Faron Young was a country music legend who had a string of hits from the 1950s to the 1970s. He was known as the Hillbilly Heartthrob and the Singing Sheriff for his honky-tonk style and his film roles. He also helped launch the careers of Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller, and Johnny Paycheck. But behind his success and fame, Young struggled with depression, health problems, and a sense of being forgotten by the industry. On December 10, 1996, he died by suicide at the age of 64. What led him to take this tragic decision? Here are some facts about Faron Young’s life and death.
Early Years and Military Service
Faron Young was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on February 25, 1932. He was the youngest of six children and grew up on a dairy farm. He started singing at an early age and dreamed of becoming a pop star. However, after seeing Hank Williams perform on the Louisiana Hayride, he switched to country music. He joined the same show in 1951 and signed with Capitol Records. He recorded his first chart hit, “Goin’ Steady”, in October 1952.
However, his career was interrupted when he was drafted into the US Army in November 1952. He served in Korea and Japan until November 1954. During his service, he continued to record songs and perform for the troops. His songs “If You Ain’t Lovin'” and “Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young” became hits while he was away.
Rise to Fame and Film Career
After his discharge, Young resumed his recording career with Capitol Records. He scored many honky-tonk hits in the 1950s and 1960s, such as “Sweet Dreams”, “Alone with You”, “Country Girl”, and “Wine Me Up”. He also recorded the first hit version of Don Gibson’s “Sweet Dreams” in 1956.
One of his biggest hits was “Hello Walls”, a song written by Willie Nelson, who was then an unknown songwriter. Young recorded it in 1961 and it became a crossover hit, reaching No. 1 on the country charts and No. 12 on the pop charts. It sold over one million copies and earned him a gold disc.
Young also ventured into acting, starring in four low-budget films in the mid-1950s: Hidden Guns, Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer, Raiders of Old California and Country Music Holiday. He played a singing cowboy role as the Young Sheriff in most of them.
Young also founded a country music fan magazine called Music City News in 1963. He ran it until 1985, when he sold it to The Tennessean newspaper. The magazine featured news, interviews, reviews, and gossip about country music stars.
Decline and Depression
Young’s popularity began to decline in the 1970s, as country music changed and new artists emerged. His last top ten hit was “Some Kind of Woman” in 1974. He switched labels several times, from Capitol to Mercury to MCA to Step One Records. He released a few albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but they failed to generate much interest.
Young also faced health problems in his later years. He suffered from emphysema and underwent prostate surgery. He also battled alcoholism and depression. He felt that he was no longer relevant or appreciated by the country music industry or fans.
He attempted suicide twice before his final act. In 1972, he tried to overdose on sleeping pills after his wife Hilda filed for divorce. They reconciled later, but divorced for good in 1986. In 1993, he shot himself in the abdomen after an argument with his son Robyn.
Suicide and Legacy
On December 9, 1996, Young shot himself in the head at his home in Nashville. He left a suicide note explaining that he was depressed about his health and his career. He was found by a former band member who came to visit him. He was taken to Columbia Summit Medical Center, where he died the next day.
He was cremated and his ashes were spread over Old Hickory Lake near Nashville by his family. His children said that he had “left his family, friends and fans to perform the biggest concert of his career.”
Young was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. He is remembered as one of the pioneers of honky-tonk music and one of the most influential country singers of his generation.
According to Taste of Country , Young’s death was tragic but not surprising to those who knew him well. They said that he was a generous and charismatic person, but also a troubled and lonely soul. He had a hard time coping with the changes in the music industry and his own aging. He once said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do when I get old. I don’t think I’ll ever make it.” Sadly, he was right..
