LITTLE ROCK — BALLAD OF BLAZE: A documentary has been made about Blaze Foley, a Malvern native and songwriter who made his mark in Austin, Texas.
Foley, born Michael David Fuller in 1949, was close friends with musician Townes Van Zandt and went on to have his songs recorded by Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett and more.
Foley died at 39 on Feb. 1, 1989, in Austin, shot by the son of his friend Concho January. Carey January was acquitted of first-degree murder by reason of self defense.
The film, Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah, produced by Kevin Triplett of Austin, screens at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Little Rock at Stickyz Rock ’N’ Roll Chicken Shack, with a music performance afterward.
Before the film screens, a 5 p.m. reading will be held at Barnes & Noble by Sybil Rosen from her memoir, Living in the Woods in a Tree: Remembering Blaze Foley. Rosen writes of her time with Foley (including living in a treehouse in the Georgia woods in the ’70s).
On Friday in Malvern, Rosen will hold a 5 p.m.
reading at the Hot Spring County Library, and the film will screen at the Ritz Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday.
Another local connection? Foley’s friend Little Rock attorney Brad Hendricks ensured that Foley received a proper headstone on his grave in Austin.
IRONIC NOTE: When ’60s British teen idol Peter Noone performed with Herman’s Hermits at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on Thursday, his impersonation of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” was dead-on. His focusing on Cash wasn’t surprising.
But when Noone launched into “The Battle of New Orleans,” it surprised those who knew the story behind the song written by Jimmy Driftwood.
Driftwood, born James Morris, graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA), and was a teacher and a high school principal. He tried unsuccessfully to get his students interested in history.
He began writing poetry, set it to music and the method worked. Driftwood composed “The Battle of New Orleans” in 1936 to help his students learn the difference between the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War.
Did Noone know of the connection between UCA and Driftwood?
“Probably not,” says Jerry Biebesheimer, UCA’s public appearances program director. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t.”
This columnist agrees, after finding video on YouTube.com of Noone singing Driftwood’s song at a 2010 Galveston show.
ARTFUL NEWS: In light of the Nov. 11 opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Conde Nast Traveler previews it in the November issue with a sampling of eight of the museum’s works - from James Wooldridge’s Indians of Virginia, a circa-1675 oil on linen, to Nick Cave’s 2010 Soundsuit, an interactive sculptural costume.
Contact Linda Caillouet at (501) 399-3636 or at lcaillouet@arkan sasonline.com
Arkansas, Pages 17 on 10/30/2011