The faculty board of the university press approved my biography project, and I’ll be receiving a contract shortly. (Then we will have to negotiate terms before signing it.) I’m told the board’s discussion began with one of the members saying, “I’m a huge fan of Faron Young.” One of the stipulations is that I have […]
FARON YOUNG, FORTY-NINE YEARS AGO: “I Miss You Already (And You’re Not Even Gone)” was climbing the charts in March 1957, on the way to its peak at number five. Faron recorded the song the previous summer. Marvin Rainwater had just come off a tour with the Wilburn Brothers and Faron, and they were sitting […]
FARON FIFTY-TWO YEARS AGO: In March 1954, PFC Faron Young and the Circle ‘A’ Wranglers went to New York City for the annual “Army Talent Patrol” contest. Faron had won the previous year, after which he transferred to Third Army Special Services and acquired his band. The Wranglers performed on the show. Fiddler Gordon Terry […]
My new title for Faron’s biography is “Tell It Like It Is: The Faron Young Story.” I wrote a response to the reports on my manuscript, and the whole set of documents will be presented to the university press’s faculty board at the end of March. The board’s approval would mean I’ll be offered a […]
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 […]
FARON FIFTY-FOUR YEARS AGO: Faron’s first Capitol Records recording session took place in the Castle Recording Studio in Nashville’s Tulane Hotel on Saturday, March 1, 1952. Floyd Cramer and Jimmy Day, Faron’s bandmates in Shreveport, came to Nashville, as did Faron himself. They were all members of Webb Pierce’s band and they had to get […]
This is a weekly newsletter about Faron Young and my progress toward publication of “Tell It Like It Is: A Biography of Faron Young.” Please forward to anyone who might be interested, and send an e-mail to al******@*****on.net if you have questions/comments about Faron. I’m sending this newsletter early again because I’ll be on travel […]
I’m sending this newsletter early because my new job requires me to be on travel this week. Yes, I’m still waiting to hear from the publisher about my biography manuscript. FARON FIFTY YEARS AGO: The world premiere of Faron’s first movie, Hidden Guns, was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Lyric Theatre over the weekend […]
FARON FIFTY-FOUR YEARS AGO: In January 1952, Webb Pierce and the Southern Valley Boys helped the Shreveport police raise money for the March of Dimes. They played four shows at locations around town one Saturday, playing on the back of flatbed trucks. Faron fronted Webb’s band. Appearing with them that day was 11-year-old Jerry Kennedy, […]
FARON FIFTY-ONE YEARS AGO: On February 6, 1955, Faron headlined two shows at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis. Package tours usually included local talent as well as the advertised performers, with the headliner closing the show. In Memphis that Sunday the local talent was Elvis Presley and his two-man band. The advertising poster listed Faron’s […]