Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story

Acknowledgments

acknowledgments It’s an impossible task to mention everyone who assisted and supported me through almost seven years of research and writing. I am extremely grateful to all who helped make this book possible. My thanks begin with Ralph Emery for his advice, encouragement, books, and copies of his radio shows with Faron (and Spotland Productions for making and mailing the tapes). Thanks as well to Laurie Matheson, my editor at the University of Illinois Press, for making this book a reality. Ed Gregory opened many doors for me. I wish he had lived long enough for me to give him an autographed copy. Gordon Terry and Dorothy Young are two others no longer with us. They both answered numerous questions and helped me develop a picture of Faron’s youth. Thanks to Mike Jones (Music City News editor), Tracy Cartwright (the Davidson County, Tennessee, circuit court clerk), Spring Huber (AFM Local 257), John Rumble (Country Music Foundation), and all who provided documentation that furthered my research. Bill Anderson granted me an interview and sent me his books. Others sent me photographs, programs, and various documents. The Internet Writing Workshop at http://www .internetwritingworkshop.org was invaluable; I don’t know how I could have written the book without consistent feedback from IWW members on every chapter. A special thanks to Sandy Cooper for reading the entire manuscript and cutting it down to contract size. Those I interviewed, whether by telephone, e-mail, or in person, include David Allan, Ed Allen, Rex Allen Jr., Joe Allison, Bill Anderson, Liz Anderson , Ernie Ashworth, Bobby Bare, Richard Bass Barish, Stu Basore, Joe Bielinski, Bill Black, Robert Bowlin, Mick Buck, Sonny Burnette, Hillous Butrum, Becky Campbell, Tommy Cash, Jerry Chesnut, Alvin Conklin, Bill Conrad, Everett Corbin, Faron Cordrey, Hank Corwin, Jimmie Crawford, Glen Davis, Billy Deaton, Penny DeHaven, Little Jimmy Dickens, Angie Dickinson, Robert Doak, Bobbye Drusky, Roy Drusky, Terry Duncan, Gene Dunlap, Jean Earle, Ray Eaton, Ray Edenton, George Edwards, Ralph Emery , Ray Emmett, Renee Emmett, Jimmy Lee Fautheree, Tillman Franks, Michael Frazier, Billy Grammer, Jack Greene, Lloyd Green, Ray Griff, Barbara Griffitt, Marc Gullen, Dave Hall, Gene Hamilton, Jo Hamrick, Freddie Hart, Faron Hartley, Eric Heatherly, Ralph Higgins, Tommy Hill, Daryl Hornburger, Jan Howard, Jerry Wayne “Cootie” Hunley, Jim Isbell, Skip Jackson, Doug Jernigan, Loretta Johnson, Ben Keith, Jerry Kennedy, Joey Kent, Merle Kilgore, Eddie Kilroy, Gino King, Ron Knuth, Jeffrey Kruger, Brenda Lee, Tom LeGarde, Al Lewis, Jesse Link, George Logan, Horace Logan, Richard Lohr, Bob Lowe, Roy Lunn, Bill Mack, Vally and Robert Macon, Dewey Martin, Darrell McCall, Debra McCloud, Shirley and Colbert McDaniel, LaRue Moore, John Morris, Jerry Merhar, Ken Nelson, Jimmy C. Newman, Frank Oakley, Dicky Overbey, Jim Owen, George Owens , Ozzie Osment, Buck Page, Frank Page, Louie Parker, Pat Patrick, Bill Pharris, Farianne Moore Phillips, James Piteri, Phyllis Powell, Ray Price, Marvin Rainwater, Ernie Reed, Del Reeves, Virginia Midgett Richardson, Mac Robinson, Johnny Russell, Michael Salvio, John Schattenberg, Ed Scholl, Kenny Sears, Jeannie Seely, Bobbe Seymour, Karen Sharf, Cal Sharp, Jim Shaw, Jean Shepard, T.G. Sheppard, David Silva Sr., Hank Singer, Connie Smith, Goldie Hill Smith, Grant Smith, Margo Smith, David Stallings, Sharon Williams Stich, Earl Stiltner, Eddie Stubbs, Glenn Sutton, Leon Sutton, Gordon Terry, Carole Wickes Thompson, Buck Trent, Leroy Van Dyke, Mack Vickery, Joe Vincent, Pete Wade, Billy Walker, Charlie Walker, Alton Warwick, Johnny Western, Charlie Widemore, Tommy Williams, Bill “Rip” Wilson, Alana Young, Damion Young, Dorothy Young, Ferron Young, Hilda Young, Katy and Harlan Ray Young Jr., Marvin Young, Robyn Young, Alex Zanetis, and Drucilla Taylor Zoch. My sister, Lorraine Paver, brother, Ken Diekman, and daughters April and Amanda joined me on various research trips. Hilda Young, Robyn Young, Glenn Sutton, Ray Emmett, LaRue Moore—the list of those who assisted me continues. I offer this book as my ultimate thank you. xii acknowledgments Live Fast, Love Hard The Faron Young Story ...