Alan’s Lifepan
After high school, I enrolled at Morris Harvey College in Charleston, supposedly to major in business administration. At about the same time I joined the 425th U.S. Army Reserve Band, stationed at South Charleston, West Virginia. I stayed in the military reserves for 10 years: before, during and after the Korean Conflict. That group was … Read more
Alan Farley
Alan was born in the coal town of Winding Gulf, WV on September 1, 1931. The Farley family moved to South Charleston, WV in 1935. Alan earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) in 1953, a Master of Music & Music Education from the Teachers College at Columbia University in 1959, … Read more
Other Recordings (1965)
Alan made a recording in 1965 of himself singing and playing guitar, and it included not only his own compositions but these other songs written by others.
OPUS – 1956-1968
The same year that I started as band director at SAHS and wrote the alma mater — 1955-56 — I was on a roll, and began writing lyrics to fight songs. I wrote the words “Go Red Dragons, go all the way” which I understand is still being sung at SAHS athletic events. In January … Read more