Tommy Faile
Encyclopedia
Tommy Faile was an American songwriter and singer best known for composing "Phantom 309
" and singing "The Legend of the Brown Mountain Lights
". He was known for his deep voice and comic on-stage banter.
Born in Lancaster, South Carolina
, Faile got his start on local radio in 1946 with Snuffy Jenkins
, Homer Sherrill and the Hired Hands on WIS in Columbia, South Carolina
. Faile also appeared on national radio in 1949 on "Philip Morris Night with Horace Heidt
". In 1951, he joined Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith's Crackerjacks as a bass player and singer. Faile remained with Smith for eighteen years, and later had his own television show in the early 1970s, which aired on WBTV
in Charlotte, North Carolina
. In 1995, he joined Curly Howard
's radio program on WKMT. He died of a heart attack in 1998.
Phantom 309 (Red Sovine song)
Phantom 309 is a song written by Tommy Faile and released as a single by Red Sovine in 1967.The song tells of a hitchhiker trying to return home from the West Coast after being unable to make a living there...
" and singing "The Legend of the Brown Mountain Lights
Brown Mountain Lights
The Brown Mountain Lights are a series of ghost lights reported near Brown Mountain in North Carolina. The lights can be seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks at mile posts 310 and 301 and from the Brown Mountain Overlook on NC Highway 181 between Morganton, NC and Linville, NC...
". He was known for his deep voice and comic on-stage banter.
Born in Lancaster, South Carolina
Lancaster, South Carolina
Lancaster is a city in Lancaster County, South Carolina which is in the United States and is located 35 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina and 20 miles east of Rock Hill, South Carolina. As of the United States Census of 2010, the city population was 10,160. It is the county seat of...
, Faile got his start on local radio in 1946 with Snuffy Jenkins
Snuffy Jenkins
DeWitt "Snuffy" Jenkins was an American old time banjo player and an early proponent of the three-finger banjo style.-Biography:...
, Homer Sherrill and the Hired Hands on WIS in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. Faile also appeared on national radio in 1949 on "Philip Morris Night with Horace Heidt
Horace Heidt
Horace Heidt was an American pianist, big band leader, and radio and television personality. His band, Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights, toured vaudeville and performed on radio and television through the 1930s and 1940s.-Biography:Born in Alameda, California, Heidt attended Culver...
". In 1951, he joined Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith's Crackerjacks as a bass player and singer. Faile remained with Smith for eighteen years, and later had his own television show in the early 1970s, which aired on WBTV
WBTV
WBTV, channel 3 , is the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of two flagship stations of Raycom Media. WBTV's studios are located off Morehead Street just west of Uptown Charlotte, and its transmitter is located in north-central Gaston County, North Carolina...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. In 1995, he joined Curly Howard
Curly Howard (DJ)
Howard Sisk , known on the air as Curly Howard, was a disc jockey on several North Carolina radio stations....
's radio program on WKMT. He died of a heart attack in 1998.