John Henry Faulk's Christmas Story- Go LISTEN!

Subject: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:38 PM

Heard this annual tradition on Sunday Morning Edition on National Public Radio. Anybody who listens to it and has a dry eye is a scrooge!*G* It is really a touching and heartwarming story as written and told by the late Texas storyteller John Henry Fauks. Well worth the listen, here at NPR.

kat

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 12:26 PM

refresh....it really IS good!

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 12:33 PM

John Henry Faulk (if yer huntin' him down on the web...and I strongly suggest you do, use this spelling) is one of the most memorable characters connected with the folk music world of the 40s and 50s. I had an opportunity to interview his ex-wife Lynne Gordon, a few years ago. Both fascinating (and "driven") people.
Thanks Kat for alerting Mudcatters to a true "original". A fine post.
Rick

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 12:41 PM

Thanks for the correction, Rick. Must've been an interesting interview. I was truly impressed with his delivery of this story. It really captures the essence of the season.

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 04:44 PM

I recorded another of his ex-wives (his first, I think), Hally Wood. I later gave the tapes from that session to her for self-release. She was a great singer who worked with Lomax early on, sang with the Almanacs in New York during the glory days of their "songs of persuasion" (as Denisoff describes them). Hally had two 10-inch LPs that were very influential: Oh, Lovely Appearance of Death and one of Texas folksongs. If you ever see them in a garage sale, GRAB 'EM! They're superb.

We got that little Martin classical that Rick once told you about (in one of the instrument threads) from Hally.

Sandy

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 04:51 PM

Thanks for that kat. I checked, and I'm not Scrooge after all.

I'veput a link top it obn my website, and have already sent an email with the link in to one friend.

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: northfolk/al cholger
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 07:36 PM

kat, I agree, this was a touching story.

John Henry Faulk was a renowned storyteller, whose biography is just as touching. Faulk was blacklisted during the dark days of HUAC, and was prevented from creating wide exposure to his considerable gift.

In the 1970's he returned to regular appearance on television, on the Hee Haw, country music show.

And lest I be excoriated by that asshole Gargoyle, Phil Ochs, wrote the Ballad of John Henry Faulk which is in the Database....

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:54 PM

Thanks Al & McGrath. I knew nothing about him until I heard this broadcast, and we used to watch HeeHaw sometimes, when I was growing up so... I am really glad to learn more about such an extraordinary talent. And, I am off to the DT to read the lyrics to the song you mentioned. Is too a music thread!:-)

kat

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 12:47 AM

Faulk's book about the blacklist, and his beating the buggers who were subservient to it, is titled Fear on Trial. You'll find a number of copies available on Bookfinder. Those were the days, my friends!

Sandy

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 12:57 AM

One of the stories that Lynne (the second, third, or fourth Mrs. Faulk) told was when she met John Henry's family in Texas for the first time. They lived on a huge plantation and at least a dozen of them were sitting on the porch as she and John henry walked up the steps. The family stared at her with mouths agape, unable to speak. She asked him afterward why they seemed so dumbstruck by her appearance. He told her that they "couldn't believe a 'Jewess' could have blond hair!" She said she had to keep reminding herself that these were the LIBERAL Texans!!
Apparently marriage didn't sit well with John Henry as he eagerly started a new affair 3 days after their wedding!
Rick

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: Áine
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 07:39 AM

Dear Rick,

I'm glad that you appreciate the talents of one of our most famous native sons. However, I can't let your story about the 'Liberal' Texans go uncommented on. I hope that you didn't mean to leave the impression that all Texans are ignorant, bigoted and anti-semitic, but I'm afraid that some folks could get that impression from your post.

As a proud native Texan, I just want to say the majority of people in this state are very tolerant of other cultures and religions. How could we not be, since Texas has always been a wonderful mixture of those things? That mixture of peoples and cultures is what makes Texas such a wonderful place, full of folk tales, customs, songs, music, and celebrations from all over the world. This is what makes Texans so proud of being Texans -- we're very, very proud of our state and all our people. Goodness, aren't we famous worldwide for bragging about it?

Yes, there are ignorant, bigoted people that live here, just as live in every place in the world. But, happily, they are not, and never have been, the majority of wonderful Texans that live in the Lone Star State.

Thank you, kat, for posting the link to John Henry's story. I heard the broadcast too, and it was great to hear his beautiful voice telling that story -- a story that described the charity and love of a Texan of one skin color for a Texan of another skin color.

Have a Great Big Merry (Texas) Christmas y'all, Áine

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: SEAROSS
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 07:09 PM

My dad worked with John Henry in the days of the CCC on a project in San Antonio. At that time, one of his amazing talents was the ability to sound just like a black preacher. My mother had been exposed to black preachers around the state and said that if you did not see Johnny, you would have sworn it was a black preacher in the room. He collected and published some of these in Texas Folklore Society publications.

Subject: RE: John Henry Fauks' Xmas Story- Go LISTEN!
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 08:55 PM

SEAROSS, welcome to the Mudcat! Thanks for telling us abotu your dad and mom. Do you have anymore share? Those are the kind of anecdotes we Mudcatters love to hear.

katlaughing