Faron Young and Marty Robbins newsletter — 12 December 2012
We lost them in December
December 8 marked the 30th anniversary of the death of Marty Robbins, and December 10 was the 16th anniversary of the death of Faron Young. I observed the dates by wrapping myself in their music–which never grows old.
The plaque Johnny Cash installed in his garden after Faron’s ashes were scattered on Old Hickory Lake
The graves of Marty Robbins (Martin David Robinson) and Marizona Robinson at Woodlawn in Nashville
Music in American Life
The University of Illinois Press is offering 40% off Music in American Life titles through the end of the year. This includes Twentieth Century Drifter and Live Fast, Love Hard. Here’s the link: http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/find_books.php?type=series&search=mal
If anyone has downloaded either biography as an e-book, I’d like to hear about it. Also, you can get autographed copies directly from me.
LETTERS
Bill Lawrence in Bend, Oregon, (jbill@bendbroadband.com) says, “I want to thank you for sending out news of my Marty Robbins records. I have received 3 letters from folks who want them. I did sell some of them last year but still have quite a few. But even that I am an old guy I still find it hard to let them go. I have also many Floyd Cramer albums.”
Thanks to all the people who sent suggestions as to how I might get in touch with Merle Haggard.
SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
Sonny Burnette played steel guitar for Faron Young in 1967, and George Edwards replaced him in 1968. George came to my first Country Deputy reunion in 2000, and Sonny attended the second one. When I asked Sonny for stories, he said the ones he had were “none that I could tell a lady.” I haven’t talked to either of them in recent years, and I hope they’re both doing well. Doug Jernigan held the Country Deputy steel slot in 1969, and Bobbe Seymour filled in occasionally. Both still live in Nashville. Daryl Hornberger and Ron Hogan were Deputy steelers briefly in 1981. Daryl, as far as I know, is still in Jim Ed Brown’s band. I met him backstage at the Opry in 2000, and I met Ron at my second Deputy reunion in 2000. Ron says, “When I was a kid learning to play steel guitar, Faron was one of my musical heroes. To have a chance to work for him was amazing, just like with a lot of the other Nashville stars I played with over the years.”