In the works now is I FOUGHT THE LAW, the authorized biography of ill-fated 1960’s Texas music legend Bobby Fuller. Fuller biographer Miriam Linna, whose lengthy 1988 Kicks magazine biography sought to unravel persistent misinformation that had plagued the music history of the Bobby Fuller Four, has teamed up with Bobby’s brother Randy to write the definitive Bobby Fuller bio. Randy opens up for the first time to tell of growing up with Bobby– from their idyllic childhood days in Texas, New Mexico, and Utah, to their teen-age years in the burgeoning El Paso music scene, to the Hollywood helter skelter that would claim Bobby’s life at the age of twenty-three. His death remains a mystery, with much conjecture spawned by media zealots.

Bobby Fuller was mad about all aspects of music—writing, performing, recording, marketing. He first appeared on record in 1958, at the age of fifteen. The experience fueled his ambitions; while he was still in his teens, he started his own band with his brother Randy, built a home studio, and started his own record company. By the time he was 21, he had his own teen club in El Paso, with his band, the Fanatics as the house band. The club closed in ’64, and the decision was made to make a go with the band in Los Angeles. They were soon recording for the Mustang label as the Bobby Fuller Four. Enormously popular locally, the group was to land two singles in the Billboard charts- Let Her Dance in 1965, and the iconic I Fought The Law in 1966.

I FOUGHT THE LAW will uncover the many factors that lead to Bobby’s shocking death on July 18, 1966, detailing and dispelling the myths that have surrounded that event.

In an effort to leave no stone unturned, the authors ask anyone with additional information regarding the final American tour of the Bobby Fuller Four, business and professional dealings with Bobby, or with information or documents of any sort, to contact the authors at their editorial email number below.

From a Texas music perspective, the authors would also like to hear from artists and musicians who worked for and with Bobby during the El Paso days, who may not yet been interviewed. Confidentiality is a given.

Miriam Linna has written extensively about Bobby Fuller, particularly for several collections of his recordings which appear on New York’s Norton Records label. She is co-founder, with her husband Billy Miller, of Kicks magazine and Norton Records. Miriam collects and catalogs true crime magazines, books and pulps, and edits Bad Seed, a compendium of teen-age crime in pop culture, 1949-1959. She has written about music and crime since 1975. Her articles have appeared in several publications including Crime Beat, the Guardian, Spin, Seventeen, and most recently, Loops Journal.

Randy Fuller is Bobby Fuller’s brother and band mate. Only two years apart in age, they were often mistaken for twins as young children. As bass player for the Bobby Fuller Four, and the El Paso Fanatics before that, Randy and Bobby were inseparable. The gruesome death of his brother sent Randy into a tailspin from which it would take him years to recover. He has rarely given interviews, and only now opens up to reveal the true story of the short life and strange death of Bobby Fuller.

Contact the authors:
Miriam’s email: nortonrec@aol.com
Bio blog: http://www.bobbyfullerbio.blogspot.com

I Fought The Law / You Made Me Cry / Nervous Breakdown / Wolfman / Jenny Lee (Do The Jerk WIth Me) / Nancy Jean / Summertime Blues / Somethin’ Else / Thunder / A New Shade Of Blue / New Orleans/Little Bitty Pretty One / Only For You / Wine Wine WIne / You Kiss Me / Skag / Let Her Dance / Saturday Night / She’s My Girl / Pretty Girls Everywhere / Faraway / Pamela / The Fanatic / Do You Wanna Dance / Nervous Breakdown / Nancy Jean / California Sun

“This is the first book that attempts to document the musical career of Bobby Fuller and Mustang Records. After 40 years, the facts are finally presented in a cohesive form, based primarily on many firsthand recollections from those involved. Archival and fresh interviews have been used to piece together the story of the musical career of Bobby Fuller and also that of Mustang Records, together with its various offshoots such as Bronco, Selma and Scarlet.

The story begins in El Paso, Texas and ends tragically in Hollywood, California with Bobby Fuller’s murder by person or persons unknown.

Together with an exhaustive look at Fuller’s recording career, in particular the Bobby Fuller Four, the events surrounding his murder are dissected and the various theories pertaining to why he was murdered and who was responsible are also investigated.

The book comprises seven chapters, five appendices, a thorough index of 13 pages, 21 pages of B&W photos and graphics, and 12 full colour photo pages. The appendices include a complete Bobby Fuller discography and a Mustang Records discography, as well as 21 pages of notes.

It is hoped that this book will provoke a more thorough investigation into the death of Bobby Fuller. It is long overdue.”

Available from CMusic Books: www.garyusher.com/cmusic

“I just want to say that you’ve done a helluva job! I want to thank you for doing it!” – RANDY FULLER

“I just want to tell you that I think this book is really cool! I do admire your research because it’s really good… the way you’ve laid it out… the pictures… I mean, it’s amazing… it really is. It’s very well done… you’ve done an amazing job.” – DEWAYNE QUIRICO

“You’ve done an excllent job” – LARRY THOMPSON

“I love the book! You have paid so much attention to details, in fact, there is so much information I thought I was never going to get to the end! You have finally done what nobody else has… after so many years. Thank you for doing what we have been waiting for… a great read about musicians who have been a vital part of the El Paso music heritage. Thank you! – RICK KERN, musiciansofelpaso.com