Ghosts of Country Music: Tales of Haunted Honky Tonks & Legendary Spectres

by Matthew L. Swayne

Overview

Strum a Spooky Banjo, Tip that Ten-Gallon Hat, and Meet Country Music’s Greatest Ghosts

Jam out to this impressive compilation of haunted hot spots, creepy curses, and celebrity spirits of country and western music. Presenting the paranormal legacy behind one of America’s oldest and most popular genres, Ghosts of Country Music takes a captivating, in-depth look at legendary musicians and the places where they perform . . . even after death.

Experience true stories of larger-than-life stars—including Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and Johnny Cash—haunting their favorite homes and stages. Step inside the Music City Center, the Apollo Civic Theatre, Bobby Mackey’s Music World, and other iconic venues where ghosts love to roam. Explore the numerous recording studios, record shops, and radio stations that attract paranormal activity. This fascinating book will thrill you with much more than just a catchy tune.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738748634
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	02/08/2017
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Matthew L. Swayne (State College, PA) is a journalist who currently works as a research writer at Penn State. He has also worked on writing projects with Paranormal State's Eilfie Music. Matthew is the author of five books, including Haunted World War II.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction . . . 1

Section 1: The Ghosts of Country Musicians . . . 7
Chapter 1: Hank Williams: The Lonesome Traveler’s Haunted Trail . . . 9 Nashville / 11
Montgomery / 13
Knoxville, Tennessee / 18
Oak Hill, West Virginia / 20
Hank, the Guardian Honky-Tonk Angel / 21
Notes from Hank’s Spirit / 24
Final Thoughts / 25

Chapter 2: Johnny Cash: The Man in Black’s Colorful Paranormal Legacy . . . 27
Telekinetic Cash / 32
Johnny’s Paranormal Partnership: Johnny Cash, Merle Kilgore, and Johnny Horton / 34

Chapter 3: Roy Acuff: The King of Country Music Won’t Abdicate His Musical Throne . . . 41
More Acuff Hauntings / 44

Chapter 4: Patsy Cline: Haunting Voice, Haunted Life . . . 47
Dream Home’s Restless Spirit / 49
More Patsy Hauntings / 52

Chapter 5: Loretta Lynn: The Coal Miner’s Daughter’s Rich Supernatural Vein . . .55
A Coal Miner’s Haunter? / 60

Chapter 6: Elvis Presley: Hound-Dogged by Hauntings . . . 65
The Graves of Graceland / 66
Elvis’s Other Haunts / 70
Big E in the Big Easy / 72

Chapter 7: Mindy McCready: Of Angels, Demons, Ghosts, and Curses . . . 75

Chapter 8: J. Bernard Ricks: Country Music’s Major Medium . . . 81

Section 2: Haunted Country Places . . . 87
Chapter 9: Haunted Concert Venues and Music Halls . . . 89
The Ryman Auditorium: The Granddaddy of All Haunted Halls / 89
Star Ghosts 93
Opryland: New Facilities, “Ole” Spirits / 95
The Music City Center: Branson, Missouri / 98
Apollo Civic Theatre: Fright at the Apollo / 100
Shreveport Municipal Auditorium: A Hayride Into the Paranormal / 103
Memorial Hall: Memories Aren’t the Only Things That Live On / 106
The Bijou: Boo at the Bijou / 108
Paramount Art Center: Achy Breaky Haunt / 111
Well Thanks, Joe 114

Chapter 10: Country Spirits: Bars, Clubs, Taverns, and Honky-Tonks . . . 117
Bobby Mackey’s Music World: One Haunted Honky-Tonk / 118
The Haunting Continues 124
A Toast to Nashville’s Ghosts: Music City’s Haunted Bars and Clubs / 127
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge 127
Flying Saucer 130
Hermitage Cafe 132
The Museum Club: The Supernatural on Display 133
You Only Need to Fear the Living. Really? 137

Chapter 11: Supernatural Studios and Record Company Headquarters . . . 139
Capitol Records: Spectre Check on Mic One / 140
RCA Studios: Does It Stand for Really Crazy Activity? / 142
Bennett House (Bagbey House): From Civil War Spirits to Studio Spirits / 144

Chapter 12: Record Shops That Are Paranormal Hot Spots . . . 149
Ernest Tubb Record Shop / 150
Lawrence Record Shop / 151

Chapter 13: Freaky Frequencies: Ghosts of Country Radio Stations . . . 155
KMCM Radio Station: Tuning In to Spooks / 156
Fresh Country 103.1: A Tall Tale or a Tallahassee Terror? / 160

Chapter 14: Haunted Country Hotels . . . 163
Big Cedar Lodge: Big Spirits in Big Cedar Lodge / 164
The Swimsuit Satanist 166
Walking Horse Hotel: The Haunting of Room 203 / 167
Believe or Else 171
Calling in the Investigators 172
Full-Bodied Apparition 174
The Stockyards Hotel: Outlaws and Outlaw Country Add Up to Outrageous Hauntings / 175
Spooky Quake 176
Bonnie and Clyde Suite 178
Night Life and Death in Fort Worth 178
Maison de Ville: Bigger Country Fan in the Big Easy / 178

Section 3: Miscellaneous Haunted Country Places . . . 183

Chapter 15: Ozark Spook Lights: Branson’s Big Lights . . . 185

Chapter 16: Brown Mountain Lights: Songs Pay Tribute to the Mountain’s Wandering Spirit . . . 191

Chapter 17: Fiddler’s Rock: You Have to Have a Ghostly Fiddle Player in the Band . . . 195

Chapter 18: Folsom Prison: Prisoners Eternally Singing the Blues . . . 199

Chapter 19: Preston Castle: The Reformatory Ghost Story . . . 203

Chapter 20: Witch Dance and Lyric Theater: Elvis’s Hometown Haunts . . . 207

Chapter 21: Haunted Jukeboxes: Just Press B-Scared . . . 211
Bobby Mackey’s and the Anniversary Waltz Mystery: Wilder, Kentucky / 212
Gathering Spot for the Supernatural 213
Country House: Clarendon Hills, Illinois / 214
Locals Bar and Restaurant: Pawnee, Illinois / 216
Earnestine & Hazel’s: Memphis, Tennessee / 217
Why Are Jukeboxes Haunted? / 218

Chapter 22: Haunted Tour Bus: Whisperin’ Bill Anderson Rides with the Moanin’ Ghost . . . 221

Epilogue: Musical Spirits and the Ultimate Question . . . 225

Notes and Resources . . . 231