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Topic: Wynn Stewart |
Butch Foster
From:
Pisgah, Alabama, USA
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Posted 7 Sep 2002 6:35 am |
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| One of my favorite singers is Wynn Stewart. Did any of you pros work for him or with him in a package show? Who did his sessions( especially " Pretty World ")? Did he carry a steel on tour? I'm looking forward to your experiences, memories and impressions of this very good vocalist. |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Sep 2002 7:00 am
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| I worked the very last show he did at "Music Village" (Twitty City)in 1983. I had worked with him several times during his career as I'm sure many others have. Quite a nice guy and great singer. I liked him . |
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Carl West
From:
La Habra, CA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 7 Sep 2002 8:53 am
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I worked with Wynn Stewart for 5 years at a couple different clubs. Most known of those was George's Round-Up in Long Beach. I worked with Wynn until he decide to make a move to Las Vegas. Later on I did several jobs with him on out of town jobs. Wynn was a great guy and a good friend. I miss him a lot.
Carl West
Emmons D-10 |
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Carl West
From:
La Habra, CA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 7 Sep 2002 8:57 am
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Ralph Mooney did most all of Wynn's sessions.I did a couple on Challange and Capitol but Ralph was the main player and a great guy and friend as well. Spoke with him 2 weeks ago. He's do'in fine in Texas.
Carl West |
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Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 7 Sep 2002 1:30 pm
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A lot of this style of steel guitar is on an old album I obtained by Warren Smith. Does anyone know this vocalist?
Rick |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 7 Sep 2002 5:20 pm
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To see a little about Carl West's stint with Wynn go to: www.rockabillyhall.com/wcplayboys.html
Warren Smith was part of the Memphis country and rockabilly scene in the 1950s, he recorded for Sun Records. (kinda famous for the song "Ubangi Stomp")
He moved to the West Coast circa 1959, signed to Liberty in 1960 and recorded a solo album for a 1961 release. hat's Ralph Mooney on steel.
Some of the latter Liberty sides are on a comp with the full LP by Bear Family Records.
Al Petty also supplies some of the steel work on the latter sides.
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Sep 2002 7:03 pm
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| Knew Warren Smith well! Ralph did his sessions also. Late 50's I believe. |
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Chuck Campbell
From:
Manassas, VA, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2002 4:26 am
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| Two Great songs by Warren Smith, "I Wish That I Could Fall In Love Today" (same song as "I Don't Believe I'll Fall In Love Today") as recorded by many after his original, and "Blue Smoke" a great country song. [This message was edited by Chuck Campbell on 08 September 2002 at 05:28 AM.] [This message was edited by Chuck Campbell on 08 September 2002 at 05:29 AM.] |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2002 8:18 am
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Bobbe,
I was there for that show back when I lived across the street from Twitty City. As per usual, you were playing your @$$ off! Wynn and I were next door neighbors breifly when he was staying with his mom at Bluegrass Village. I used to chat with him from time to time. Great guy. I remember him saying that was Moon on Pretty World.
John Drury
NTSGA #0003 |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Sep 2002 4:40 pm
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| So you were in the audiance John, I bet you didn't know that would be Wynn's last show, I sure didn't however he really was looking bad that day. I'm glad you were there, I have a lot of good memories from that stage at "Twitty City". I think you may have made several of those shows , right? |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2002 5:27 pm
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Bobbe,
That was the one and only time that I saw Wynn perform. I was driving home from work one afternoon about a year later (?) and heard over the radio that he had passed away.
If you remember that was back when Nancy worked for WSM, she used to get me passes to everything over there. It was just a short walk over to Twitty City so I saw a lot of the shows that you did with Stan Hitchcock and LeRoy VanDyke. Do you recall a guy they called Uncle Willy? Man that dude was funny, and what a piano player! We used to stroll over and watch you play for the various other performers in the new theatre that they built afterwards also. Good times. This town was crawling with steel players back then, and a lot of them were you! LMAO
John Drury
NTSGA #0003 |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 8 Sep 2002 6:13 pm
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| In about '78 I was playing in a band on the Caravan Circuit; Albuquerque, Clovis, Amarillo, Colorado Springs, and in Clovis Wynn was the featured star and we backed him up. I remember we barely had any rehearsal, quick run-throughs and that was about it, pretty much just winged it, Wynn was a great guy the whole show, no complaints or attitude....we all had a good time. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Jeff Evans
From:
Cowtown and The Bill Cox Outfit
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Posted 8 Sep 2002 7:03 pm
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I've been fortunate enough to be acquainted with a few Tourists, and they all speak highly of Wynn. He was apparently genuinely nice, and treated his players well.
The October 1966 session notes do credit Jimmie Collins on steel guitar. "Ol' What's Her Name" and Unfaithful Arms" were cut on that same session.
Another song with Jimmie is the gorgeous "That's the Only Way to Cry."
Wynn's daughter, Wren, has the boxed CD set available through http://www.wynnstewart.com/ |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2002 9:35 pm
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| Does anyone know what happened to Jimmy Collins. I worked at the Foothill club in Long Beach, CA for several years. Jimmy filled in for our regular steelman, Skeeter Stultz for a couple of weeks, in the late 60's after Jimmy had left Wynn's band. I haven't seen or heard of Jimmy since. Have any of you fellows? Thnx Butch, I never knew Wynn to travel without a steel player, ever. [This message was edited by Jim Bob Sedgwick on 08 September 2002 at 10:37 PM.] |
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Gene H. Brown
From:
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
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Posted 9 Sep 2002 3:14 pm
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I was privileged to be able to back Wynn Stewart on a one night Show at Taylor's Viewpoint in Portland , Oregon in 1966, what a great singer he was. The one thing I remember the most about Wynn on stage , was the way he always put his hand up behind his ear to be able to hear himself better, great memories.
Gene H. Brown[This message was edited by Gene H. Brown on 09 September 2002 at 04:17 PM.] |
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Tony Farr
From:
Madison, Tennessee, USA (deceased)
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Posted 9 Sep 2002 4:49 pm
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| John, Uncle Willy, was being played by my good friend, David Reece, who passed away several years ago. Yes he was one hell of a piano player. |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2002 5:24 pm
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Tony,
Thanks for sharing that, and I am sorry to hear of Uncle Willy passing on. He was a real entertainer. Stan used to bring him on by asking the crowd who traveled the farthest to see the show. After a few people hollered out names of cities from out west and up in Canada, he would start calling out for his dog "Egypt". It was hilarious. Those were great times. The steel guitar by Bobbe Seymour was incredible not only to listen to but also to watch, what a showman!
John Drury
NTSGA #0003 |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 9 Sep 2002 8:22 pm
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1954 Intro sessions, Ralph Mooney on lead guitar, steel player unknown.
Capitol Records # January 30, 1956 to # July 26, 1957; Ralph Mooney steel.
Jackpot Sessions # April 1958, through that year, session crew unknown. Possibly West Coast Playboys, or members of.
# December 5, 1958. Gold Star Recording Studios, 6252 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood.
Producer Joe Johnson.
How The Other Half Lives (& Jan Howard) (Jackpot 48014), (Challenge LP CHL611)
Yankee Go Home (& Jan Howard) (Jackpot 48014), (Challenge LP CHL611)
Come On * unissued
Wynn (vocals), Jan Howard (vocals), Carl West (steel).
*see Carl, you're in there.
Jackpot was a subsid of Challenge, the releases were moved to the Challenge label.
# April 20, 1959 Gold Star Recording Studios. Producer Joe Johnson.
Above And Beyond (The Call Of Love) (Challenge LP CHL611)
Open Up My Heart
* Both tracks appear on Wrangler LP WR1006.
With Wynn (guitar, vocals), Cecil Bays (guitar), Carl West (steel), Bud Dooley (bass), Tony Amico (drums) and Shirley Roy ‘Pete’ Ash (piano). This is basically the West Coast Playboys with a session bass player as they didn't normally have a bassist.
# September 15, 1959, Radio Recorders. Producer Joe Johnson.
Wishful Thinking
Uncle Tom Got Caught (Challenge 59061)
With Ralph Mooney steel.
Mooney on Challenge sessions from 1960 to 1962.
He also appeared on the Capitol sessions from 1963 to
* Carl West and Ralph Mooney alternated on steel and rhythm on a Feb, 8th 1965 session.
Mooney and Carl have both referred to this in interviews, although the session credits don't really reflect this. At this point Wynn had ben using a core musician base of Jim Pierce, Mooney, Peaches Price, Roy Nichols and Bobby Austin, due to other committments this was going to change from 1965 onwards.
In 1966 he formed the Tourists with Bobby Wayne, Dennis Hromek, Jimmy Collins and Dave Allen, the group lasted into 1967.
Their sessions are as follows.
