that’s got a career to it.”  Baptist Hospital offered a two-year school in respiratory care. It provided the career, benefits, and retirement not usually available in the music business. Joe eventually retired from Baptist Hospital, and he and his wife still live in Nashville.