Subscribe now

The band behind Ryan

Frankly, I don’t get it. It is, indeed a fact that Doug Clark’s Jan. 17 column about Charlie Ryan and his “Hot Rod Lincoln” song and car is but one of many stories written about this local legend.

What I do not understand is why are not the local musicians who worked with Charlie ever given the credit they so richly deserve? It surely is a fact that had it not been for Charlie’s excellent local band, which, among others, consisted of my brother-in-law Ron Livingston, and his brother Neil, the song in all likelihood would never have caught the attention of other more well-known musicians. Charlie himself often acknowledged this simple fact.

Incidentally, Ron, who is now “illegally blind,” as he jokingly describes himself, and Neil still can play the song with more than a little ability and competence.

So now you know the too-seldom-written rest of the story.

Ken Campbell

Deer Park

Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
editor@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-3815
Phone
(509) 459-5430

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy