What year did Faron start to copy Dean Martin?

Stephen Gregory · Posted 5 Mar 2006 5:04 pm

Has any one else noticed that in the latter part of Faron's career he started to emulate the "Italian Crooners", or is it just me? His pronunciation of the word "year" for example in "Wine me up".

Ron Sodos · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I opened for Faron at the Caravan in Amarillo in 1981. We actually discussed his sounding like Dean Martin that night.

Janice Brooks · From: Pleasant Gap Pa

To turn the table Faron recorded "In the Chapel in the Moonlight 13 years ahead of Dean.

Perry Hansen · From: Bismarck, N.D.

I worked with Faron in the late 50s and he was doing some Dean Martin imitations then.

Tommy Minniear · From: Logansport, Indiana

I always liked it! I thought Faron's style of singing sounded very classy and somewhat "uptown" - yet, downhome. It made an interesting contrast when used with the country instrumentation(twin fiddles - pedal steel guitar) and honky tonk lyrics that a lot of Faron's songs contained.

I believe it may have started creeping into his vocal stylings in the late 50's to early 60's. I think this may have been done in an effort to gain more of a pop appeal. Irregardless, I liked it a lot!

There are three former Country Deputies that post on the Forum occassionaly: Richard Bass, Cal Sharp & Stu Basore. I'd sure like to read their opinions on this topic of discussion.

Tommy Minniear

Jack Therrell · From: Conroe, Texas, USA

Speaking of Faron, sometime ago there was some discussion about someone writing a book about Faron. I have forgotten the details about who was doing this but wondered does anyone know anything about how this may be progressing? Faron, now there was a man who could really sing a country ballad. Jack

Deborah Mundell · From: Arizona, USA

The book is written by Diane Diekman: http://ddiekman.tripod.com/id8.html

"I recently finished writing the biography of Faron Young (1932-1996). Tentative publication is February 2007, his 75th birthday."

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Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

It all started in the 50's when Dino was playing bass for Faron and Emmons was always going on about what a great singer he was, and Faron picked up some of his inflections. Unfortunately, he also picked up other habits.

C#
www.calsharp.com

Stephen Gregory · Posted 6 Mar 2006 4:45 pm

Thanks Cal, I knew we would eventually get to the bottom of this!

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Thanks for the "rest of the story," Cal.

It's a little known piece of country music history, but Faron so pissed off Jerry Lewis for breaking up the Martin and Lewis act that he was never again asked to perform on the "Jerry's Kids" telethon.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jack Therrell · From: Conroe, Texas, USA

Thx Deborah that is the information that I was looking for. Jack

Dave Grothusen · From: Scott City, Ks

Good try Cal but that looks like the "Doctor" made that picture. However I don't doubt that you are right about the influence.
I love your site by the way.

Howard Kalish · From: Austin, Tx USA

The Dino influence on ol' Faron is pretty evident. He was one of Elvis' favorites too.

In the Faron box set, one of the CDs has a record from the early 60's that has pop arrangements and tunes with a 6 piece vocal group (3 women, 3 guys) and great guitar by Buck Owens. Quite hip. The Dinoisms run throughout.

I like my music Faron Balanced

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

In the late 60's early 70's aprox, Faron was on my fathers lable via Mecury,
didn't last long...
Apearently too much trouble...
Too bad.

I did get to meet him for 5 minutes.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 10 Mar 2006 8:37 am

Howard, was that vocal group the "I-need-a-Coors" singers?

Kevin Ruddell · From: Toledo Ohio USA

I saw an interview on TV somewhere with Faron and he said he was adding the " hony tonk " mannerisms to some material to make it more apppropriate and then sang a demonstration of his crooner style and then his Hank style on the same song

Richard Bass · From: Sabang Beach, Philippines

I started with Faron in 1972. He was doing a Dean Martin impersonation as part of the show, his voice just flowed into that style. He was a big fan of Martin and many of the "crooners" of that era. Nat King Cole was one of his favorites. On the album Faron did with Ray Price he cut the Dean Martin song "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime". You can almost hear Faron consiously trying not to sound like Dean.
Richard

Stephen Gregory · Posted 11 Mar 2006 5:57 pm

Yes, The Dean Martin "effect" seemed to creep into everything Faron did in the latter part of his career. I think it was heavily overdone towards that part of his career. It seemed as though he was really trying to sound sophisticated but it just came out very "effected". I didn't care for it.

rpetersen · From: Iowa

Richard - I played on a show in Clinton, Iowa around that Era - Our Band put on our little stint and Faron came on afterwards - Do you remember if you were at that one??

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Ron Petersen &
The Keep'n Tyme Band
Mullen Universal 12 - Session 400 - Vegas 400 - ETC.

Richard Bass · From: Sabang Beach, Philippines

Ron if it was after Dec of 1972 I was there. I was his lead player up til his death in 1996.
Richard

[This message was edited by Richard Bass on 12 March 2006 at 09:27 PM.]

Dan Sawyer · From: Studio City, California, USA

The year was 1949 and the date was March 17.

rpetersen · From: Iowa

Richard - I don't recall the date anymore - But I distincly remember my Old Tube Ampeg Bass amp going up in smoke, and Faron showed up about 10 minutes before we started and I was able to use his bass players amp - I was very happy, but When I met Faron, I think he was "Happy" too - if you know what I mean. What a great singer and showman!!
thanx for the reply Richard

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Ron Petersen &
The Keep'n Tyme Band
Mullen Universal 12 - Session 400 - Vegas 400 - ETC.

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

I guess its simpler to say why Faron rather than when Faron started. The answer would be "Because he could".

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Smiley 23-9 Crank&pull&push pro model Deluxe with auto voice tuner and string changer.500ft.roll.

Tommy Minniear · From: Logansport, Indiana

Good put, Joe! I agree....

Tommy Minniear

Gary Harris · From: Hendersonville, TN, USA

Faron, what a sad ending. A good reason to give up smoking.