| Author |
Topic: Billy Mize: Town Hall Party |
Eric Stumpf
From:
Newbury, NH 03255
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 5:57 am |
|
| I noticed mention in the Marian Hall post that Billy Mize is featured playing steel on the Town Hall Party DVD's. I don't have them but was wondering if he was playing his Bigsby on those shows. [This message was edited by Eric Stumpf on 27 August 2005 at 04:47 PM.] |
|
|
 |
Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 6:09 am
|
|
Town Hall Party DVDs. I have two. very nice stuff.
I have the one that featurs Billy Mize. wow, what talent. I froze the frame with hoim on lap steel. I couldnt tell if it was the bigsby or not.
is there a tell tale something to look for that would identify it.?
I have Texas Ranch party too. same lineup of musicians...Joe Maphis is amazing.
Marian Hall is on that series, but not Town Hall.
this morning I received an emaol from Marian. she hadnt seen the Texas Ranch Party DVD.
wow, Im a fan of hers. I am still giddy from her message. |
|
|
|
Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 8:52 am
|
|
| I lived in the L.A. area for a short while around 59 or 60,Allways watched Town Hall Party. Those were the golden days of real country music. So sad they are gone.At least a lot of it was saved so we can still enjoy it today. |
|
|
|
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 11:08 am
|
|
I worked with Billy at the old Foothill Club in Signal Hill (Long Beach), California for a while and got to see some of the old pictures of him. I also saw him live at THP when I was in high school. I'd say at that time he was probably playing a Fender D-8. I remember at THP he played standing up and there were also some old pictures of him playing a D-8 Fender 1000 pedal steel which he also played standing up. I don't know if that was the same guitar he played on THP. It was cool playing steel for Billy as he was a good player. We did Joe Carson's "Helpless" one night and I'd heard the record but didn't remember how the steel ride went. At break time Billy said he'd show me how to play it. It turns out that Billy was the steel player on that record! He's an all around nice guy and a great person to work with/for..... I did 2 stints at the Foothill and had a great time.....JH in Va.
------------------
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
|
|
|
|
Ernie Renn
From:
Brainerd, Minnesota USA
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 1:10 pm
|
|
Do the Town Hall Party DVDs have Roy Nichols on guitar? (He went on to play guitar with Haggard for years.) Drop me a mail, if so!
------------------
My best,
Ernie
www.buddyemmons.com
|
|
|
|
John Bresler R.I.P.
From:
Thornton, Colorado
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 1:56 pm
|
|
When Carvin was in the steel guitar business, Billy Mize used to play one and did a lot of advertising for them. He was one of those pickers that could play on any brand and still sound great and like "Billy Mize".
|
|
|
|
Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 3:17 pm
|
|
I believe Billy wrote one of my favorite songs, Who'll Buy The Wine. Am I right?
------------------
Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com
|
|
|
|
Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 9:43 pm
|
|
| Jerry is correct, Billy is playing a Fender 1000 on those shows( standing up ), although on most of the tracks he's on, he doesn't even play the steel but sings. And to Ernie, no Roy Nicholls is not on these shows, the guitar player is usually either Travis or Maphis. One of the BF DVD's is however from -54 ( could be -55, don't remember ) where the steel player is Dickie Stubbs. |
|
|
|
Ernie Renn
From:
Brainerd, Minnesota USA
|
Posted 22 Aug 2005 10:46 pm
|
|
Thanks, Jussi! Maybe he'll appear on a future release...
------------------
My best,
Ernie
www.buddyemmons.com
|
|
|
|
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Posted 23 Aug 2005 9:07 am
|
|
Hey Howard, yes, Billy wrote "Who'll Buy the Wine" which was recorded by Charlie Walker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, & Dean Martin to name a few. He also wrote tune's like "Make it Rain" which was recorded by himself, & Dean Martin, as well as "Terrible Tangled Web" which DM also recorded. Ray Price recorded some of Billy's tunes as well. He's a super guy who's had some tough health issues of late so let's all pray for him.....JH in Va.
