Family and friends of Charlie "Peanut" Faircloth will celebrate his 81st birthday Sunday at the Carpenter's Cowboy Church at 11:30 a.m.
"Peanut" has been in the field of entertainment almost all his life. An early fan of country music, "Peanut" created performing bands to back up his daily country music radio shows in Southern Georgia. He hosted early morning radio shows in that area and then took his band to radio remotes to perform for his clients. This is how he was introduced to little Brenda Lee. Her mother was a "Peanaut" Faircloth fan and brought Brenda to one of "Peanut's" shows. She introduced her child, Brenda Lee. "Peanut" began having her sing in his band when they did remote broadcasts or wherever they performed.
He hosted a "Nashville Show" featuring Red Foley and decided he was going to introduce Brenda Lee to Red Foley. Just as his band was to do the last numbers, before introducing Red Foley, he brought Brenda Lee to the forefront and had her sing. Red Foley immediately took action to bring Brenda Lee to Nashville. Brenda Lee acknowledges his art in her successful career even today.
"Peanut" scored a top-ten hit in the fifties with a song; "I'll Sail My Ship Alone." He was the first country music show host to go nationwide on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
He has worked with many performers. He remembers when the name Johnny Cash was listed at the bottom of a gig he did in Southern Georgia, but he also remembers a last minute performer put in under Johnny Cash's name. That name was Elvis Presley.
He frequently tells the story of his birth as it was related to him later. He was born so very small that his mother's mid-wife cleaned him up, lined a shoe box, put him in it, covered him up and placed warm bricks around the shoe box to warm him and keep him alive. While he never grew even near tall as an adult and while polio attempted to do him in, he overcame all those adversities.
He is what his peers term him; the quintessential performer. He sings, he does comedy, he plays drums. The favorite among his fans is when he plays his plunger. He has lived most of his life in Chattanooga. For many years, he provided the historic commentary of the region along the waterway of the Tennessee River on daily rides in Chattanooga on the river boat. Though he now is on oxygen all the time, he still performs. He was inducted into the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame.
All his friends are invited to attend the Sunday service and are further invited to share a word of greeting with "Peanut" and tell their favorite story about him. Pastor Eugene Coleman will host the worship service. Friends wishing to speak are directed to call Mrs. Charley (Ruthie) Chambers, at (706) 891-6500 to be recognized for that greeting.
The Carpenter's Cowboy Church shares worship facilities with Grace Works Church, located inside the old East Gate Mall on the Tuesday Morning side and side entrance to the mall. Follow the signs to Grace Works Church inside the mall. All guests are invited to stay after the service for dinner and birthday celebration.