(Click on photos for larger a view)

	June I've spent the month of June at home recovering from my hernia surgery of May 25th. The first three weeks were pretty rough - I'm better now and must get my voice in shape and my strength back for my July shows. Thanks for your cards and calls. I look forward to being home with Loretta on her Birthday, July 3rd. Note: I have added more information to my February News which names others who played in my band.   Photo: Narvel Felts Homecoming American Legion Malden, MO Dec. 6, 2003 Courtesy of Faye Huffman (click on photo for larger view)
Narvel & Marty Raybon Choctaw Event Center Durant, OK Oct. 18, 2008 Photo courtesy of Royce & Ruth Burks Marty was lead singer of Shenandoah who had 26 country hits including the #1 hit, "The Church on Cumberland Road" and four more #1 hits between 1989 and 1994. (click on photo for larger view)	May My plans were to leave May and June open to have hernia surgery. It was scheduled for May 4th but was rescheduled for May 25th. This still gives me 7 1/2 weeks recovery time before my next show. I was home with Loretta on Mother's Day. We enjoyed the visit from our daughter, Stacia. That same weekend the episode of "Country Family Reunion 2010" with me singing, "Somebody Hold Me" was shown on RFD-TV. All the legendary country artists in the studio plus the band and vocal group gave me a standing ovation. What an HONOR! The following weekend, Midwest Country was shown on RFD-TV with me singing, "Pink and Black Days", "I'm Gonna Be Strong" and "Kiss-a-Me Baby". I got word the other day that Terry Wood, who hosts the, All Request Lunch Hour" on "Classic Country 95.9 The Wolf" in Jonesboro, Arkansas had three requests from three different listeners for my records during the first fifteen minutes that the lines were open. They were for, "Somebody Hold Me", "Lonely Teardrops" and "Reconsider Me". I'm told that Terry plays one of my records almost every day. Many pictures were taken in Spain last month but none have been sent to me so I've included one I could find. Final farewell: Johnny Maestro, as lead singer of The Crests. He sang "16 Candles" and their other hits.
Narvel in Concert Rialto Theater Morrilton, Arkansas March 27, 2010 Photo: Faye Huffman Read Faye's Review of the show here (click on photo for larger view) ( Backstage Carl Mann, Narvel Felts, J. M. Van Eaton International Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame Jackson, TN, April 10, 2010 Photo: Rod Pyke Courtesy: Essie Shell	April Remembering Narvel "Bub" Felts, Jr. April 1st would have been our son Bub's 46th birthday, but he will forever be 31. Rockabilly Fest in Jackson, TN April 10th I was headliner at the Rockabilly Fest 2010 staged by the International Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame in Jackson, TN. Other artists there were Carl Mann, Little David Wilkins, Eddie Bond, J. M. Van Eaton, Os Rebels (from Brazil) and Wade Jackson. Bands were Double Edge, who did their usual great job backing me plus Red Hot & Blue. The show was outside, the weather was cold but the crowd gave me a warm reception with standing ovations. They were from Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and England. An autograph line awaited at Huey's Record Rack. Valencia, Spain April 15th I was up early to make the 2.5 hour drive from my home to the Memphis Airport. On my way, I heard on the radio that because of a volcano eruption in Iceland, airports were closed and passengers were stranded from Scandinavia to France. When I checked in at the airport I was told that the flights to London and Paris were cancelled but not those to Madrid. I flew to Dallas, changed planes, flew through the night to Madrid, changed planes, then on to Valencia. I arrived at 1pm on the 16th; my guitar did not! Jackie, who would interpret for me and drive me around met my flight. We had to wait in a long line to find out about my guitar. I'd have to personally return at 5pm and endure another long line to claim it. I was in Spain to headline the "Valencia Hall Party" Saturday the 17th. Among the other artists and bands performing on the festival were Levi Dexter (from the USA), Dimaggio Connection (From Italy), Loveless Cousins and Earth Angels (from Spain) and Small Town (from Portugal). The promoter expected 1,000 to attend but 600 were coming from other countries across Europe whose airports were closed. At the show