Friday, January 3, 2014
Ronnie Hawkins was born and raised in Huntsville and also lived in Fayetteville. He went on to earn acclaim as a rockabilly artist, finding fans internationally but particularly in Canada. He recruited beloved Arkansas native Levon Helm and a group of Canadian musicians for his backing band, The Hawks.
That group played many times in Fayetteville. When band tensions grew, The Hawks split away, soon to be called Levon and The Hawks. Eventually, that group of musicians would serve as backing musicians for Bob Dylan and took on the name they were always called - Bob Dylan and The Band, becoming just The Band when Dylan ceased playing with them. The Band earned underground fame and critical acclaim before disbanding.
Fort Smith carried a reputation as a tough town in the 19th century. It was earned.
Federal marshals often dragged back bad guys from the Indian Territories to face justice. That’ one of the storylines in “True Grit,” which appeared first in book form courtesy of Arkansas author Charles Portis. Twice made into a major motion picture, the story uses Fort Smith as a backdrop for many important scenes.
Country singer Joe Nichols grew up in Rogers. He moved to Nashville, Tenn., country music’s capital in the late 1990s but it wasn’t until 2003 that he landed his first No. 1 country hit. Nichols has recorded three other country No. 1’s, including “Sunny and 75” and “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.”4. Bill and Hillary Clinton
The aspiring politician Bill Clinton and his bride-to-be Hillary Rodham were both University of Arkansas law professors when they married each other in a small house near the university. The home has since been converted into the Clinton House Museum and is located on Clinton Drive in Fayetteville.
NBA basketball player Ronnie Brewer Jr. grew up in Fayetteville. He played in front of local crowds for some time, first for Fayetteville High School and then for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
He was selected 14th overall in the 2006 NBA draft. He’s since played for several teams in the professional basketball league, including the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks.
He currently plays for the Houston Rockets, although in a limited role.
Lucinda Williams did not grow up in Fayetteville. But her father, the noted poet Miller Williams, welcomed her into his home many times over the years. Some of the notable songwriter’s formative days were spent in this town, and some of her first gigs were on Dickson Street. Williams has recorded 10 studio albums over the years and received critical acclaim for many.
World-class track athlete Wallace Spearmon was raised in Fayetteville. He competed for both Fayetteville HighSchool and the University of Arkansas. He’s since earned a spot on the U.S. Track and Field team. He holds the seventh-fastest time ever posted in the 200 meter race.
Tony Award-nominated director Jason Moore was born in Fayetteville. He found Broadway success with his direction of “Steel Magnolias,” “Avenue Q” and “Shrek the Musical.” More recently, he’s been working in film. He directed the singing competition movie “Pitch Perfect,” which debuted in 2012. Moore is currently at work on a movie based on the comic series “Archie.”
Whats Up, Pages 11 on 01/03/2014