Riley Shepard’s Promise | Stacya Silverman

Part 35: Riley's Revolving Door

When I saw this drawing in my late father's box of personal mementos, I was stunned. How on earth did Riley get his wife to pose for this?

Part 34: Riley's Roulette

Morris Levy was described by AllMusic as "a notorious crook who swindled artists out of their owed royalties."

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 32: No Fireworks.

I know he missed his kids, and that my father had no idea how to stay in touch with them once his relationship with his exes was off

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 29: The Cat and The Ashes

*The role of Jo's cat in this blog will be played by Sarah Harlett's cat, Alfie... Alfie is a member of SAG/AFTRA and Equity.

Part 28: Half-Sister, Full Blog. A History, by Leslie Sullivan.

This is a special guest post, written by my half-sister, Leslie. Below is a photo Leslie shared today, one I'd never seen. Jo (brunette...

Part 27: When Harry Met Riley

Leslie repeated a story her mother told, that Harry Belafonte had come to their apartment for dinner, and sang to her when she was a baby.

Part 26: "Here Comes Peter Cottontail."

Why did my father work so hard to get respect, fair treatment, and equal pay for hillbilly performers, only to squander his own money?