time 400 fans standing in front of the stage gave me a rousing welcome. Most of them were from Spain. DImaggio Connection did a fine job backing me. I was given an encore. An autograph line awaited. One man had a copy of my Mercury Record, "Cry Baby, Cry" which had been released in Spain in 1958. I had never seen this Spanish Release. After a late Saturday night Sunday was a day to rest and repack. Seventeen airports had now been closed in Northern Spain plus many more across Europe. Those from Italy had to return by ship. Those from Germany were stranded, as I was afraid I would be. Monday, the 19th I was up at 5:30am. My flights to Madrid, Dallas and Memphis were scheduled to go... 27 hour later I was back home. My guitar didn't make it till three days later. Back Home April 20th my sister, Ogareeda had to have the aortic valve in her heart replaced. She is recovering well. I was on RDF-TV across North America each week in April. On the 10th I sang three songs on Midwest Country. They were, "Funny How Time Slips Away" "Drift Away" and "One Run for the Roses". I was on Country Family Reunion each Friday. The 23rd I sang, "Drift Away". My recording, "Before You Have to Go" went to #3 on the Hot Disc Chart across Europe, Australia and New Zealand. I was home with Loretta for our 48th Wedding Anniversary April 30th.
	March   On Saturday March 6th I did a concert at the Rogers Theater in Poplar Bluff, MO. This is some 40 miles from my home. I'd last played this theater in 1957. I told this 2010 crowd, "I hope you don't wait 53 years to have me back... I'll be 124!" It was full in '57 and on this night in 2010 it was sold out; 1046 people! This show was opened by the Moon Pies who did a great job, as did Ralph Innes as MC and Double Edge who backed me. The crowd blessed me with with standing ovations after "Danny Boy", "My Prayer" and "Funny How Time Slips Away". A some 2 hour autograph line awaited me in the lobby at Huey's Record Rack. Several had been my high school classmates, some had been my National Guard buddies. Most of this crowd was from south east Missouri. Some were from St. Louis, some from Illinois, some from Arkansas. March 27th I did a concert at the Rialto Theater in Morrilton, Arkansas. Not long before the show time a really bad storm came through with dark clouds, pouring rain and hail. This kept many from that area from attending. Many from far away had bought tickets in advance and had already traveled there. A good crowd awaited as Double Edge opened the show doing their usual great job. After the intermission Bandy introduced me. The crowd gave me a rousing welcome. They blessed me with with standing ovations after "Reconsider Me", "Danny Boy", "My Prayer" and "Funny How Time Slips Away". A long autograph line awaited me at the edge of the stage as Huey's Record Rack opened. Through it came friends and fans from Minnesota, Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, California, Missouri and Arkansas plus a lady from Yugoslavia who said she listens to my music every night. Final Farewell: Jimmy Minor, who had been my 1957 & '58 publisher. He also recorded for Mercury and United Artists as a singer in the 1950s.   Photos: Narvel on Stage Rogers Theater Poplar Bluff, MO March 6, 2010 Courtesy of Leonard Fulbright
	February   Our daughter Stacia's birthday was Feb. 3rd. Our granddaughter Nicole's birthday was Feb. 6th. As I didn't play a show this month, I'll take you back in time 50 Years Ago. Back in Time - 1960 Though I spent most of 1959 playing the Canadian show club circuit, I would end the year and see the new decade in at Pop Werners in Malden, MO. At the end of '59 my band "The Rockets" went their separate ways. Bass player, J. W. Grubbs, stayed with me. Matt Lucas joined us on the drums. Other musicians who were in my band and toured with me part of 1960 were: Bob Halley (Piano and Bass), Jerry Ran (Lead Guitar), Jack Adkins (Bass) and Huen Hubbard (Rhythm Guitar).   1960 started with my record, "Honey Love", on Pink Records getting national radio play across the USA and Canada. It would go on to make the "Billboard Pop Chart".  MGM started calling from New York saying, "Look what you're doing on that little label, think what you could do on MGM!." I made the mistake of going to New York and signing with them. They would keep me under contract for two years and never release a record.   