The characters who worked at the Knoxville newspapers in the 1960s were not confined to the newsrooms. One of the more memorable—the powers-that-be would have said “notorious”—was a pressman named …
Sweet William Makes the Rounds
When Sweet William joined the East Knoxville cruising scene on Sunday nights, he would be, befitting a rock ‘n’ roll star, the center of attention. It was on one such …
Memories of Another Lost Fort Sanders Wanderer
Dean took up residence in a Volkswagen Beetle in the winter of 1967. The VW belonged to the boyfriend of one of Dean’s acquaintances, a girl he knew from the …
Of Blackberries and ‘Panters’
Miz Lusby lived on the street that ran the length of the ridge that defined the southern edge of Burlington, a block or so from our house. She was, according …
Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Indian Rock Grill
My brief stint as a rock ’n’ roll roadie began with a panic-induced call—and had a tenuous connection to Jerry Lee Lewis. It came about through Vance Walker, a high …