Hillbilly Music

Part 89: "He's a Dishonest Slob," she wrote

When we were living in Hollywood, Jan and Riley were walking down Vine Street one day when a man came out of the shadows and followed...

Part 82: Riley Shepard's Top Songs

Stolen songs and strange behavior, Riley Shepard fits right in.

Part 61: Riley's Diner, Plus The Time He Wanted Me To Pretend I Was His Receptionist

Today is Sunday, January 17, 2021. Trump has been impeached for inciting an insurrection. The 45th president has been quiet, many of his...

Part 59: Riley Often Claimed He Wrote The Song "Blue Christmas."

When I was a little girl, my father told me that he wrote the song "Blue Christmas". I'm pretty sure the first time he told me that is when

Part 39: Memory: Person, Woman, Man, Bird, Tailpipes.

Marion's biological mother basically said to her, "No, that's not him." The thing is, Marion and I both had our DNA tested.

Part 37: Jan and Riley

Once, when they were in a group of people, Riley said, "Remember when we met Kris Kristofferson?" Everyone turned to look at Jan.

Part 33: Burgess Meredith and The Gold Rush

I have no idea if he and Burgess Meredith and Gary Romero made a dime off this album. Or The Quartones, for that matter.

Part 31: Outlaws in the Wild Wild West

In the late 1950s, something went terribly wrong for Riley. So wrong that he dragged his wife (kicking and screaming) out of NY.

Part 30: When Norma Was Nineteen

I found a page of my father's journal, and I wasn't sure what to make of it. I read it over and over. I remember our talks about her.

Part 24: Living the Life of Riley

Victor Shepard had stories to tell. He loved to gossip. "Your father was the horniest man I've ever met," Victor said.