Stan Laundon Sharing Memories

The photographs on this page are from my own collection of country music memorabilia that I have acquired over the years. I do hope you enjoy viewing as much as I did meeting these wonderful people.

Bill Anderson - publicity shots © mca from June, 1974

I obtained many of the photographs on this page during my first trip to Nashville in June 1974. Those of Bill Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Charlie McCoy and Conway Twitty were signed for me during Fan Fair week.

At the Grand Ol' Opry

A publicity photograph showing Jan Howard, Connie Smith, Charlie McCoy and Faron Young taken at a Country Music Association Awards Show in Nashville.

Charlie McCoy © monument

A signed picture of ace harmonica player, Charlie McCoy.

Charlie Walker © Epic Records and Loretta Lynn © mca both signed in Nashville, Tennessee, June 1974.

Conway Twitty © mca

To Stan - glad you like my albums signed Conway Twitty in Nashville, June 1974

A Christmas card from Buck Owens

Johnny Lee who was "Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places" during the Urban Cowboy era and a postcard from the Merle Haggard Souvenir and Gift Shop in West Main Street, Hendersonville, Tennessee which I sent to a friend in October, 1981.

During his first ever visit to Britain, Boxcar Willie was giving "Honorary Hobo" certificates to his fans. I was fortunate to have one signed at King Oswy Working Mans Club in Hartlepool, England on January 17, 1978. If you click on the photograph above you can view the certificate full size and read the small print.

The Boxcar Willie pewter statuettes

During another meeting I had with Boxcar during the 1980's, he gave me a limited edition belt buckle (which I later gave away to a friend) and a miniature Boxcar Willie pewter statuette. The model was custom designed for Boxcar by C.A.T in 1983.

A letter from Boxcar Willie thanking me for sending a newspaper article I had written about him

Johnny Paycheck © epic

My best to you signed Johnny Paycheck

Signed by Eddy Arnold in 1966

Melba Montgomery © Elektra

Melba Montgomery

Charley Pride publicity from a UK tour, 1984 and George Jones © mca

Steve Wariner rca

Steve Wariner appeared with Chet Atkins as a member of his backing group at Middlesbrough Town Hall in 1980.

John Conlee © mca

The man who brought us "Rose Coloured Glasses" - John Conlee

I saw John Conlee backstage at the Opry talking to Charley Pride and also making radio broadcast at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Nashville.

Jerry Reed © rca

Hang in there Stan, signed Jerry Reed

The Gator belt buckle - a proud possession and a gift from Jerry Reed

When You're Hot, You're Hot

A sew-on patch from Jerry Reed, advertising the "When You're Hot, You're Hot" album on RCA. I was the proud owner of several of these patches but gave them away in later years to Jerry Reed fans.

Jerry Reed's company also sold denim jeans back in 1981. They had his signature embroidered on the back pocket and a tear-off tag (above) which I kept. Sadly, the jeans wore out!

Skeeter Davis © rca

Thanks and love and happiness from Skeeter Davis

Tammy Wynette in the 1970s

David Houston as he appeared in the movie "Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers"

A treasured gift from the band, Alabama – a belt buckle. I had travelled to Nashville and, when I was in the area of Music Row, I saw a lot of activity near a recording studio and was told Alabama were inside making a recording. I went back to my car and took out a newspaper article I had written about Alabama's first ever album for RCA - "My Home's In Alabama" - and asked for it to be passed on. Later, one of their tour officials called at my hotel and presented me with a signed photo and the belt buckle.

The photograph was later sold to help raise money for charity – but I still have the buckle!

A very young (with short hair) Willie Nelson

…and the autograph which he signed in Birmingham, England

Photograph courtesy of Julie Dixon

Steve Young, on his first British tour, at the Marsden Inn, South Shields in 1982 or 1983

Waylon stage backdrop

I took this photograph of the stage backdrop from the Waylon Jennings concert at Hammersmith, London, in October 1983. I was fortunate to meet Waylon after the concert. John Denver had also been watching the show from the wings. I said hello to him, but sadly, did not have time to conduct an interview.

I had the pleasure of meeting Rusty Adams in Nashville in 1974 and some years later when he toured England.

Joe Sun - toured the UK many times and was always a firm favourite. The last time I saw him was in Barcelona, Spain in 2006.

A card from the Milsap family

Ronnie, Joyce and Todd Milsap were kind enough to send this Christmas card to me - one of three I received over the years. I am not exactly sure which year this was but Ronnie also sent a letter to me after he was voted "Artist of the Year" by listeners to my "Country Time" programme in 1976.

Letter headed paper from the office of Ronnie Milsap in Brentwood, Tennessee

Initially, I had problems trying to make contact with Ronnie, but thanks to fan Susan Chapman, from Thirsk, she did get through to him and he replied: "....and give my love to your listeners" when writing to me on January 5, 1977 just after my 300th "Country Time" programme was broadcast on BBC Radio Cleveland. Ronnie was also voted, by my listeners, as the person they would most like to hear interviewed. Thankfully, he agreed and we conducted a telephone interview "live" into my show. Some years later I was to meet Ronnie at the RCA building in Nashville and again in Newcastle, England.

Part of private correspondence I received from Tom T. Hall

When I first met Dolly Parton in Nashville in June 1974, she apologised for not having any photographs with her at the time. She later sent two signed pictures to my home in England. The one signed to me personally was sold to help raise money for charity.

Rattlesnake Annie with Czech country singer, Michal Tucny. Annie signed this for me on November 5th, 1982 after we worked together in Scarborough, England.

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