What happened to Faron of Faron's Flamingos?

Answer 1

I met Faron in Vieux Nice in the South of France in the summer of, I believe, 1978 or 79. I may be a year or two out. He was playing music with an American guy and a drum machine and busking various places. He came into an Irish restaurant where I was playing and asked if he and his buddy could set up and play the owners a few songs. As the restaurant was virtually empty and I had finished for the night the owners said that would be OK. I have NEVER witnessed a performance like it before or since. That duo and Faron in particular played their hearts out for well over two hours for just four of us, the owners, the chef et moi. The pool of sweat around Faron on the floor was about two metres wide by the time he had finished. I have seen many many rock concerts but the energy that Faron put into that show with only the tables and chairs as props was PHENOMENAL! Needless to say they got the gig. However when it came time for them to go home Faron's French girlfriend had to pick him up as he was a complete wreck without her. In particular I remember unbelievable versions of two ray Charles numbers, Take these Chains and Set Me Free and What'd I Say. I later became a singer with a band during the 1980s doing Louis Jordan and Cab Calloway covers amongst other things. That performance from Faron was the inspiration for any audience rapport and stagecraft that I had. I had seen one of the masters at work at close quarters and had been truly inspired. Thank you Faron