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Topic: Loretta's New Steel Picker? |
Steve Alonzo Walker
From:
Spartanburg,S.C. USA (deceased)
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 5:33 am |
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| Watched Opry live and wonder if anyone knows who Loretta Lynn's new Steel Picker is? |
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John Davis
From:
Cambridge, U.K.
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 6:10 am
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Wish it was me.......  |
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Bob Hempker
From:
Goodlettsville, TN.
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 10:48 am
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Steve, I haven't aged that much, have I? It was me.
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 11:07 am
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I saw Loretta in concert a few years ago. Her steel player had a cushy job. Played a few signature licks, and that's all. Half of the "concert" was Loretta talking about her life.
The music was note-for-note perfect.
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 Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog
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Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 12:58 pm
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Hey Bob, did you play with Loretta on "The Midnight Special" TV show in 1973? ('74?)
Blue Emmons with a jumping fish decal right in the middle of the front apron?
I was there, and enjoyed every minute of it. |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 2:12 pm
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| Charlie Archer was her steel player. I don't know if he still is. Charlie was Conway Twitty's guitar player for many years. A true country player. |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 7:15 pm
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| Quote: |
| Her steel player had a cushy job. Played a few signature licks, and that's all. Half of the "concert" was Loretta talking about her life. |
I'd call that a real sucky job.  If im going to play.I want to play. Just my opinion of course.......bb
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L. A. Wunder
From:
Lombard, Illinois, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 7:48 pm
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| For all of you who don't already know this, Bob Hempker was Loretta's steel player throughout the 70's and most of the 80's. He is the one responsable for developing the signature steel sound of her road shows. If you got a chance to hear the Opry broadcast, I envy you. I couldn't find any way to view it. |
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Bob Hempker
From:
Goodlettsville, TN.
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 7:08 pm
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Skip, I played on all the Midnight Specials she did. John Lacey, a fellow forumite, owns that blue Emmons, now. That was a fine guitar.
Charlie Archer is still her steel player. He was busy, and couldn't make the job this last weekend, so I subbed for Charlie.
When I started with Loretta in 1969, we stayed gone. The first full year I was with her, we were gone 301 days. We travelled in 2 cars; a car for Loretta and Mooney, and a station wagon and trailor for the band. I had to learn the early material Don Helms played on, the later material Hal Rugg played on, the duets with ET, Buddy Charlton played on, and the Conway Twitty duets John Hughey played on. We didn't make much money back then,and were gone from our families much of the time. We worked up in the north US and Canada during brutal cold weather in the winter, and worked outdoor fairs in 100+ degree heat, outside in the summer. I thought we were in Heaven when we got a bus.
I don't claim to be in the league with any of the above mentioned players, but I busted my can to do the best I could. I'm sorry if that appears to be a "Cushy" job, but believe me, it didn't seem to be "Cushy" to me. It was pretty grinding hard work.
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 8:08 pm
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I continue to be in awe of the legends we have here. Yes, Bob Hempker, I consider you a legend to have played with Loretta not only during the time you did, but just recently.
Hats off to you.
Al |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 9:03 pm
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| Bob Hempker is a golden era country road player. You talk about paying dues. This man has paid them. The stories that he could tell. |
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Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 9:14 pm
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Bob, you knocked me out playing that blue Emmons at the Midnight Special taping.
I was right in front of you and I remember it to this day.[This message was edited by Skip Edwards on 09 October 2006 at 10:15 PM.] |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 8:11 am
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| Bob is STILL a great player and is STILL a nice person. I consider Bob a dear friend. |
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Savell
From:
Slocomb, AL
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 2:26 pm
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| Now that's some great steel pickin'! |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 6:40 pm
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| isn't she dead? |
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Mike Randolph
From:
Cook Minnesota, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 7:03 pm
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| She looked alive on the OPRY??? |
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Walter Jones
From:
Athens, Ohio USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 7:42 pm
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Bob Hempker, when you played for Loretta was the base player Joe Flynn? I think I have the first name right, I met him at his store last year and he sure had a some nice pictures. Of course he had a few road stories, great guy and a lot of fun to talk to. I also bought a T-8 Stringmaster from him and in the process of restoring it, I can't bring it back to collector quality but it will be a player.
I saw her show in Wheeling, WVa and enjoyed every minute of it,she was recovering from a broken foot from a roller skating accident with the Grandkids. She kicked off her shoes to be more comfortable because her foot was swelling. Country to the core but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. [This message was edited by Walter Jones on 10 October 2006 at 08:43 PM.] [This message was edited by Walter Jones on 10 October 2006 at 08:51 PM.] |
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L. A. Wunder
From:
Lombard, Illinois, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 7:54 pm
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Amen to that!
Bob, is a legend in his own right, and the equal of any of the other "legends" mentioned in this thread. The fact that he was able to learn all those signature licks, and then deliver them in a way that was his own, says volumes about the caliber of player he is. I hope we get to hear alot more from him in the future. |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 11 Oct 2006 2:55 am
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| You ever drink alot of beer and wake the next morning thinking what did I do?I got her mixed up with Tammy sorry... |
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Ron Page
From:
Penn Yan, NY USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2006 4:44 am
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A.J.,
What were you still celebrating a Steelers loss? I know our Bengals had the week off. 
BTW: I hope I live long enough for people to ask that about me.
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HagFan
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 11 Oct 2006 7:17 am
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| stay away from that who-dey beer!! Hey ron did you used to have a blue emmons s10? I have a '06 carter d10 take care |
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David Thornhill
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2006 8:52 am
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Walter, When I went to work for Loretta in 1969 Johnny Hines was playing bass, but he left in early in 1970 and my brother John Thornhill played bass for the next 4 years. Then Chuck Flynn came to work in 74' and was with her many years. Dennis Digby then worked for her until we all got fired in 1997. Dave Thornhill
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 11 Oct 2006 8:53 am
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| I think Dennis Digby played bass with Loretta for a long time. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 11 Oct 2006 4:09 pm
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My part time drummer and motorcycle riding co-hort Lonnie Godfrey played drums with Loretta for a couple of years. He still plays pretty good and is a new father (at his age).........JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
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