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 remaining 900 copies of Live Fast, Love Hard will have the covers stripped, and they will be rebound into paperbacks and issued in tandem with Twentieth Century Drifter. So if you haven’t purchased your hardcover copy, time is running out. There will eventually be a true paperback edition of Live Fast, Love Hard if the book keeps selling.
MARTY ROBBINS AT WEMBLEY IN 1976
Marty Robbins made his second Wembley festival appearance in England on 18 April 1976. He told his audience, “We were here last year, and I got quite a surprise, because it was my first visit to the country here, and I really didn’t think people knew me or many of my records, y’know, and it was a good surprise, because any time anybody asked for a song, it was mine. It wasn’t Johnny Cash, or somebody else, y’know, and it made me very happy. . . . In fact, I wish I could have been born here. If it ever happens again, I want it to take place right here. . . . I hope we will do some songs here that you like. The songs we’re gonna do are mostly repeats of last year, because, y’know, I’ve only had so many records that made it. It doesn’t take me long to sing my hits. Two times will do it.” He was honored with the “Best International Vocalist” award. (Thanks to Bill Hulme for sending me a CD with portions of Marty’s Wembley performances.)
When I wrote Bill Anderson a condolence note on the death of Ferlin Husky, he responded with, “Working with Faron and Ferlin was like going to school every night. Obviously, they taught me some things I didn’t need to know….but all the good things I learned from them more than made up for the rest.”
Sandy Jennings says, “A friend of mine lent me her copy of the Faron Young biography that you wrote. I found it compelling and very insightful. She also emailed me a copy of your newsletter. If possible I would like to be put on the mailing list for the next one. Thanks so much…Can’t wait for the Marty Robbins bio.”
Arie den Dulk writes from the Netherlands, “I got a promotion e- mail from UK Amazon.com today. Guess what book came first in line? Amazon.co.uk recommends Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story (Music in American Life) and more.”
Gerald Walton says, “I enjoyed your book on Faron Young. Now I have a question. I am a Hank Thompson fan BIG TIME. Do you know of any books about him? Would you think about doing one on him?”
Response: Hank wrote his autobiography, and it was published about the time of his death.
Bobbe Seymour of Steel Guitar Nashville writes from Hendersonville, Tennessee, “Thinking about my wonderful times working with Faron brings tears of sadness and tears of happiness. I miss him very deeply, what a multi faceted personality he had. God bless you Diane for keeping him alive in our memories.”
SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
Former Country Deputy steel player Jerry Murhar became a trucker, and my sister and I met him in Tampa in February 2000. He picked us up at our hotel in his purple and stainless-steel Kenworth 18-wheeler and took us out to eat. Then we sat in the truck as he popped cassettes into his tape player and showed us the steel licks on a bunch of great country recordings. He told us the singers could have the middles; just leave the steel players the beginnings and ends. He took Kayo to the airport and insisted on driving up to the front of the terminal to drop her off. Backing down, he hit something and damaged his truck. We saw him again in 2005 when he came to one of my Deputy reunions.
