Faron Young and Marty Robbins newsletter — 23 July 2008

This is a periodic newsletter on Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story, published last year by the University of Illinois Press, as well as progress on writing Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins.

INTERVIEWS
Thanks to Jody Nix for putting me in touch with Johnny Bush and to Tom Lipscombe for connecting me with Chuck Morgan. Johnny Bush considers himself “at the top of the list” of Marty Robbins fans. Johnny says, “He was the greatest entertainer that I ever witnessed.” Chuck Morgan accepted his Texas Rangers job offer in 1983 because he had reached the pinnacle of his Nashville career (1982 CMA Major Market Disc Jockey of the Year) and because Nashville was just not the same without Marty Robbins.

LETTERS
Jean Earle writes from the UK, “Thank you for the latest newsletter…..you started me thinking about Opryland…. We were lucky to have made several visits to Opryland, our first was in 1975. We went in the summer time and it was wonderful. So much music and such a happy atmosphere. . . . However, our most memorable visit was on one very cold November evening in 1995 [the cost was $10.99]….As we went through the beautifully decorated entrance to the Opryland Park the loud speakers were playing tracks from Faron’s Christmas Album. Who could ask for more …perfect!!! We saw the talking Christmas tree, the roasting of chestnuts on an open fire, the amazing marble like statues of the guardian angels, the nation’s largest nativity scenes, and colourful lights everywhere. We heard Appalachian music, the Cumberland boys, we joined the Victorian Carols Singers and sang carols, and we even went for a ride on the Opryland Railway. Absolute Heaven…..Luckily we took video and photographs so at least we have pictures to remind us of the wonderful Opryland Park.”

Linda Elliott Clark in Washington DC says, “Thanks for the update. Interesting to hear these comments that the general public would not know. You’re doing such great work for Country music.”

Scott Lindley writes, “Back around mid-late ’70s, I was vacationing with my family in Missouri. We were eating at a restaurant where we were staying when Mr. Robbins walked into the gift shop at the diner. I grabbed my placemat from off the table and walked up to him and asked him for his autograph. He politely reached for my placemat and signed his name on it. I thanked him and went back to my table. When we finished our meal we went to the lobby of the motel to check out. Mr. Robbins was in the lobby checking in the same motel. My dad walked up to him and started talking to him. He had his bodyguards with him and as they started to approach us he waved them off and told them that it would be all right. We stood there in that lobby and visited with him for about 2 hrs. He was one of the most courteous and nicest men that I have ever met. That experience was one of the best highlights of my life. To this day I still have his autograph. It is one of my prized keepsakes. I was about 12 yrs. old.”

Dominique “Imperial” ANGLARES writes from France, “Thanks for your work and for the news letters coming. I am still working on Jimmy Lee Fautheree’s legacy and THANKS to you I have met some wonderful friends. I hope you will have a strong support on your Marty Robbins researches and you will be able to offer us a such nice book as the previous one.”

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