Donna Fargo photo courtesy of myspace.com/donnafargo.
Check in with Lew Jones for the latest on your favorite country legends!
Q: What has the legendary country singer Donna Fargo been doing lately?
(Dave, Festus, MO)
A: Dave, the lady who burst onto the country (and for that matter, pop) charts in 1972 with "The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A." has a new song out called "We Can Do Better In America." You can download it by going to her website, donnafargo.com. With six No. 1 hits to her credit in the 1970s, Donna stayed active on the country hit lists all the way into the 1990s. Plus, an inspirational song of hers recently reached the top of the Christian Country charts. Although diagnosed with MS as far back as 1979, it seems not to slow her down much. Donna's spirited live shows continue to endear her to her many fans.
Q: Where can I find DVDs by Ray Price and Jim Reeves? Up here in Yankee country, they are hard to find.
(Sean, Hales Corners, WI)
A: I clicked around and found several, Sean. Ray has "Last of The Breed" with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard available on DVD. It's a 2007 collaboration of three of the biggest legends anywhere. Ray also has "Cherokee Cowboy Live" from 2005, and "Live at the Renaissance Center" from the same year. There's very little available from Jim Reeves. So far I've found only "Kimberly Jim" from 2004. However, a DVD title "Jim Reeves and Ray Price--Country Music Classics" came out in 2002. The Jim Reeves problem with videos is that when he was killed in that 1964 plane crash, it predated music videos by roughly 20 years. Any videos of him have to be distilled from recorded appearances on television. Some of these packages are available by clicking above, or you might try amazon.com.
Q: My favorite performer is Lorrie Morgan. Does she have any new albums coming up? Do the powers that be consider her "over the hill"?
(Jack, Burbank, IL)
A: Well, Jack, of course the powers that be consider her over the hill. For a performer, that happens right around puberty, it seems! I'm kidding, of course, but it always looks like the singers get constantly younger, doesn't it? I don't trust my math anymore, but Lorrie was born in 1959, and had her birthday on June 27th. I think that makes her 49 — hardly "over the hill."
She did start young, being the daughter of legendary singer George Morgan, and a self-described Opry brat, hanging around backstage while daddy sang. Lorrie has three No. 1 songs to her credit, "Five Minutes," "What Part Of No" and "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." She was on the charts for the first time in 1979 and only recently slowed down a bit. But, to your question: She's working on two albums. Due sometime this summer is "I Walk Alone" which will showcase her songwriting talents as well as her singing. And also down the line, in early 2009, is an album of country standards. (Lorrie, make sure I get one of those!)
Q: I am trying to find all the information that I can on an old song titled "When Can We Do This Again," including who sang it. I was hoping to get your help if I could.
(Lloyd, Wichita Falls, TX)
A: T.G. Sheppard is your man, Lloyd. It appeared on an album called Daylight in 1978. So far, I've been unable to locate anything other than the original vinyl LP. And, I don't see where T.G. has brought it back on any greatest hits packages. So, get a new stylus for that turntable, or wait around and see if it comes out on a future compilation.
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