Interview with Frank Fara – Songs of the Untamed West
by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Christian Lamitschka: How was the last year for you? What were the highlights?
Frank Fara: I was very honored that the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, New Mexico chose to adopt my song “ Charming Billy ~ Billy the Kid “ as their official song for their museum and web site. Everyone who makes the pilgrimage to the Billy the Kid Museum or their popular website hears my recording.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your latest CD and how’s it doing?
Frank Fara: My latest album is “Songs of the Untamed West”. Radio DJ’s & fans have seemed to enjoy my new and original approach to famous names and places of the Old West. All the songs are based on true events and history with Patty Parker’s top Nashville production of music and arrangements to give them the flavor and excitement of the legends and icons they represent. See stories and photos of all the songs on www.FrankFara.com
Christian Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD, is there a story behind it?
Frank Fara: I wanted fans to know immediately that the album was about the West when it was young and wild. By using the word “Untamed” that is not used that often, it gave me a good descriptive album title “ Songs of the Untamed West “.
Christian Lamitschka.: Do you write the songs yourself and if not, how do you go about finding the songs for the your CD?
Frank Fara: I am the songwriter of all the songs on this album and they were written over many years. It took a long time because of the research needed to make sure that I had all the facts and stories right.
Christian Lamitschka: Please tell us about the songs on your album.
Frank Fara: Most of the songs take place in the turbulent decades following the civil war when gun toting soldiers returned home to try and make a living on the new frontier. Some of them put on a lawman’s star like The Earp Brothers in Tombstone while others lived outside the law as Outlaws like the Dalton Brothers. I also wrote of military icons General Custer and Mexican folk hero Pancho Villa. The album also has The Saga of Diamondfield Jack, a song about the cattle & sheep wars, another about A Black Cowboy ~ Isom Dart. Also a light hearted tune on Tips for Easterners taking a Stagecoach West. Wagon Trains were also an important part of the West and so included is the heroic tale of The Donner Party Wagon Train. One of my favorites is a song about the boy outlaw from New Mexico ~ Charming Billy ~ Billy the Kid. As the lyric says “ He Turned 21 at the wrong end of a gun “ The album concludes with a special song Sedona Serenade, the place of so many famous western movies.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s the difference between your last CD and the current one?
Frank Fara: In the past I only released CD Singles of my songs of the West. This is the very first time all my true songs of legendary heroes, outlaws and lawmen have been all together in this special Songs of the Untamed West album. I should mention, however, for Rock & Roll fans of the early days of the 1950’s & 60’s music, I had an album titled Only in My Dreams which is currently available on my oldies website www.FrankFafara.com
Christian Lamitschka: Your current single is being played by radio. What do you thing is special about this song that makes people what to hear it?
Frank Fara: Isom Dart ~ A Black Cowboy is one of those story’s you just don’t hear about. I believe listeners like to hear something new and especially one that has been left out of so many history books. In truth, Black cowboys were numerous on the western plains and helped win and settle the West.
Christian Lamitschka: What will your next single be?
Frank Fara: My next single will be “Custer’s Last Command“. I look forward to sharing the dynamic and controversial personality of General George Armstrong Custer and the events of his march with the Seventh Cavalry leading up to the Little Big Horn. The song has the feel of a big screen John Ford movie.
Christian Lamitschka: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
Frank Fara: Songs about people who’s history has survived their deeds as well as songs of people who led amazing lives but who’s deeds never made the newspapers. In other words ~ The famous and the not so famous.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your favorite song among all the songs you’ve recorded and what’s the story behind it?
Frank Fara: Truthfully I am unable to choose between them as it always seems
that I like the one I am writing or listening to. Then when they are all on an album I cannot pick one over the other. Each has such a special place in the history of the Untamed West.
Christian Lamitschka ( Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de )