Faron Young facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Faron Young
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Faron Young in 1964
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Faron Young |
| Also known as | The Hillbilly Heartthrob The Singing Sheriff The Young Sheriff |
| Born | February 25, 1932 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | December 10, 1996 (aged 64) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, actor |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1951–1994 |
| Labels | Gotham, Capitol, Mercury, MCA, Step One |
| Associated acts | Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller |
Faron Young (born February 25, 1932 – died December 10, 1996) was a famous American country music singer, songwriter, and producer. He was active from the early 1950s to the mid-1980s. Some of his biggest hits include "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')" and "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young". These songs showed his fun, "honky-tonk" style. He also had chart-topping songs like "Hello Walls" and "It's Four in the Morning", which proved he could sing many different kinds of songs. Faron Young was known as the "Hillbilly Heartthrob" and later as the "Young Sheriff" after acting in a movie. His songs were popular for over 30 years. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Faron Young was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the youngest of six children. His family lived on a dairy farm outside the city. Faron started singing when he was very young. He first dreamed of becoming a pop singer.
But one day, he watched Hank Williams perform at the Louisiana Hayride. Hank Williams was so popular that he sang nine extra songs! After seeing this, Faron decided to switch to country music. He began performing at a local club. Soon, another country star, Webb Pierce, discovered him. Webb Pierce helped Faron become a star on the Louisiana Hayride in 1951. This show was broadcast on the radio station KWKH-AM. Faron finished high school that same year and went to Centenary College of Louisiana.
Music Career Highlights
Faron Young started recording his music in Shreveport. His first songs were released by Philadelphia's Gotham Records. By February 1952, he signed with Capitol Records. He recorded many songs with them for the next ten years. His first song with Capitol came out that spring.
Faron then moved to Nashville, Tennessee. In October 1952, he recorded his first song that became a hit, "Goin' Steady". But his music career was paused when he joined the United States Army the next month. While Faron was in basic training, "Goin' Steady" became a big hit. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard country charts. The US Army Band then asked Faron to join their tours. He was the first country music singer to tour with them. He was released from the Army in November 1954.
From 1954 to 1962, Faron recorded many "honky-tonk" songs for Capitol. This included the first hit version of Don Gibson's "Sweet Dreams". His most famous song was "Hello Walls". This song was written by Willie Nelson. Faron's version became a huge hit in 1961. It sold over one million copies and earned a gold disc.
In the mid-1950s, Faron Young also acted in four movies. These included Hidden Guns and Raiders of Old California. He also appeared as himself in other country music films. He was often a guest on TV shows, like ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee. His band, the Country Deputies, was one of the best country music bands. They toured for many years. Faron also invested in real estate in Nashville. In 1963, he helped start a music magazine called Music City News.
Later, Faron switched to Mercury Records. He continued to have hits, including "Wine Me Up". In 1971, his song "It's Four in the Morning" became his last number one hit. It was also very popular in the United Kingdom. In the mid-1970s, Faron was the spokesperson for BC Powder.
Faron signed with MCA Records in 1979. He later signed with Step One Records in 1988. He recorded music into the early 1990s. He even made a duet album with Ray Price. Faron's son, Robyn, also became a country music singer. Robyn often performed as an opening act for his father.
Family Life
In 1952, Faron Young met Hilda Macon. She was the daughter of an Army master sergeant. They got married in November 1954, after Faron left the Army. Faron and Hilda had four children: sons Damion, Robyn, and Kevin, and a daughter Alana.
Legacy and Influence
Faron Young left a lasting mark on country music.
- In 2000, he was added to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, admired Faron Young. He named the cat of the character Frieda "Faron" after him.
- A live video of Faron's song "It's Four in the Morning" was the first music video ever shown on CMT. This happened when CMT launched on March 6, 1983.
- Other musicians have mentioned Faron Young in their songs. For example, Tex Garrison's song mentions listening to "Hank Williams and Faron Young."
- The band Prefab Sprout recorded a country-style song called "Faron Young." The song repeats the line "You give me Faron Young four in the morning."
- Faron's hits "Hello Walls" and "Alone with You" were featured in the movie 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story.
- His song "I Miss You Already" can be heard in the 2005 Johnny Cash movie Walk The Line.
Filmography
- 1956 Hidden Guns
- 1956 Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer
- 1957 Raiders of Old California
- 1958 Country Music Holiday
- 1966 Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar
- 1966 Nashville Rebel
- 1967 What Am I Bid?
- 1967 The Road to Nashville
- 1977 That's Country
Film Depiction
Actor Fred Parker Jr. played Faron Young in the movie I Saw the Light. This movie was released on March 25, 2016.
Images for kids
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Capitol Records promotional photo
See also
In Spanish: Faron Young para niños
