Faron Young and Marty Robbins newsletter — 27 November 2013

This periodic newsletter commemorates the lives of Faron Young and Marty Robbins. Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins and Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story are both published by the University of Illinois Press. I haven’t sent a newsletter since August because there isn’t much news. It’s time to catch up, I guess.

 

LOSING MARTY ROBBINS AND FARON YOUNG

Next week is December already, the month in which we lost both Marty and Faron.  It’s been 31 years since Marty’s heart gave out on him, and 17 years since Faron lost his battle with depression. Their music lives on, thanks to all of you who keep their memories alive. I’m glad my books have helped, also, and it’s my hope that younger generations will continue to discover and enjoy their music.
LETTERS

Julie A Lindgren says, “I look forward to your monthly newsletters and realized that I missed it last month. I hope you are still sending them out. If I have fallen off of your mailing list, please sign me up again.”

Maurice Bowers in the United Kingdom says, “I am so sorry that you have insufficient news as I miss reading these each month. I am still looking for songs of Faron that I do not have as I have just put onto CD two of his records ‘The Love of God’ and ‘Mansion over the Hilltop,’ both on the Sesac LP label.”

Wanda Anderson writes from Nashville, Many, many congratulations at your success. I know it has been an awesome journey for you and you have only just begun. Such obvious talent should not go unrecognized and I wish more success to you in your future. . . . In an interview Marty was asked, ‘How would you like to be remembered?’  His answer was he wanted to be remembered as a good man. I think you captured that.”Sandy Daens writes from Arizona, “Wish I could have attended your award ceremony in Nashville with Carol and Wanda, but I moved to Arizona a couple of months after your book signing event. Congratulations on everything that has been happening since the book was published. You deserve it!”
Alan Potter says,Very interesting comments etc. Keep writing, you’re brill! I did a tribute show on ukcountryradio.com on Tompall last Sunday [25 August].”
Linda Elliott Clark writes from Virginia, “Sorry to hear about Tom Paul’s death. I remember the music of the Glaser brothers very well.”
Marlene Nord in Camarillo, California, writes, Back in 1987 when I lived in Mora, Minnesota, my former husband and I hired Faron Young and his band to headline our production’s first anniversary. It was a monthly show called The East Central Minnesota Opry and featured local singers and musicians. Two things stand out in my mind about that experience besides Faron’s stellar performance. The first is that we’d served Faron and the band a homemade meal. Billy Deaton’s organization wrote, commending us on what a wonderfully refreshing change it was for them to eat ‘real’ food on the road. Our production lasted from 1986 to 1999, and their organization was the only one representing celebrities who were thoughtful enough to correspond in that manner. The second experience is strictly personal. Our band opened for Faron. I wore the most beautiful formal dress I’d ever worn. I truly felt like a princess for a day in that dress. It was pink, frilly and totally feminine. Faron put his arm around me and said, ‘Gosh, Girl, you look so pretty. Girls don’t dress like that anymore.’ I thought that was the sweetest thing to say. I knew of his reputation for bad language, drinking and so forth. However, he was a true gentleman on our show, and I was so honored to work with him and the boys. BTW, I also worked with Robyn Young in Sandstone, Minnesota, at Midwest Country.”

Dave Rogers says, “It was so wonderful to see you on film receive your award. I am saving it. Congratulations!”
 
Jody Nix writes from Big Spring, Texas, “Great reading, my friend, loved the story about the Glaser Brothers.”
B— P— requests, “Please take me from your email list. I do not like people writing books on Marty Robbins and making money off of him. He is my treasure singer of all times.”
Dominique “Imperial” ANGLARES sends this note from France: “Thanks for the newsletter and greetings for your induction into America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. It brings me a smile to see Faron Young and Marty Robbins considered as old time ’cause when I started to play them 50s recordings in the mid 70s. Old Time Country music bring us back at the start of century and even earlier with traditional songs like ‘Black Jack David’ or ‘Mary of the Wild Moor’. Gosh, I feel today a little bit older than I am after reading that. Ah, Ah! Nevertheless, Faron and Marty’s recordings still sound as fresh and moving today as when recorded in Shreveport or Nashville. Everlasting stuff.”

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