8 March 2006
This is a weekly newsletter about Faron Young and my progress toward publication of “Tell It Like It Is: A Biography of Faron Young.” I finally have an update on progress toward a publishing contract. The university press received the reports from its two readers, and the book will be presented for approval at the editorial meeting the end of this month. One reader said the book “makes an important contribution to our understanding of country music in the key years 1950-1980,” and that I did such a thorough job that “there is unlikely ever to be another Faron Young biography to compete with it.”
FARON THIRTY-THREE YEARS AGO: Faron’s 1973 tour to Great Britain capitalized on the recent success of “It’s Four in the Morning,” which spent 23 weeks on the British Billboard charts and peaked at number three. Ember Records signed Faron to headline a ten-day tour throughout the United Kingdom, and Connie Smith appeared with him. Friday, March 2, they played the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England. Deputy Red Hayes complained of indigestion during the afternoon matinee, and between shows he sat in a chair in the dressing room while Faron massaged his back and neck. During the evening performance, Connie Smith closed her portion with the hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” It was the last song Red played on his fiddle. As Faron walked on stage, Red left because he felt ill. When the Deputies got on the bus after the show, Red went to the back to lie down, and the others heard a ka-plunk. He had fallen off the seat and was making a horrible gasping sound. Cootie Hunley removed Red’s dentures in an attempt to help him breathe. Vassar Clements and Cootie sat on the floor and cradled Red, trying to hold him up to get some air. He died in their arms. Faron later quoted a doctor as saying a blood clot made Red’s heart explode. It took a week to get his body shipped home on a chartered jet. Paperwork and antiquated laws about passing over certain counties delayed the process. “Faron stepped up to the plate and took care of business and paid for all of it,” Cootie said. “He loved Red Hayes. He loved all his guys. But Red was special to him.”
LETTERS:
A Faron fan writes, “IT SURE WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET A BIO ON FARON
ON VIDEO. THAT WOULD GO OVER SO GREAT. DO YOU THINK THERE IS A CHANCE OR IS ONE AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE. OR AM I JUST WISHFUL THINKING.”
Response: Right now it may be wishful thinking, but I hope A&E Biography will do his story in the next few years. I’m not aware of any video bios of Faron, only the Opry Stars classics and interviews in other videos.
Betty Smith in Toledo, Ohio, writes, “I just visited your website again and always enjoy going through all your different things, so very interesting. Well, do you believe another Birthday of Faron’s has gone by. It’s still so very hard to get through the day knowing we can’t send the cards like we always did every year, or hear his voice…. I was just setting here and going over some old pictures of us and Faron and the band. And got to thinking of you and just wanted to say hi and to keep up the great work on your book and that I do so look forward to it being out soon.”
Response: Thanks for the note, Betty, and I hope you can be reading his biography by his next birthday. While playing his music, of course.