#68: The Legacy of Freddy Powers and The Spree of '83 with Catherine Powers and Jake Brown
Some people just have great stories. For Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Freddy Powers, he could barely go a day without something memorable happening. Alongside his widow Catherine Powers and music biographer Jake Brown, the late musician is the driving force behind the new book, The Spree of 83: The Life and Times of Freddy Powers.
This episode gives us a glimpse inside that book—and then some. From Freddy’s legendary comedic personality to his penchant for writing hit songs, Catherine and Jake go back and forth sharing stories.
We’re covering topics like headlining casinos, building an airplane to hunt for fish and sunbathing women with Merle Haggard, living on Willie Nelson’s golf course, the funeral that turned into a roast, and so much more. Whether you’re a country music fan or not, this is a terrific one.
Highlights of our conversation include:
How The Spree of ‘83 got started, how Catherine and Jake ended up finishing it, and how Freddy was the first musician to introduce Dixieland jazz into country music. (4:12)
The crazy stories of Freddy and his bandmates promoting his shows in Las Vegas. (9:51)
What it means to have the “power of the pen.” Plus, a story from Freddy and Catherine’s honeymoon. (11:44)
The popular art of picking and how it led to a musical moment of fate with Merle Haggard. (14:54)
An overview of Freddy’s songwriting process and exploring some of the backstories and meanings behind his songs. (17:34)
How Freddy was the problem solver of the group — and also the funniest — and the lasting friendship he had with Merle Haggard. (24:15)
Why Freddy’s sense of humor about his Parkinson’s Disease helped make everyone in the room more comfortable and at ease. (27:20)
The story of Freddy building his own airplane on Merle’s dock and learning how to fly — and how it was also a great way to pick up women. (31:00)
The picking parties a ton of big-name musicians participate in during SXSW in Austin and on New Year’s Day, including a guest appearance by Matthew McConaughey one year. (36:15)
A music theory breakdown of the Freddy Powers chords and his influence as a guitar player, including high praise from Willie Nelson. (42:13)
Catherine and Freddy’s involvement with the Nevada Special Olympics. (49:37)
How Catherine was able to track down so many musicians and other important folks for the oral history of this book and the roasting of Freddy Powers at his funeral. (51:09)
The long-lasting impact of Freddy Powers and the wide variety of people he inspired. (56:50)
Some of the best Freddy Powers songs for you to listen to. (1:02:15)
Where to find Freddy Powers:
Grab a copy of The Spree of 83: The Life and Times of Freddy Powers for even more terrific stories.
Be sure to check out the soundtrack on Spotify, too.
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