This periodic newsletter commemorates the lives of Faron Young and Marty Robbins. The University of Illinois Press published Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story in 2007 and is publishing Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins in the spring of 2012. The manuscript will be assigned to a copy editor in April. (Finally!) (more…)

FARON YOUNG ON SAINT PATRICK’S DAY 1970
The night I met Faron Young, he and the Country Deputies came to Sioux Falls as part of the Hap Peebles monthly Opry package show.  I walked downtown from Augustana College, stayed for both shows, and collected autographs. When Faron learned I planned to walk the three miles back to my dorm, he insisted I get on his tour bus. Earl Stiltner pulled the bus as far as he could into the circular drive of Bergsaker Hall and shone the spotlight at the dark dorm. As I stepped off the bus, it felt as if everyone in the dorm must be watching. I still have the book of autographed photos. (more…)