Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story (Music in American Life)
 "Incorporating published accounts, interviews, and personal insights, this balanced book is important in keeping the memory of a chart-topping country artist alive and in putting the country music scene of the period into perspective. Recommended."--Library Journal "Finally someone's written the story of Faron Young's life, one of country music's most colorful characters."--Nashville Musician  "His is a rich story, spanning the golden age of honky-tonk, women, liquor, ruin and glory, and no small entrepreneurial spirit. . . . Diekman is scrupulous and meticulous in her assemblage of details. . . . Young's family and surviving friends seem to have given her ready access and unflinching honesty."--No Depression "Diane Diekman . . . takes us on a journey from his early life, through the recording successes, the failed marriage, the career downturn, the depression and, finally, to that fateful night . . . when he put the pistol to his head."--Country Music People "Live Fast, Love Hard, a sobering account of the Singing Sheriff's roller-coaster life that ended with his 1996 suicide, tells the tale of two Youngs: one, a talented, flamboyant performer and charitable man who helped the community and struggling songwriters like Willie Nelson and Bill Anderson, and who helped country music by founding the long-running periodicalMusic City News;the other, a raging alcoholic and jealous husband with an explosive temper, whose addiction and poor self image . . . led him to abuse and cheat on his wife, and verbally abuse his children, band members, and friends when he was drinking. . . . Diane Diekman . . . provides readers a rare glimpse inside the tumultuous life of this talented and troubled musician."--Dirty Linen