------------------
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
|
|
|
|
Chuck Cusimano
From:
Weatherford, Texas, USA
|
Posted 24 Aug 2005 7:39 am
|
|
| Hi Jerry, I'm wondering if you were the steel player that worked the foothills club with Billy around 1970-71. I used to sit in with his great band once in a while, as I was stationed aboard the USS NAVASOTA (AO-106) and when we'd get back from Nam, I'd hang out with the area bands. I remember the Drummer was also an Italian, like myself, and I remember Dee Ford,(Bass) and Billy Meyers (piano) were also in the band. Your name is sure familiar, but that was so many years ago. One incident (which I've posted here before) was when I turned to the band ( after Billy asking me to sing 'nuther one) and asked if they knew "Who'll Buy The Wine" By Merle Haggard. They (you guys) thought that was pretty funny. Best regards to you, and also the man that told a young Sailor back in those days, To go for it. God Bless Billy Mize, one of My HEROES! |
|
|
|
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Posted 24 Aug 2005 8:07 am
|
|
Hey Chuck, around 70-71 I was at the Swizzle Stik in Huntington Beach. The steeler at the Foothill Club was probably Skeeter Stoltz (spelling of his last name is questionable).... Jim Bob Sedgwick would probably know for sure as he did a lot of time at the FH will Billy on lead guitar. Maybe he'll chime in here on this....JH
------------------
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
|
|
|
|
Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
|
|
|
|
Chuck Cusimano
From:
Weatherford, Texas, USA
|
Posted 25 Aug 2005 9:32 am
|
|
| Guys, THANKS A LOT!! Jerry and Jim Bob, for the imformation. I have such fond memories of going around and sitting with the area bands. Jim Bob, I'm sure you were in that group that Billy had at the time. I used to come in, and Sandy, (Piasan) and I would kid each other about being WOPS. What ever happened to Dee Ford? Wasn't she a talent? I also used to sit in with Danny Michaels Band "The Rebel Playboys" over at Georges Round-up. Bobby Boyd played steel there, and used to always ask to see my Musicians Union card. I'd show him my U.S. Navy ID card, and we'd both laugh. I remember Al Brown used to play (Drums, I think) but he also played fiddle once in a while- ya know, novilty songs- Danny used to let me play that big ole heavy double neck thing of his. I also used to sit in a lot with Yar Kumars band, and spent a lot of time around Hollywood on the pike. Getting to get up and sing with you guys was some of the VERY BEST R&R I got in my four years in the Navy. Thanks for the memories!!! |
|
|
|
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Posted 25 Aug 2005 11:05 am
|
|
Hey Chuck, I must have ran into you at some time or other when you were there as we know a lot of the same people. As JimBob said, the Foothill band members usually doubled on other instruments from time to time. On my last stint there Dee Ford was in the band playing both lead guitar and fiddle. I played lead guitar and steel so we covered a lot of bases. Cliff Crofford was off a lot doing movie stuff with Snuff Garrett and Ray Sanders filled in for him a lot. Dee and I used to do a lot of twin guitar work on Ray's stuff. I also had an electric mandolin that we both played from time to time. I wound up selling it to her after a while! She was a helluva talent playing that Telecaster with two P-90's on it. Bobby Boydd died of cancer a few years ago. I remember him playing for Danny at one time on steel with James O'Rafferty on bass who was a dang good steelman himself. I added two pedals to that blond S-10 ShoBud he had. He had his own setup and it really worked for him. Bobby was one of the last musicians I picked with before I left. The last weekend I was out there we went to a club in the Riverside area to a jam and did some playing. The band had Bobby on steel, Roy Dee on guitar, Tommy Goble on bass, and I don't remember who the drummer was. I just remember we all got drunk on peach schnapps and brandy. I never played for Danny M. on a regular basis but I've done fill ins with his band on steel. Al Brown, I've known him since his days with Al Petty in Long Beach before he worked for Danny. That was cool how he'd play the drums with his feet and fiddle at the same time. Danny called him "Fiddlin' Al Brown". Al could sing any harmony part you wanted but never did any lead vocals! Yar Kumar? Wow, that's a blast from the past. I worked a night with him and his wife Sharon (Witt) at a club in Orange County a year or two before I left SoCal. Did you ever go to the after hours at the Blue Fox in Redondo Beach? I used to go there a lot. JH in Va.
------------------
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
|
|
|
|
Mylos Sonka
From:
Larkspur CA USA
|
Posted 26 Aug 2005 9:29 pm
|
|
How do you add a jpeg to your post? I have a couple of interesting pictures of Billy Mize to post.
Thanks,
Mylos
[This message was edited by Mylos Sonka on 26 August 2005 at 10:31 PM.] |
|
|
|
) In a very quiet voice, Billy explained in no uncertain terms that this would not be acceptable practice from that night forward. He made us all feel about 2 inches tall without ever raising his voice or picking on any one particular musician. now THAT'S CLASS.