Tommy Faile...Brown Mountain Lights

[@shannonfisher5029]

I used to live in Lancaster South Carolina and was blessed and fortunate and honored to have been able to do a show with Tommy Faile. He was one of the sweetest people I've ever met and so talented! When I would hear him do Brown mountain light I would be scared to death, but you know? Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Rest in peace Tommy and thank you for giving me a chance. I had a 27-year career thanks to you! I miss you my friend

[@countvond233]

That's awesome. Tommy was a celebrity for us 70's kids in Charlotte. Saw him on tv plenty but never in person I'm sad to say. I live 30 minutes from Brown Mountain now.

[@domino4445]

I’m 47 and this was my favorite song when I was a child, I’ve never met anyone who’s heard of it - My dad used to play guitar & sing this in dive bars & BBQ’s with a very similar deep voice although his lyrics were slightly different (lonely old slave, deep in the valley below, etc). Great memories, thank you for posting.

[@willisholdenjr.9482]

Blessed to have seen it with my wife !!

[@mossmiller5501]

I’m a direct descendant of William Wiseman who was one of the first European settlers in the Linville area and who allegedly was the first white man to see the “Brown Mountain Lights.” This was passed down to “Fate” Wiseman who is mentioned in the song. Scotty was a third cousin. My parents (both from NC) can remember hearing this version of the song on Arthur Smith’s show growing up.

[@kissmyasta4961]

I was a small kid, when I used to hear Tommy Faile sing "The Brown Mountain Lights", on Arthur Smith and his Crackerjacks, on WBTV, Channel 3. It seemed like every week, someone would write in and ask for Tommy to sing it. I guess that is why, today I can still, sing the chorus, word for word. Back then, you only had 4 or 5 channels and there was a lot of local programing. Arthur Smith ever had a morning show, every day, called Carolinas Calling. I think that is where I heard Tommy Faile sing that song so much! Great to hear it again. Thanks Swamp Foxx!

[@eileensecrest2185]

Sheri Brown Same thing here, Sheri. It was popular with the audience and he always got requests to sing it. It was kind of scary and I loved it.

[@kissmyasta4961]

Eileen Secrest- I can remember running into the TV room, whenever I heard him start to sing it. As kids, when we would swing, we would sing songs. Brown Mountain lights was one of our favorites!

[@smokeymtgypsy]

that is where i heard it as well i grew up in the area

[@badasshiker9637]

Brother Ralph and Cousin Fudd, The Counselors of the Airways.

[@Crlpope]

@@badasshiker9637 That was the best psrt of the show! Letter from the Baits but nothing to do with the question!

[@oldskoold22]

They are real. I saw them with several folks as witness and young son. This song still scares son that's now 42 year old! I started singing this and he got in the car and hid when they were visible. Gods truth!

[@peachesb-georgia1125]

This is the version of the song I remember... heard it... when I was really young... never forgot it... thanks 👍...

[@judyc1202]

I grew up listening to them on our local TV channel so many memories

[@davesiler4064]

Lying right at the foot of GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, Linville is right in the heart of the blue ridge....beautiful, mysterious, surreal. This is the stuff of which legends are born. What a magnificent place to be!

[@kennethestes4741]

I just call it home 😂 I'm very lucky to do so

[@davesiler4064]

@@kennethestes4741 You are so very fortunate!!!!

[@ralphcoughenour3890]

@@kennethestes4741 I just got back to Fl. spent 10 days at out house in Elk Park NC. It was beautiful, the leaves were turning Red, Yellow, Gold, Love it there.

[@benlaw4647]

I grew up and have lived my 58 years within a couple miles of brown mountain, been all over that area as a youth hiking , hunting, fishing in wilson creek , linville river.....it is home....

[@davesiler4064]

@@benlaw4647 You are very lucky! L was born un NC, have visited Linville many times, was a friend of Doc Watson. This is as close to heaven as can be! THANK YOU! =

[@davidfloyd6270]

I considered Tommy to be a good friend. He could have been a big country star, which he deserved, but he was held back. I loved Tommy.

[@rhondaprice5202]

Thank you so much for posting this! As a teenager I actually saw those Brown Mountain lights. I remember going across an old one lane wooden bridge with what would be my husband later on. We went across this bridge and stopped below on the side of the road. Low and behold an hour or so later we saw them. Beautiful and mysterious bit spooky at the same time. I was skeptical of seeing them but an older person told us to go there and we would see them at a certain road and round abouts time. Never forget it.

[@ellieprice363]

Tommy had a wonderful resonant voice and great personality. He could have gone to the top in country music if that had been his goal.

[@kate3930]

Husband and I are from Kingsport, TN. You neighbor to the west. We are going to check them out tonight!

[@qtrhrse7]

I lived next door to Tommy ,Frances,and his twins for 7 years in the 50's and early 60's...Good times.

[@ralphcoughenour3890]

I remember so well watching on our old black and White TV with rabbit ears and tin foil,in East Tn. Watching The Arthur Smith Show from WBTV in Charlotte. and hearing Tommy Faile sing this song. I have actually been up there to see the Brown Mountain Light.

[@ralphcoughenour3890]

Yes the first time we went there on our way to my Grand Mothers in Laurinburg. You could see lights or whatever they were down on that slope. Many yrs later I took my wife and daughter there , but we didn't see anything. Hiway 181 Between Newland and Morganton NC.

[@lawsonsid]

What a fantastic trip down memory lane. WOW. WBTV, "Channel 3". 'The Brown Mountain Lights' ... Tommy Faile and Arthur Smith ... Thanks!

[@charliejones1828]

Tommy wrote (Phantom 309)

[@samuelpittman6055]

IM GOING BACK TO LIVE IN THE 50s!

[@garyharris3159]

All Those Years I Wondered Why I Have Seen Them I Am 69 Years Old Now I Wish I Could Tell This publicly To Share My Blesson

[@swampmarsh2792]

Good heavens, this man's voice is like butter.

[@jeancartrer6871]

Thank. You for memories

[@MORNINGWOODMILLS]

Going up to Wiseman's view tonight to see them for the first time hopefully!!!

[@kilocycles]

Written by "Skyland" Scotty Wiseman, a star of the National Barn Dance on WLS, Chicago in the thirties. Tommy had a regional hit on it in the late fifties as part of Arthur Smith's Crackerjacks. (This is a remake of the song, done in the late '90s.) Tommy joined the Hired Hands in Columbia, SC in 1945, just out of high school; he moved from there to join Arthur c. 1950, and spent about twenty years with the Crackerjacks. He had his own show in WBTV in Charlotte in the '70s.

[@mossmiller5501]

I'm a 3rd cousin of Scotty Wiseman. All kinds of family stories about the my ancestors being the first European settlers in that area and exploring those mountains and caverns for the first time in the 1700s. Cool stuff.

[@hippiechick1111]

From the area and just came across this 45 RPM! Cataloging aprox 400 old 45s. Fun memories. Hate to see all this music go to the dumpster. Side note - there are definitely strange things going on in our forests! God Bless.

[@dennislaws9561]

I grew up a Big fan of Tommy, I watched him on the great Arthur Smith show.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

+Dennis Laws 2nd that!

[@robertasherbraner4337]

Carolina Calling! Arthur Smith and his Crackerjacks, on WBTV, Channel 3. Carolina in the morning.

[@tonyd3266]

if you ever see this light you will not forget it.

[@alagogo]

oh my childhood ! where has it gone :( :(

[@mpoplin1958]

When I was about 8 dad carried me to Coleman Barringer's for a hair cut. (Coleman was Lamar's dad and lived and had a shop between Aquadale and Cottonville). He had an old reel to reel player going with this song on it, I think it was my first positive experience with Bluegrass!!

[@danaventura5998]

I have only heard Tony Rice's version of this song. This one is good too. I looked this up after watching an episode of the X-Files that referenced this phenomenon.

[@Swampfox95]

Vicky, I grew up across the street from Tommy's parents in Lancaster, SC. Served on a arts committee with Tommy for several years after growing up. Knew Arthur well, met Ralph, but did not know Sonny.

[@abnercamp5635]

I met Tommy Faile and Fred Kirby when I was a child.

[@georgejones897]

+Swamp Foxx My daddy met him in Monroe, NC he was at the furniture store on air. and he gave daddy a signed picture.

[@ronkopald]

So this where Tony Rice got this nugget... So great.

[@fredpete90]

Our Scout Troop was on his television show about 71or 72.

[@lindaarrington9397]

Ive looked high and low for this song Ive sung it for years by didnt know the name.. nor who sang it. Ty so very much for posting this for me Wish there was a voice like his now a days...

[@davidfloyd6270]

None like it

[@garyharris3159]

The Man At The Old Country Store We Stopped At Said Once Every 100 Hundred Years Someone Gets To See Them The Way I Saw Them I Was Asking Him What Those Lights Were He Said Young Man Tell Me What You Saw I Told Him It Might Be A Place Where Angles Come And Go This Is True Story

[@EchoByrnes]

im going to wisemans view for my birthday

[@jcray2319]

Tommy played Lead Guitar on Daddys Song EXTRA EXTRA BY Country singer Gary Ray .

[@anitadavideduo]

Great!!

[@garygraham6020]

Would love to find the lyrics and chording for this. Have hunted for years.

[@anitaplemmons9671]

I've seen it

[@Robberbarron27]

Wendigoon brought me here.

[@garyharris3159]

I Have Seen Theses Lights when I Was 12 Years Old There As True As Can Be I Was Right Under The Brown Mountain Lights Going Dear Hunting Riding In The Back Seat Of A Car Looking up Tree Tops Thare We're Theses Lights I thought Thare Are No Lighted Out Here What Could They Be It Reminded Me Of A Honey Bee Hive Coming And Going I Keep This In Me Till Now Its Time For Me To Come Forth As A Witness

[@Swampfox95]

You are quite welcome.

[@garyharris3159]

I Learned This Song Later In Life From Oscar Smith

[@Noone-rt6pw]

It'd be interesting, but I'd want someone else or myself where the lights are supposed to be just to rule out tricks.