Skip to main content

A Conway Collector's Dream Come True

Over the July 4th weekend I experienced a Conway collector's dream come true, and I still have to pinch myself to believe it really happened.

It all started on Saturday afternoon when I saw a post on Facebook from someone in Hendersonville, TN, selling one of the elusive replica "CT" necklaces that was sold at Twitty City. The price was rather high so I messaged the seller to ask if they were accepting offers. The lady politely declined, explaining the necklace was part of an estate sale in the coming week, but if anything was left over following the sale they might consider an offer. She also said they had many more souvenir items. 

I started browsing through her timeline and found a post all about the estate sale she was overseeing, and sure enough, there was a big table full of Conway collectibles! Everything already had price tags attached so I messaged her again and asked if it would be possible to have more pictures sent to me so I could pick some things out, and she said she would be happy to after the holiday.

Monday afternoon I started receiving pictures of items that really surprised me and I knew this had to be more than the estate sale of a fan, so I asked if I could call her. We spent nearly an hour on the phone as she sent dozens of photos and over the course of our conversation she said this was the estate of someone who had worked for Conway, explaining why there were so many rare and unusual items. Interesting! 

I ended up buying much of what she showed me, and later that evening I received more photos and bought yet some more! By this time I had become even more curious and decided to google the address of the estate sale. It all made sense when I immediately recognized the name...this was the estate of Conway's longtime business manager Hugh Carden!!!


Tuesday morning we spoke on the phone again to wrap things up - I bought even more - and on Thursday I received an 11 pound box of Conway treasures. It took me several days to sort through everything, and I still haven't inspected it all thoroughly. I'm taking it slowly because I know I'm likely to never hit such a jackpot ever again.

The pictures throughout this post show everything I added to my collection from the estate sale, running the gamut of Conway history. Believe it or not, I did leave plenty for other shoppers, either because it was something I already had or out of my budget. (Although admittedly "Conway" and "budget" are two words I seldom use in the same sentence.)

I can't even begin to explain what it means to me to now own so many things from someone who was so close to Conway. As a collector this was an experience I will never forget. I'm incredibly thankful I took the time to inquire about the "CT" necklace that day because if I hadn't I never would've found out about the estate sale and uncovered so many amazing treasures. 

Stay tuned for a closer look at some of these items in the coming weeks and months!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Last Date, From Instrumental to #1 Country Hit

After leaving Elvis Presley's band, pianist Floyd Cramer found work in Nashville as a studio musician. He appeared on many of the records that produced "The Nashville Sound," and eventually stepped out of the shadows as a solo performer, recording a number of instrumental singles and albums. 1960's  Last Date became the most popular, named because of its melancholy nature. Conway was performing in Canada when he heard Last Date for the first time, and within a few weeks he had written his own lyrics for it. With no country music connections at the time, he tucked it away in a box with other country songs he had written. Legendary songwriter Boudleaux Bryant also composed lyrics to the melody, resulting in My Last Date (With You) , which went on to become a big hit for Skeeter Davis.  Conway probably believed his version of the song would never see the light of day, but as luck would have it Floyd Cramer played the piano at Conway's next rock & roll session i...
2 comments
Read more

A New Home for Old Treasures

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to purchase some items from the collection of a fan that recently passed away. It seems like this is happening more and more often as his "first generation" fans are leaving us. It's sad but I'm also so happy to see loved ones selling these collectibles as opposed to just throwing them away. It's a way for those of us too young to have witnessed much of his career firsthand to live vicariously though another fan's treasures.  This particular seller had some big ticket items that aren't really what I'm focused on right now and many smaller items that I already have, but this is what I ended up adding to my collection... Clock Twitty City Postcard   Sewing Kit   Fan Club Party Pass Summer 1993 Jim Stafford Theatre Brochure - Just last month I wrote about how the site of Conway's last concert is soon to be demolished. This particular pamphlet would've been printed shortly after the fire at Gilley's tha...
Post a Comment
Read more

10 More Conway Albums Digitally Reissued

Ten Conway albums have been digitally reissued by Universal Music Group over the past week, all MCA titles from 1975-1987.  With the exception of Borderline , which was released on CD in 1987, and Mr. T , which was repackaged by MCA Special Products as Red Neckin' Love Makin' Night , the other 8 titles have been out of circulation since their original release on vinyl and cassette. The High Priest of Country Music  is a favorite of many because it includes the worldwide smash  Don't Cry Joni , and Cross Winds , seen as a remarkable turning point in Conway's career, features 3 #1 singles, Don't Take It Away , I May Never Get To Heaven , and Happy Birthday Darlin' .  Now and Then is notable in that it includes re-recordings of five of his biggest rock singles from the late '50s, and  Heart & Soul is proof of why Conway is called the King of Country Soul. UMG and Conway's estate are reissuing 10 albums per year until his entire discography is restored ...
Post a Comment
Read more