13 December 2006
The University of Illinois Press will publish Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story on its Fall 2007 list. I just learned from my editor that the book will receive an extra tier of marketing by being paired with Craig Havighurst’s history of WSM Radio. That should help get out the word!
I posted a preliminary list of interview questions and answers to my Web site.
Last week we commemorated the 10th anniversary of the death of Faron Young (10 Dec 1996) and the 24th anniversary of the death of Marty Robbins (8 Dec 1982). Words fail me in trying to think of a second sentence for this paragraph.
FARON YOUNG, THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: In December 1971 Faron and the Deputies played a one-week gig in Miami Beach, Florida, at the Seven Seas Lounge in the Newport Resort Hotel. “First country act to ever play on the beach there at that swingin’ place,” Faron said. He flew his parents from Shreveport for their first visit there, followed by Christmas at Faron’s Nashville home. Faron returned to the Seven Seas Lounge the following December, even though he didn’t like those lengthy engagements. “If I go somewhere and I have to work a week or a month in the same room, it’s my own mental state–it just drives me crazy,” he once said. “Two nights, maybe, or three, but that’s it. I wanna move on down the road, look for another group. . . . When I have to do Hello Walls, Four in the Morning, and I do it every night in the same room, I really get stale on myself and I can’t perform.”
LETTERS:
Lorraine Smith writes, “I would be very grateful if you could add me to the mailing list regarding Faron Young. I found your address on the Diane Diekman site. . . . I live in the United Kingdom and I’m a huge Faron Young Fan and felt it would be nice to do a website . . . in memory of this great singer. . . . I only wish I was around years ago so that I could have travelled to see him in concert. There’s not a day go by that I don’t play his music.”
Frankie Jagge says, “I would like to have a copy of the invitation to Faron’s Posthumous Induction into the Walk of Stars in Shreveport that you mentioned in your Nov. 21st newsletter. I was so saddened to read of Damion’s death. I have never heard much about any of Faron and Hilda’s children except Robyn and have always wondered about them. How sad that he passed away so close to the anniversary of his dad’s death. My heart aches for the entire Young family but especially Hilda. . . . I pray that the Lord will give them comfort in knowing that he is in a better place. I look forward to your newsletter each week. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry but I always relish every word. I can hardly wait for your book. Thanks for everything you do.”
Marvin Wischer asks, “I too am a long time Faron fan. Where can I get a copy of your book about Faron?”
Tom Lipscombe writes from Canada, “Enjoyed as usual reading your newsletter, which has been posted on the ATL Forum at http://pub3.bravenet.com/forum/243824250/fetch/647668/. The letters from Andy Williford and Glenn Flesher were especially interesting, since they bring forward information which you did not have, while writing the book. A similar thing happened to the authors of the 1995 Hank Williams Biography, prompting them to issue an updated version in 2004. When your new book comes out, and is carried by large chain bookstores, many more folks who knew Faron will probably come forward to share various anecdotes. After all, Faron’s career spanned more than 40 years. It stands to reason, that he must have met thousands of people all over North America and Europe.”