Faron Young and Marty Robbins newsletter — 12 October 2011 — book cover

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 February 2012. Here is the book cover:

MARTY ROBBINS IN THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME
On October 11, 1982, Marty Robbins sat in the audience at the Grand Ole Opry House during the Country Music Association’s nationally televised awards show. He believed in dressing up for awards shows, and his pinstriped swallowtail coat with vest, ruffled white shirt and black bowtie fit that description. When time came to announce new Hall of Fame members, host Barbara Mandrell introduced Eddy Arnold. “Well, my good people,” Arnold said, “it’s really a joy for me to be a part of country music’s biggest night of the year, and especially to be able to escort this particular fellow into the Hall of Fame. Marty Robbins, come up here.” Marty said later, “I thought, y’know, to me, it was a little too soon for me because I don’t have plans of quitting any time soon.”

LETTERS
Tom Kaufman in Denton, Maryland, says, “Just read your newsletter for September and am glad to hear that the book on Marty Robbins will be coming out soon! I read the one on Faron; if the one on Marty is anything like Faron, it’ll be a good book! Am hoping that the publishers will see fit to make it available to the various libraries that distribute books for the blind and visually impaired, such as NLS. I enjoy your newsletters and will be looking forward to next month’s.”

Dominique ANGLARES writes from France, “Thanks for that newsletter and greetings to all who send letters and report. You may have learnt about the passing of Country Johnny Mathis, Jimmy Lee Fautheree’s friend and original musical partner, on Sept 27, 2011. After the duet split early 1955, Jimmy Lee teamed with Wayne Walker and, next, his own brother Lynn. These changes, and the original duo being back [together] late 1957, had make things confused for years. Jimmy Lee and Lynn were members of the Country Deputies for a large part of 1956.”

SIDEMAN SIDEBAR
Terry Duncan was a Country Deputy twice. He played piano in Faron Young’s band from 1979-82 and again from 1988-91, when he left to work with Jim Ed Brown. Terry remembers returning from a road trip and learning about a death in his family. With no cash for gas money and no banks open, he asked Faron for $50. Faron pulled a stack of bills from a drawer and peeled off five $100 bills. Terry said, “Chief, I only need $50.” Faron told him to take it all. When Terry tried to repay the loan, Faron refused to accept his money. Finally, Terry told the secretary to deduct the money from his paycheck. Terry still works with Jim Ed, the last I heard, and I met him backstage one night at the Opry.

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