Tupper Saussy
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2007) |
Frederick Tupper Saussy III (July 3, 1936 – March 16, 2007) was an American composer, musician, author, artist, and conspiracy theorist. He was a self-styled theologian, restaurant owner, ghostwriter of James Earl Ray's biography, King assassination conspiracy theorist, anti-government pamphleteer, and radical opponent of the federal government’s taxation and monetary authority.[1]
He was born in
With the
Saussy's activities as tax protester led him to be sentenced to prison and to be a fugitive from the law between 1987 and 1997. After his arrest, he served 14 months and was released in 1999.
Popular music
Tupper Saussy was perhaps best known as the songwriter and keyboardist for the
Painting
Saussy was the great-nephew of the Savannah painter
Theater
In 1972, he published the play,
Politics
Saussy published a book on what he called "the Vatican Jesuit Global Conspiracy"[8] in which he claims that "the American Revolution and its resulting constitutional republic have been single-handedly designed and supervised by a Jesuit named Lorenzo Ricci—this country's true founding father". Between 1980 and 1987, Saussy edited The Main Street Journal, advising and reporting on political action aimed at restoring the gold and silver monetary system in the U.S. and arguing against federal taxes. Convicted on federal income tax charges in Chattanooga in 1985 and unsuccessful in his appeals, Saussy became a fugitive in 1987 rather than begin serving a one-year sentence at the federal prison in Atlanta.[1]
Later, he befriended James Earl Ray, who had confessed to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Ray had read of Saussy's defense in Tennessee newspapers and inquired by postcard if Saussy would be interested in helping him write and publish his autobiography. This resulted in the publication in 1987 of Tennessee Waltz: The Making of An American Political Prisoner.[9] After its publication in 1987, Saussy was sued by Ray, who disavowed parts of their book.[1]
Legal problems
In the early 1980s, the federal government had begun cracking down on outspoken tax protesters, whose numbers were then estimated by the
Saussy's appeal was denied by the Supreme Court. Saussy eventually served a 14-month sentence at Taft Correctional Institution in Taft, California. Saussy was given the job of chapel music director and piano instructor to prisoners.[11] Saussy was released from prison on May 12, 1999.[12]
Later years
During his fugitive years, Saussy pursued his suspicions about the religious element in the origins of American government. In prison, he collated his research and prepared a final manuscript, which was published in 1999 by Osprey under the title Rulers of Evil: Useful Knowledge about Governing Bodies.[13][14]
Saussy also expanded on his book's historical speculation later in alleging conspiracies about 9/11 being orchestrated by Dick Cheney and the Pope, whom Saussy calls "the undesignated de facto Chairman of the United States corporation". As Saussy writes: "9/11 could only have been a ruse created by the American Presidency to furnish a pretext for restricting the rights and property of Americans in order to redistribute American funds and forces to the middle east and soon elsewhere, pursuant to the Papacy's design".[15]
Saussy's Warner Brothers albums were reissued in 2004 under the Rhino Handmade label. In April 2006, Tupper Saussy resumed his career as composer, pianist, and performing musician with the Nashville debut of The Chocolate Orchid Piano Bar, an album of new and vintage songs.[16] His first new musical release in 37 years, the CD was recorded in Nashville and produced by Warren Pash.[17]
Saussy was first married to Lola Haun (1940-1995), a Nashville socialite, whom he met during his tenure as a teacher at Montgomery Bell Academy. Before their divorce in 1972, they had a son, Caleb Powell Haun Saussy—whose professional name is Haun Saussy—and a daughter, Melinda Cavanaugh Saussy. With his second wife, Frederique Louise Blanco, Saussy had two more sons: Pierre Philippe Saussy and Laurent Amaury Saussy. He also had a stepdaughter, Alexia Camille Vallord.[citation needed]
Tupper Saussy died on March 16, 2007, at his home in Nashville of a heart attack, two days before the release of The Chocolate Orchid Piano Bar on CD. He was 70 years old.[citation needed]
Publications
Books
- The Miracle on Main Street: Saving Yourself and America from Financial Ruin. Sewanee, Tenn.: Spencer Judd (1980).
- Rulers of Evil: Useful Knowledge about Governing Bodies. Reno, Nevada: Ospray Bookmakers (1999).
Book contributions
- Foreword to A Caveat Against Injustice, or An Inquiry into the Evils of a Fluctuating Medium of Exchange, by Roger Sherman [1752].
References
- ^ a b c d e "News & Opinion: The Amazing Tupper Saussy (Memphis Flyer . 05-18-98)". Weeklywire.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ "None". Tennessean.com.
- ^ Andy Zax. "A Conversation with Tupper Saussy." Brilliant Colors: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings. Liner notes. Page 5.
- ^ Zax, 6-7.
- ^ Zax, 7
- ^ "Tennessee State Museum - Nashville Attractions". Tnmuseum.org.
- ^ Zax, 8.
- ^ "Books". www.tuppersaussy.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "News & Opinion: The Missing Link (Memphis Flyer . 05-04-98)". Weeklywire.com.
- Nashville Post.
- ^ "About tupper". tuppersaussy.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Inmate Locator". Bop.gov.
- ^ Saussy, F. Tupper. Rulers of Evil: Useful Knowledge about Governing Bodies. Reno, Nevada: Ospray Bookmakers, 1999.
- ^ "Index.HTML". www.rulersofevil.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Sympathy for mr cheney". www.tuppersaussy.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ Stanley, Bob (April 21, 2006). "Bob Stanley celebrates the return of a polymath". Theguardian.com.
- ^ "nashville recording studios-news and projects from nashville recording studios". Mixonline.com.
External links
- Official website at the Wayback Machine
- Honest Things Blog
- a Tupper Saussy Shrine photos & info about his Monument LPs
- Memphis Flyer 1998 article Archived 2007-03-22 at the Wayback Machine
- Brilliant Colors: Neon Philharmonic set on Rhino Handmade
- Profile of Saussy from NPR retrieved on April 1, 2007