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Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story
As one of the best-known honky tonkers to appear in the wake of Hank Williams’s death, Faron Young was a popular presence on Nashville’s music scene for more than four decades. The Singing Sheriff produced a string of Top Ten hits, placed over eighty songs on the country music charts, and founded the long-running country music periodical Music City News in 1963. Flamboyant, impulsive, and generous, he helped and encouraged a new generation of talented songwriter-performers that included Willie Nelson and Bill Anderson. In 2000, four years after his untimely death, Faron was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Presenting the first detailed portrayal of this lively and unpredictable country music star, Diane Diekman masterfully draws on extensive interviews with Young’s family, band members, and colleagues. Impeccably researched, Diekman’s narrative also weaves anecdotes from Louisiana Hayride and other old radio shows with ones from Young’s business associates, including Ralph Emery. Her unique insider’s look into Young’s career adds to an understanding of the burgeoning country music entertainment industry during the key years from 1950 to 1980, when the music expanded beyond its original rural roots and blossomed into a national (ultimately, international) enterprise. Echoing Young’s characteristic ability to entertain and surprise fans, Diekman combines an account of his public career with a revealing, intimate portrait of his personal life.
Presenting the first detailed portrayal of this lively and unpredictable country music star, Diane Diekman masterfully draws on extensive interviews with Young’s family, band members, and colleagues. Impeccably researched, Diekman’s narrative also weaves anecdotes from Louisiana Hayride and other old radio shows with ones from Young’s business associates, including Ralph Emery. Her unique insider’s look into Young’s career adds to an understanding of the burgeoning country music entertainment industry during the key years from 1950 to 1980, when the music expanded beyond its original rural roots and blossomed into a national (ultimately, international) enterprise. Echoing Young’s characteristic ability to entertain and surprise fans, Diekman combines an account of his public career with a revealing, intimate portrait of his personal life.
- GenresNonfictionMusicBiography
296 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 25, 2026
Faron Young, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame (elected 2000), is largely forgotten in country music circles today. Much of his music isn't even available to stream. Though in the 50s, 60s and 70s, Young was a major star who was charting Top 10 hits and enjoying great success in the music business. He was also a giant piece of sh*t.
This was a really good book, showcasing Young as he was, warts and all. A country music legend on one hand and on the other, an abusive, manipulative alcoholic who suffered from depression for most of his life and refused to ever seek help. This book is chalk full of stories of Youngs close shaves with the law and with death and chronicles the abuse he leveled at his family. Interviews with contemporaries in the country music field will tell you how great of guy Young was...unless he'd been drinking. It's a classic tale of a man who had it all and let is slip through his fingers because of his own actions. A man who would not or could not acknowledge his own mental health problems and refused to do anything about them. Ultimately this led to Young tragically taking his own life in 1996.
I recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about a forgotten legend of country music. It's a balanced look at his life and includes all of the salacious and unsavoury aspects of Faron Young. He was not a good man generally which is a shame because the man had a great talent.
This was a really good book, showcasing Young as he was, warts and all. A country music legend on one hand and on the other, an abusive, manipulative alcoholic who suffered from depression for most of his life and refused to ever seek help. This book is chalk full of stories of Youngs close shaves with the law and with death and chronicles the abuse he leveled at his family. Interviews with contemporaries in the country music field will tell you how great of guy Young was...unless he'd been drinking. It's a classic tale of a man who had it all and let is slip through his fingers because of his own actions. A man who would not or could not acknowledge his own mental health problems and refused to do anything about them. Ultimately this led to Young tragically taking his own life in 1996.
I recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about a forgotten legend of country music. It's a balanced look at his life and includes all of the salacious and unsavoury aspects of Faron Young. He was not a good man generally which is a shame because the man had a great talent.
March 2, 2017
An alcoholic with talent and a great voice. The book dragged on with too much talk about all the constantly changing band members over the years. He was terrible or life of party when drinking, a wonderfully good person when sober. Battled depression w/o seeking help. Johnny and June tried to turn him around at the end, but Faron didn't choose to change. He had a few great songs; Hello Walls and Its Four in the Morning and many other songs on the charts.
February 22, 2025
What A Career
An informative telling of Faron Young’s life and career. It is sad that we as a people encourage more research into the makings of feelings and emotions. The deep pain in Faron was poured into a career that many enjoyed. To hear the stories from people on the Country Family Reunion videos expressed the love so many had for Faron as well as the stories by his son, Robyn. A well written autobiography.
An informative telling of Faron Young’s life and career. It is sad that we as a people encourage more research into the makings of feelings and emotions. The deep pain in Faron was poured into a career that many enjoyed. To hear the stories from people on the Country Family Reunion videos expressed the love so many had for Faron as well as the stories by his son, Robyn. A well written autobiography.
January 7, 2022
Detailed account of Faron Young's life but lacked any emotional depth. I wanted to get to know the man but was presented with a comprehensive list of facts. Faron's life story reminded me of George Jones' story -- two very talented singers in spite of themselves.
July 18, 2025
Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story, what a book. I grew up listening to Faron's music, and he is still one of my favorite artists and entertainers to this day. If you're a fan or want to learn more about him, this is the book for you.
God bless the late Faron Young and his family.
God bless the late Faron Young and his family.
December 18, 2021
Fluid writing, honesty, and genuine respect for her subject make Diekman's biography of Faron Young one of the best in that genre I have read.
July 11, 2016
I did not realize how many songs he either wrote or contributed to, or recorded.
The recording is a tough business. And this was a generous man even when he was not financially stable.
How many times he loaned money to individuals knowing he'd never be repaid.
How many times he said "forget it"
How many times he negotiated goods in payment
Quite a personality
Unfortunately depressed most of his life, he kept it from those near him. Even his final wishes were a surprise to them.
The recording is a tough business. And this was a generous man even when he was not financially stable.
How many times he loaned money to individuals knowing he'd never be repaid.
How many times he said "forget it"
How many times he negotiated goods in payment
Quite a personality
Unfortunately depressed most of his life, he kept it from those near him. Even his final wishes were a surprise to them.
June 9, 2014
This slim and fast biography of superstar Faron Young is essential for country music fans and historians. You don't hear much about Faron Young when great country artists are discussed, but he certainly was one. His music was exemplary golden age country, and his life is just as fascinating as his songs.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews