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I went on over to Cafe Press and looked Ray Charles Istre up and followed the trail. Skipping around in his list of news articles opened my eyes some more. Being one that avoids news like an ostrich with my head in the sand trying to stay in a false sense of peace, that was a trip. I feel this book of his is timely. The facade of beautiful people, perfect lives, etc., etc., needs to be peeled away and the reality revealed. So what if Jesus was not beautiful on the outside, he was where it counted. Just as so many of the cast-aside people of this world are. Bravo to you Ray Charles Istre! I wish you well with your book! Bravo to you Les for once again bringing two very interesting people to us to keep us thinking and learning.
Michele
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You can add Kid Rock's Rock and Roll Jesus, the website Hollywood Jesus, and the film Wrong Eyed Jesus. All the same a very interesting article. If life were fair, Ugly Jesus would be a best seller and Scene4 would be on news stands and magazine racks everywhere.
T.J. McIntosh
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Actually, Ray Istre comes late to the notion of a less-than-photogenic Jesus. The BBC did a piece five years or so ago wherein they reconstructed a possible Jesus from many different visual sources and came up with a short, solid, swarthy man. It raised much uproar about the "proper" way to depict Jesus -- offenses and umbrage were taken. Take a look yourself: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1243339.stm
Michael Bettencourt
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What do you mean no stinking badges? And I was all ready to go get a fake mustache, cause I can make those facial expressions...even tho I'm a GIRL, I figure I could be one of the MOST WAYWARD of Western Sons of Warren Oates..really Les, no girls in your club? You really think you could get away with that in today's world? I bet you are REALLY glad you decided against it now! I could fake tamborine playing in a band if ....if I drank enough.
I enjoyed the article Les, Warren Oates was one sexy dude.
Michele
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I was a filmmaker who made Nashville Sound and who found Herbie Howell and who filmed him. What a beautiful moment in time and what a beautiful guy. I lost touch with him unfortunately and cannot answer your query regarding what ever happened to him. Nashville was a hard place back then and those recording execs were tough guys. We got them to pay attention. We never heard the results.
David Hoffman (www.thehoffmancollection.com www.Sagas.com)

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Nice work Les. I remember this guy and did not notice that he was a bad actor, which might be saying that he was a great character actor. What is it that gets the cover of People Magazine? Maybe its the vengance of the great unknown actors to have the "pretty" and "Studly" get distracted by the media hounds?
Hummm...
Ray Istre
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When I first read your title and saw it was a political article, the thought that popped into my mind was the title of a song of protest singer/songwriter Sebastian Agnello's. The Goofs Are Back In Town. Lyrics that sing of "How'de we ever get into this mess, you voted em in, How do we ever get out of this mess, Vote Em OUT! " Thinking back on the early days of Revolution, calling on Thomas Paine's infamous words about George.."Whether the world will be puzzled to decide whether you are an apostate or an imposter, whether you have abandoned good principles or whether you ever had any" I wondered which George he was really speaking of, Washington or Bush, for the two share the same ineffectiveness in battle which prompted Mr. Paine to make such a strong critical statement. Taking a look at the choices we will have put before us I call on another statement of his, "THESE ARE The Times That Try Men's Souls!" trying to decide on a decent candidate to vote for! I so long for independents worthy of our vote. Les, thank you for another fine article, but I have a hard time relating politics to humor. Too often they make us look like the clowns.

Michele

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It must bring great satisfaction to criticize for the purpose of bringing attention to yourself. The reason you haven't heard anything about me in the news in equal time is because 1. I possess an iQ of over 200 and the Bilderberg, Trilateral, and Asiatic Williamsburg Group have blacklisted me from the media. They are the ones who are scared of any number of super-intelligent people taking control of a country like America, and turning it into a true and sincere Utopia. These people who have trillions of dollars behind them have made slaves of everyone on this Planet. What all people should be doing now is unanimously supporting and recognizing me as the one true master of Freedom, Justice, and Liberty for all. You may think that this is not possible, but you are dead WRONG. Anything is possible when it has the highest possible elements of Good behind it, no matter what intelligent level the people are at. Like a famous Doctor Suess book said "Horton the elephant said, A Person is a Person no matter how small."

HRM Caesar St. Augustine de Buonaparte Emperor

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Enjoyed the article, Les.
Michele Dowell

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I first met Herbie Howell when I was 15 years old and He was 13 , here in Augusta. We began to learn to play Guitar together then. He was known as Emory Howell then. We also called him "Em".That was in 1957. Now he goes by Herb Howell. I am Glad to say he is still living in Augusta - but alone. He doesn't play anymore. His Mom just passed away about 3 months ago. Mrs Kay Howell. I saw him just today. My wife Bonnie and I went by to see him. Today is March 28, 2008. I have shown him the "Nashville Sound" several times. First on a 16mm print I had. Then transferred it to VHS for him and his children, etc. After that Film in 1969 he continued to play and sing in clubs, special events etc. He is very talented. But he has given up on a career. I have a photo of him and me taken today, if you would want it sent via email let me know. I might mention also he was promised a fee for the film but the film Company skipped Nashville before he got paid. This type of thing happens too often. Thanks for your interest in Herbie.
Ray Hutto
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Thanks for writing that. We just rented the film "The Nashville Sound" and were also wondering about the eventual fate of Herbie. Has feedback from your article yielded any new info? We'd be curious to know.
NH
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Hi Ray, Thanks for posting an update on Herbie. I have a friend in Nashville and I sent him a copy of the Nashville Sound DVD. He said he called Shelby Singleton and asked him if he remembers Herbie. He said several people have asked him about Herbie but he doesn't remember him at all. Which makes me sad. Please e-mail me the photo of you and Herbie. Tell Herbie he has fans out there who wish he had gotten the contract back in 1969, we would love to have heard a record by him. Thank you, Susan-San Francisco-macarthurp@yahoo.com