Hillbilly 2/4

Part 40: Fake ASCAP Stationary

See if you notice anything about this letter, below. Take your time.

Part 36: My Mother, Art, Social Security Cards

Around the time my father met my mother in 1962, his "creative identity factory" was in full force.

Part 34: Riley “Cooper” and Morris Levy, Roulette Records

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: Short Blog on Riley's life in 1958

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 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 27: Lou Levy, Harry Belafonte, Wife Number Four

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" and Riley Sells Songs...

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

Part 25: Riley's Son, My Half-Brother, Richard Shepard

Richard told me that the night of his birth at the Doctor’s Hospital in Manhattan, Riley had made a bet that Truman would win the Presidency

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.