FARON YOUNG, FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: On the afternoon of July 8, 1992, Faron hosted four South Dakota gals at his Old Hickory home. My best friend and her two daughters were driving with me to Jacksonville, Florida, where I lived, and I called Faron to let him know we’d be coming through Nashville. He actually answered his phone, and he offered to meet us and take us to lunch. We followed him to his house, and he gave us a ride in his baby blue Lincoln. I wish I’d paid more attention when he took us on a tour and showed us the lake house where he formerly lived. Then we visited while the two girls swam in his pool. Faron told me he wanted to be cremated when he died because he didn’t want anyone staring at his grave. I don’t know how we got on that subject, but it seemed to me something far too distant to even think about. (more…)

This weekly newsletter will keep you posted on progress toward the October publication of Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story by the University of Illinois Press. My copy of the fall catalog arrived in the mail the other day. Faron’s book has a full-page spread on page 4. Copies of the catalog were sent to 17,000 customers, including 1,500 media contacts around the world.

There won’t be a newsletter the next three weeks. We’re driving to South Dakota for our annual summer visit.

FARON YOUNG, FORTY-THREE YEARS AGO: On Sunday, June 14, 1964, Faron headlined the Nashville Tennessean’s Centennial Park Concert. The show began at 4:30 PM and was Faron’s first appearance at the park in six years. Appearing with him were Margie Singleton and Merle Kilgore. (more…)

FARON YOUNG, THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO: On June 4, 1971, Faron was one of nine big names from Nashville who performed a three-hour spectacular at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The first country music package show presented there, it was billed as “Nashville at the Garden.” A crowd of 15,000 watched as Faron stood on the revolving stage in the center of the Garden, looked around the huge facility, and said, “This place is almost as big as Johnny Cash’s living room.” Faron, the sixth to perform, earned such an ovation that Jim Ed Brown commented before going onstage, “I wouldn’t give this spot to my cleaners.” Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty closed the show. Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton appeared before Faron’s segment. (more…)

FARON YOUNG, TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO:  Faron and his Country Deputies did a Memorial Day concert in Wells Bridge, New York, on Sunday, May 26, 1985. When someone requested Hello Walls, Faron said, “We already did Hello Walls. You were in the restroom when we did Hello Walls. Didn’t you hear us when you was in the restroom?  We could hear you, when you was in there.” He introduced his lead guitar player by saying, “Here’s a boy from Brooklyn. Brooklyn, New York. Richard Barrish right there, ladies and gentleman. You’re supposed to smile, Richard, dammit. My little teddy bear.” And then, “A lot of people carry guys around with ’em, and just play fiddle and cut up and everything, but this boy right here is one hell of a country singer. I want you to hear his very unique voice. He’s outstandin’ in his field. After you hear him sing, he won’t be standin’ in no damn field. His folks sent him to musical school. They spent over $3000 havin’ his voice cultivated. Then they spent two more bits and had it fertilized. But he’s one hell of a singer. You’ll see right now. Mr. Ozzie Osment, ladies and gentlemen. Make him welcome.” The next introduction was, “Here’s a guy from Notre Dame, Indiana, Mr. Cal Sharp, that good-lookin’ booger over on the steel guitar over there.” (more…)

FARON YOUNG, TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO: Faron played the Caravan East in El Paso, Texas, on May 23, 1979. The Country Deputies at the time were Ray Emmett, Richard Bass, Al Lewis, Leon Boulanger, and Cootie Wayne. Robyn Young was also on that tour. Throughout the years Faron traveled a ten-day circuit that ran from Texas up through Colorado, sometimes swinging through New Mexico and Arizona. Other clubs included the Longhorn Ballroom, Dancetown USA, Caravan, The Rising Sun, Mr. Lucky’s, and Spurs Supper Club. When my sister lived in Colorado Springs, we had the opportunity to see Faron at the Cow Palace there. (more…)

FARON YOUNG, SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO: Faron appeared as a guest on Nashville Now on May 15, 1990. He told Ralph Emery, “I was watching a show last night, and Mel Tillis was on. I was riding my lawnmower the other day, at midnight. I got a MUI–mowing under the influence, and I ran into a tree. [It was] around ten thirty at night. But it’s got lights on it.  I just forgot the tree was sittin’ where it was. Boom! I hit the tree and over I went. I’d cracked three ribs about two months ago, and I cracked three more here. My life is gonna be very short-lived if I don’t straighten up.” Ralph said, “I’m trying to keep up with this conversation. We were talking about Mel Tillis, and suddenly you ran into a tree.” Faron answered, “That’s what I sounded like when I hit that tree. I said, ‘Well, you su-su-su-son-of-a-gun.'” (more…)

Great news!!! Lynda Schuh, Sales Manager at University of Illinois Press, wants you to know bookstores are already ordering Live Fast, Love Hard to have it in time for its publication. She says, “While not every single chain store or independent will have a copy on their shelves, they will have it in their systems for ordering and many of them will have store inventory. Books will be available at your local independent bookstore or chain bookstore. If books are not on the shelf [in October] please be sure to ask a sales associate to order a copy for you. The ISBN is 978-0252-03248-6. Any store can pre-order a copy for you.” (more…)

Ken Nelson sent me a copy of his newly published autobiography, My First 90 Years Plus 3. I’m looking forward to reading his story. It’s available on Amazon.com and at http://www.dorrancebookstore.com/myfi90yepl3.html. Before I can read it, I have to finish proofreading and indexing Faron’s biography.

FARON YOUNG, FIFTY-FOUR YEARS AGO: Fort Jackson’s Special Services sent Private Faron Young to New York City in May 1953 to compete on Talent Patrol, a network television show that held an annual contest for members of the Armed Forces.  Auditions were held at various bases to choose the contestants. (more…)

I’m excited to report that today I received an actual copy of the book. These uncorrected proofs are being sent to reviewers. Now I can read the book instead of manuscript pages while doing my proofreading. I have to review it for errors and write the index within the next two weeks. My sister Kayo in South Dakota is helping me with the index.

I’m saddened to report the unexpected death of Glenn Sutton, who has been a friend since Kayo and I met him at Tillman Franks’s birthday celebration in Shreveport. I’m so grateful we visited with him during our recent Nashville trip. Lisa Sutton has set up a Web site for people to post their memories of Glenn:  http://www.songstock.tv/glennsutton/ (more…)

You can see the design of the book cover at http://www.press.uillinois.edu/covers/Diekman.jpg. The University of Illinois Press took a photo from the Michael Ochs archive and had it colored. Isn’t it a great cover?

FARON YOUNG, FIFTY-ONE YEARS AGO: Faron recorded “Sweet Dreams” on April 27, 1956. Written and first recorded by Don Gibson, the song reached Faron through Webb Pierce, who told him it would be a hit. Faron’s version peaked at number two and stayed on the charts for eight months. Billboard listed it in the number 13 spot of Top Country Singles of 1956. Five of the top eleven recordings that year belonged to Elvis Presley. (more…)