From July 7th to the 13th, the Oneida
Casino near Green Bay Wisconsin stage the biggest Rockabilly Festival the world has ever
known. Thousands of fans from 22 countries around the world came to see the 130 acts who
appeared. A huge crowd stood in front of the stage and gave me a rousing reception at my
show on Tuesday, the 9th. They blessed me with encores after "My Prayer" and
"Since I Don't Have You", which I dedicated to the memory of my son, Bub and
Eddie Bond, Jr. (Eddie Jr. had died 2 weeks earlier). Another encore came at the end of my
show. The Fly Rite Boys did a great job backing me. A 3 1/2 hour autograph line awaited me
in the lobby.
On Saturday the 20th, I did two country
concerts with Gene Watson at the Ozarka College in Melbourne, Arkansas. An almost full
theater welcomed us to each show. David Grimes and the All Star Band did a great job
backing me. The receptive audiences gave me three standing ovations on each show. An
autograph line more than an hour long each, formed in the lobby after each of my shows. We
sold out of CDs and cassettes with many still waiting in line.
Alex Ward in Memphis has a new Oldie
Rock 'n' Roll show on the XM Band. He phoned for my permission to use my song and record
"Pink and Black Days" as his theme and as the title for his show! I am honored
to grant permission. Sam Phillips introduces the show, my record then follows.
I finally finished the CD I started in
August of 2001. It goes to press this week and is expected the third week of August. The
title, "Super Songs Narvelized". 10 new recordings. A varied range of songs from
"Stranger on the Shore" to "Great Balls of Fire" to "Don't Do it
Darlin'". Nine are remastered. Memories are also included, such as "Somebody
Hold Me" and "Pink and Black Days".
As always, my CDs are available through
mail order.
Send $20 plus #4 shipping for CD to:
Norma Williams
247 Abelia Drive
Parma, MD 63870 USA
Phone: (537) 396-5816
Till we meet again,
Narvel
The dates I played in May were both
career highlights. Friday the 3rd, played a concert at the Grand Conference Center in
Essexville, Michigan. It was more than a sell out, extra chairs had to be brought in.
Karen and Tommy Miller did a great opening show. The J. R. Band did a magnificent job
backing them and me. My one hour show became and hour and twenty minutes with encores. An
autograph line an hour and a half long then awaited.
The following weekend at Hemsby, England
the billing for the weekend festival was Narvel Felts, Lew Williams, Teddy Redell, Sonny
West, Alvis Wayne, Matt Lucas, Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs, Nick Willett plus top
Rockin' European Bands & DJs. My show there in 1997and the audience reception to it
had been a career changing event. When the news spread across Europe, I wound up being
booked at top country and Rock 'n' Roll festivals in Austria, France and England.
My return in 1999 went over as well, if
not better. It led to festivals and shows in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, back to France and
even to the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada earlier in
2002. With all of this in mind, I thought, "Chances are this can't happen
again", but it did!
I walked on stage Saturday the 11th to a
rousing reception. The Rimshots did a marvelous job backing me. What was to
be a 45 minute show became 78 minutes with requests and encores. I called Matt Lucas on
stage to play drums on my first encore (He'd played with me in the early 1960's. Matt had
called me on stage during his show the night before to play guitar on, "I'm Movin'
On". I'd played on his 1963 hit of it). Ladies were yelling, "I love you,
Narvel!" After the encores I went back to the dressing room.. the audience was
stomping and chanting, "We want more!" I went back on stage for one more.
I then went to my autograph table. I
stood till Ham While fans from all over Europe came through the line. This has to be one
of my most receptive audiences of all time! 3500 bought tickets to this event.
May 22, 2001
Last Saturday, March 16th, a nearly full theater welcomed me to Music Ranch, USA in West
Point, KY. The audience blessed me with standing ovations, an encore and a long autograph
line. The Country Classics did a great job on backing me up.
Next, I'm off to Las Vegas, Nevada to be
the Saturday night headliner at the "Viva Las Vegas" Rockabilly Festival. This
will be Saturday, March 3oth at the Gold Coast Hotel. I'm told that more than 3,000
tickets have already been sold to fans around the world.
October 2, 2001
On August 25th I did a Country/Bluegrass Festival at Wheel Inn Campground near Leslie,
Michigan. Michael Twitty with his "Memories of Conway" show was on just before
me. The Twitty Bird Band then backed me. I've known Michael since he was about 5 years
old. It was good visiting with him again. The audience gave us a great reception.
My newsletter is now at the printer. It
will be to fan club members around the world in the next weeks or so. It covers the past 6
months in-depth. It then takes you back in time to 1966, 1986, 1976, 1966 and 1956. If
you're not a member you can join by sending $10 to Roy Combs, 286 Primrose Lane,
Clarksville, IN 47129 USA.
On Tuesday, September 11 our lives
changed forever with the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D. C. God Help Us
All!
Friday, September 14th was the 6th
anniversary of our son, Narvel "Bub" Felts, Jr.'s death in a car accident. He
was 31. That day after breakfast with Loretta, I drove the 600 miles to Corsicana, Texas.
Till we meet again,
Narvel
June 19, 2001
June 9th, I played the Pink Tomato Festival in Warren, AR with Ace Cannon plus Sonny
Burgess and the Pacers. After riding in the morning parade (before that night's show) we
attended a luncheon which Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckobee spoke at. When I introduced
myself to him he said, "I'm honored to meet you. I used to play your records when I
was a Disc Jockey!" That was an honor for me to hear.
June 14th, I was on the Legends Show at
Music Fest during Fan Fair in Nashville. I sang three songs and got a standing ovation
after each one. A fourth one came after I repeated the ending of "Lonely
Teardrops". The other songs I sang were, "Reconsider Me" and "Somebody
Hold Me".
April 19, 2001
This past weekend I did a show in France. It turned great. We had a full house at thee
Centre Culturel in Mehum-Sur-Yeure (near Bowges) on April 14th. The Sureshots did a
great job backing me. When I did, "Since I Don't Have You" in memory of Bub, the crowd kept applauding until I repeated the last verse of the
song again. They then kept applauding until I started the next song. This was quite
touching to me.
I also did "Be Bop A Lula" in
memory of Paul Peek, who had made his final performance on stage with me two weeks earlier
in Atlanta. This was on March 31st. Paul died April 3rd at the age of 63. In thee
50's he had been one of Gene Vincent's Blue Caps. We had done "Be Bop A Lula"
together in Atlanta that night.
Two encores more awaited me at the end
of my French show, then a two hour autograph line. Crazy Careon & the Rhythm
Rockers plus the Wild Goners were also in the French show.