I also signed with a top New York manager, Don Seat. He put me on his system with all my earnings being deposited in a New York bank with my name on it. Two of three signatures were required to write a check, with mine being one of them. The others were Don and his accountant. This was where they could pay my bills while I was on the road. I was given $100 per week allowance plus a credit card to pay my road bills. Don felt he could break me through as an actor easier than he could as a singer so he sent me to Betty Cashman Drama Studio for two months.   We'd played two months in Canada prior to this. After four months on the road, we were really looking forward to getting back home to Missouri. Don told me to stop by his office on our way out of town and be sure to wear a tie. He wanted to take me to lunch with the head of Desilu. When I showed up without a tie (which was required to get in the restaurant) it made Don mad. He said, "Forget it!"   We made the 27 hour drive back home in my red '60 Buick convertible. For a couple of months we played dates in Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. My daddy made the drive to Nashville with me to record a session for MGM. He really enjoyed that session. Don Seat flew down to be there. We were then back on the road for two or three months to Canada and New Jersey. Mama let me know that my car payment and credit card bills were not being made as she was getting notices on them. At the end of the tour I went back to New York, went in Don's office and told him it was over. He said, "You can't leave. You owe a lot of money to the IRS." I paid him enough to settle that. He said, "If you'll stay I promise you a part in a movie. They're casting for it now!" I said no and headed back to Missouri broke.  Uncle Sam would soon beckon. Back to 2010:   Final Farewell to Dale Hawkins, Rockabilly Legend, "Suzy Q".
Legends and Memories Leon Everette, Narvel Felts, Ronnie McDowell, Ronnie Dove, Billy Joe Royal Memorial Auditorium, Spartanburg, SC Feb, 22, 2009	January Happy New Year! Hope this year and this decade will be kind to you and yours. As I review this month, all the months of 2009 are being moved to the archives on this web site. Each month of 2009 can still be found there. It is the best month by month review since my newsletter ended in 2005. I even take you back in time to 1959 and 1979 plus there's a rare 1957 photo. Now to January 2010: On the 16th I did my 10th annual concert at the Florida Sunshine Opry in Eustis, FL. With Ray Price performing 30 miles away I was afraid I wouldn't have a crowd but I did! People came through my autograph line from Canada, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota and Florida. When one couple came through, she told me, "I was one of the Teenie Boppers that mobbed you in Flint, Michigan in 1957!" The Sunshine Opry Band did their usual great job backing me. The crowd gave me standing ovations after my 1970's hits, "Reconsider Me", "My Prayer", and "Funny How Time Slips Away". I'd gone through the hassle of of flying from Memphis to Tampa and back on this trip so I could be home two extra nights. Driving to the Memphis Airport Friday I heard Terry Wood on 95.9 "The Wolf" radio play my record, "My Prayer" from Jonesboro, Arkansas. I rented a car in Tampa and drove to Eustis and back. This was the first show of my 54th year of touring. The 21st I was in Nashville to be one of the artists on the filming of "Country Family Reunion 2010". We filmed the last four shows of a thirteen week segment that will start airing on RFD-TV on March 5th. This show is hosted by Bill Anderson. About 25 gather in one room. Bill asks us questions and each sings a song or two. I was there with country legends Jimmy C. Newman, Jim Ed Brown, Duane Allen, Moe Bandy, T. Graham Brown, Larry Butler, John Conlee, Billy Grammer, Jack Greene, Jan Howard, Johnny Lee, Charlie Louvin, Melba Montgomery, Ray Pillow, Charley Pride, Jean Shepard, Jeannie Seely, Rhonda Vincent, Gene Watson, Stonewall Jackson, Little David Wilkins, The Whites and Shelly West. I sang a song on two of the shows, one was "Drift Away" and the last was "Somebody Hold Me". At the end of it, all the artists, the Carol Lee Singers and the band all gave me a standing ovation! What an honor! Final farewell, to all those I knew along the way: Willie Mitchell, R & B legend, "Soul Serenade", Carl Smith, Country Legend, "Hey Joe", and Pug Thrasher, friend.