24 October 2007

Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story is available online and in most bookstores. Stores not currently carrying the book can order it upon request.

FARON YOUNG, THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: Faron performed at Dance Town U.S.A. in Houston on 28 October 1972. Bob Claypool interviewed him for a Houston Post article, dated 11/12/72, “A night on ‘the Bus’ with one of country music’s biggest superstars, Faron Young.” The article said a “shy, soft-spoken young man asked Faron to cut some promo spots for a radio station in Dibolt, Texas. Without hesitation Faron grabbed the man’s cassette recorder, switched it on, and began an impromptu patter of professional salesmanship. ‘Hi, friends, this is Faron Young, and you’re listening to the voice of the mighty metropolis, Dibolt, Texas.’ David Stallings, who now entertains as Willie P. Richardson, was the young man. He told me, “Another time I was on the bus and one of the papers sent out a young reporter who really had no idea who Faron was or what he looked like…Faron had me pose as him…I did the entire interview with Faron and band sitting back holding back laughter.”
BOOK RELEASE PARTY IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE
Saturday, 10 November (http://etrecordshop.com/mj.htm)
1:00-3:00 — I will be signing books at the downtown Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Broadway Avenue.
7:30-10:00 — The Faron Young tribute show at the Texas Troubadour Theatre in Music Valley will include all Country Deputies and friends of Faron who want to perform. Robyn Young and his band, NEXTAKYN, will open the show. The entire evening is free and open to the public.
12:00 — The Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree, broadcast live over WSM Radio 650 AM (on the Internet at http://www.wsmonline.com/), will be a Country Deputy reunion with:
Host – Darrell McCall
Bass – Ray Emmett
Guitar – Richard Bass
Drums – Jerry “Cootie” Hunley
Steel – Stu Basore
Piano – Gene Dunlap
Twin fiddles – Kenny Sears and Hank Singer
I will “call the roll” of the 40-year list of Faron’s Deputies, and I will sign books before and after the Jamboree. This is a great opportunity for fans to get autographs of all the Deputies.

LETTERS
Jo Hamrick writes, “We were traveling over the weekend. I read while riding. Couldn’t put the book down. It took a while for me to start reading it. I read these stories about Faron being mean. I know he could be and. I believe them all but never ever stone sober or dead drunk did Faron ever say anything mean to me or to my husband. His language I didn’t care for at first but realized that those guys travel and were away from home and guys will be guys. I got to the point that I didn’t pay attention to it. we never asked Faron for anything and actually bought him many things and he loved everything that we done in the years between 1972 and when he died. a long time. But we loved him and I’m sure that when he said he loved me and my husband he truly meant it. I’ll finish the book tonight.”

Linda Clark says, “Great review. Sounds like you had a good time. Connie Smith was one of my favorites during the 60’s also. I have several of her albums from that era. Brings back a lot of memories of those days. Sad how fast time goes by. Those were good ole days.”

Loudilla, Loretta & Kay Johnson of the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO) write, “We just now received the book; like a selfish, little nerd, of course, had to look up our part, first (and photo) and feel that you have done a GREAT job; so deserving of all the praise and wonderful comments made to you from Eddie Stubbs.  He had commented on how easy it was to read your book; to go through it by the years that these events happened and how clear it was laid out, which is NOT an easy task.  When one thinks of doing a book, your mind skips around; so I know it would be MOST difficult to do as you have done; it takes a lot of planning and a lot of great determination to make sure that you made sure THIS book was one to be used, easily, in research projects. Congratulations on a job well done.”

Bernard Green in Liverpool, England, says, “Got my book today. Absolutely delighted.”

Marge Hemsworth writes from Canada, “I’m so glad you wrote about Faron. I need to get the book. I knew Faron in the late ’50’s and ’60s. Also Marty, I’m doing a book on Hank—he’s from Nova Scotia where I’m from. I’m visiting Vancouver right now! There’s a radio station a friend of mine has where he plays the country music classics from 6:-2:30 p m; www.kixx780.ca and you can hear him play Faron several times a day, as we all love him, up this way. We had Faron play a club here for a week when I was PR person. I loved his sense of humour. His secretary Birdie was a dear friend and we used to spend time with Faron in his office! He was always a gentleman around us, I’m happy to say.”

Maheen Wickramasinghe in Canada says: “Well everybody I received Diane Diekman’s unbelievable book on country legend, Faron Young!!! Boy am I excited or what!!!:) Oh this is something I have been wanting for such a long long time. I can’t wait until my father gets it scanned and puts it into my talking computer!!! As soon as it came in the mail I quickly called Diane and told her that I now have my copy!!! I would highly encourage you, if you would like to learn more about this incredible singer, to order your copy of this book.”

D M Blackwelder in Alabama writes, “Now that you have the book about Faron in the book stores and the hands of readers there is still more to put in the Country Music Classics newsletter about Faron. I was wondering if you were going to put information about Marty Robbins in the news letter also. I enjoy your articles and look forward to them each week. I hope to get your book soon.”

Response: I haven’t yet done enough research on Marty to have material for a newsletter. Faron’s biography was completely written before I started this newsletter. So for now I’m printing the notes I receive from readers about Marty.

More from Loretta Johnson: “Thanks so much for your acknowledging such a GREAT artist with your book and can’t wait for the Marty Robbins book as he was a huge favorite of ours, as well. Had the great pleasure of seeing him perform many times but met him at Little America, Wyoming during the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. He was booked to perform. Johnny Western introduced him to us. Johnny was performing at the Club in Little America & we had gone there to see him. We didn’t even realize Marty was in town. What was funny, we were shopping when we bumped into Johnny . . . . Our Dad had been sitting in a big chair beside another man; he always liked just watching the people. He was very much a people person. He studied the profile of this man who appeared to be doing the same thing he was, killing time & enjoying watching the people go by. Finally he kind of touched the gentleman’s arm with his elbow & asked, ‘Aren’t you ole….ah…Marty Robbins?’ Daddy said for a minute he couldn’t think of his name. He told him that he sure loved his singing; Daddy talked so low as did Marty Robbins that no one really paid any attention to the elderly gentleman talking with the other man. What did they discuss? NOT music. Farming. . . . Marty asked him all about the farm; how much he farmed (he & our brothers farmed about 6500 Acres of hard-red winter wheat); he wanted to know what kind of machinery they used; did we irrigate (we didn’t); how long he’d farmed, etc.; Daddy had told him he come ‘up’ from Texas & Oklahoma. That we also had Black Angus cattle. He was really fascinated by it all. He told our Dad, ‘You’re doing what I’d LOVE to do…just get on a tractor and work the soil….run a few cattle and just live that kind of life. It’s funny how you work hard all your life to get off a farm, when you’re young and poor and how hard to work to get back on one, when you can afford it but don’t have the time to do it.’ Or something like that. Daddy really enjoyed his visit with him and it was when we took Johnny over to see Daddy, that we noticed that he had been talking to Marty Robbins. Daddy introduced us to Marty but Johnny & Marty were already greeting each other as they were friends. It was the neatest thing. We didn’t ask for autographs; didn’t take pictures because we felt that would be an imposition on these great artists who had so little time, at best, to call their own. So…the photos are only in our hearts. But that’s where we carry the beautiful memories, as well.”

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