Neil Flanz / Jerry Byrd Photo

Rose Sinclair · From: Austin, TX, USA

Here's a great photo of Jerry Byrd and Neil Flanz in July of 1957.

I asked Neil about this photo and he had this to say:

"The photo was taken in front of the old Andrew Jackson Hotel where the D.J. conventions used to take place before "Fan Fair" attempted to replace it but it never was the same and the insanity of it all was gone Smile

There used to be hospitality suites that were very generous with their drinks and there were steel guitars jamming on every floor.

I had looked up Jerry's name in the then very small, Nashville phone book and when he picked up the phone I asked if he was the "Jerry Byrd" that played steel guitar. When he said "yes", I told him that I was a big fan of his from Canada. He then asked where I was staying and when I told him the "Andrew Jackson", he said "I'll meet you in the lobby in fifteen minutes".

. . . the D.J. conventions started taking place in 1952 during the second week of November. I used to make my trips to Nashville starting in 1957 during the July 4th weekends and wasn't aware of the D.J. conventions until several years later at which time I manged to attend a couple.

All of the radio disc jockeys from the United States and even from overseas used to convene at the Andrew Jackson every November and the partying would take place for three consecutive days and nights on all 12 floors of the hotel. If you were waiting for an elevator, no matter what floor, the doors would open and there was no room to get in since the entire elevator was full of partiers holding paper cups filled with booze. Steel guitars were jamming in several rooms on many floors. It didn't take long for word of mouth to get out that Emmons and Day were in such and such a room. It was great!!!! Nothing like that until the steel show started in Saint Louis has ever happened.

. . . The Andrew Jackson was one of Nashville's better known hotels and kind of nice in it's hey day. I was living in Nashville years later when they imploded it and it was on the t.v. news. Kind of sad to see it go as I used to stay there every year including one year when Tex Ritter, who was staying in the room next door, somehow set the room on fire and my clothes suffered from smoke damage. Smile

"

Neil Flanz is the featured artist at this month's Austin Steel Guitar Co-op, Sunday, Aug. 12. See this post for more info:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=230560

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Awesome post!

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Rose......thanx for sharing this great photo and bit of history.

Any chance that photo and part of the history could be used on the JBFC Photo Gallary page?

We're trying desperately to expand that section.

Jeff Keyton · From: Texas, USA

Great pic of my first steel teacher (Neil not Jerry). Neil's got some great stories to tell.

Rose Sinclair · From: Austin, TX, USA

Hi Ray
Just heard from Neil and he gives you the green light! Go ahead and please do!

Olaf van Roggen · From: The Netherlands

That's sweet from you to post that photo Rose.
You and I had contact a couple of years ago when we had both myspace and you played with Girl Howdy.
I was going to meet Paula Bradley when she toured with Uncle Earl,and I saw her in Belgium.I don't know if you remember this.

Now it turns out you live in Austin and we went there last year.

I know Neil 30 years now when I wrote him a fan letter when I was 14 years old.
I know that photo with Jerry Byrd and I know he as a lot more and some great stories which he remembers all to the detail.
Hope to meet you one day Rose.....

Walter Stettner · From: Vienna, Austria

What a great picture and story. For me it is always a highlight on the forum when history is shared by those who were there... Smile

Kind Regards, Walter
_________________
www.lloydgreentribute.com

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

The photo is now a part of the JERRY BYRD FAN CLUB gallary page. Many thanks to Neil and my good, talented friend Rose.

How about sharing with us more current info' about Neil? What is he picking on these days? I had last heard he was playing mostly Hawaiian stuff?

Curious minds wish to know.

Olaf van Roggen · From: The Netherlands

Rose Sinclair · From: Austin, TX, USA

Thanks, Ray, for your fantastic Jerry Byrd site, and yes, Olaf, I remember our correspondence -- and you are certainly up-to-date on Neil Flanz. Nice to hear from you!

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