# October 24, 1966 Nashville Tennessee. Producer Marvin H. Hughes
Ol' What's Her Name (ST 2737) - Fuzzy Owens
It's Such A Pretty World Today (ST 2737) - Dale Noe
Unfaithful Arms (ST 2737) - Wynn Stewart
Let's Pretend We're Kids Again (ST 2737) - Bobby Wayne/Dave Pittman
Session crew: Wynn Stewart (vocals, guitar), Robert ‘Bobby Wayne’ Edrington (guitar), Jimmie Collins (steel), Dennis Dean Hromek (bass), David ‘Dave’ William Allen (drums), Jim Pierce (piano), and the Anita Kerr Singers (backing vocals).
# March 15, 1967 Capitol Recording Studios. Producer Ken Nelson
The World's Youngest Naughty Old Man (ST 2849)
You Can Always Give Her Back To Me (ST 2737) - Bobby Wayne/Sonny Ferguson
That's The Only Way To Cry (ST 2849)
Out There Is Your World (ST 2737)
Session Crew: Wynn Stewart (vocals, guitar), Bobby Wayne (guitar), Jimmie Collins (steel), Dennis Hromek (bass), Dave Allen (drums), Jim Pierce (piano), and Bob Morris (bass).
# July 10, 1967 Capitol Recording Studios. Producer Ken Nelson
Love's Gonna Happen To Me (ST 2849) - Jim Stewart. * Wynn vocal overdub, Nashville, August 31, 1967
I Won't Live That Long (ST 2849) - Tommy Collins/Wynn Stewart
Spittin' Guitar (Instrumental) - Bobby Wayne * unissued
Session Crew: Wynn Stewart (vocals, guitar), Bobby Wayne (guitar), Harold Glen Garrison (guitar), Tommy Collins (guitar), Jimmie Collins (steel), Dennis Hromek (bass), Dave Allen (drums) and George French Jr. (piano).
# August 28, 1967 Capitol Recording Studios. Producer Ken Nelson
Down Came The World (ST 2849) - Bozo Darnell/Waylon Jennings
Mama's Gone Home - Tommy Collins * unissued
In Love (ST-113) - Bobby George
Above And Beyond (ST 2849)
Session Crew: Wynn Stewart (vocals, guitar), Bobby Wayne (guitar), Tommy Collins (guitar), Jimmie Collins (steel), Dennis Hromek (bass), Dave Allen (drums) and Jim Pierce (piano).
The Following day
# August 29, 1967 Capitol Recording Studios. Producer Ken Nelson
Big, Big Love (Make Big Love) (ST 2849)
Waltz Of The Angels (ST 2849)
Session Crew: Wynn Stewart (vocals, guitar), Phil Baugh (guitar), Tommy Collins (guitar), Jimmie Collins (steel), Dennis Hromek (bass), Dave Allen (drums) and Jim Pierce (piano).
The Following day
# August 30, 1967 Capitol Recording Studios. Producer Ken Nelson
Loversville (ST 2849)
It's So Cold In Your House And Lonesome In Mine (ST 2849)
Orange Blossom Special (instrumental) * unissued
Daddy's Girl (ST 2849)
Session Crew: Wynn Stewart (vocals, guitar), Phil Baugh (guitar), Tommy Collins (guitar), Jimmy Bryant (guitar), Jimmie Collins (steel), Dennis Hromek (bass), Dave Allen (drums) and Jim Pierce (piano).
The Following day
# August 31, 1967 Capitol Recording Studios. Producer Ken Nelson
Fresh Out Of Love * unissued, lead vocals may be by Dennis Hromek.
Sing The Same Song (ST 2849) - Wynn Stewart/Bobby George
You're That Someone Else (ST-324) - Wynn Stewart/Tommy Collins
Session Crew: Wynn Stewart (vocals, guitar), Phil Baugh (guitar), Tommy Collins (guitar), Jimmy Bryant (guitar), Jimmie Collins (steel), Dennis Hromek (bass), Dave Allen (drums) and Jim Pierce (piano).
January 3, 1968 in Hollywood with Ralph back on steel through 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973 sessions in Nashville
* a notable exceptions, a 1969, Jewell Recording Company session in Cincinnati, Ohio with Junior Boyer on steel guitar.
Lloyd Green on steel, Nashville sessions through the year - 1970
Stu Basore - 1975
Sonny Garrish - 1977
Jim Vest - 1978
Other sessions personnal unknown through late 1970s and early 1980s.
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Jim Bob, you might find this interesting.
The core of the first Tourists Bobby Wayne, Jimmy Collins, Dave Allen and Dennis Hromek were also a version of Freddy Hart's Heart Beats. I have a promo shot of the group from the 1960s with Freddy.
The same promo shot also appears on some 1968 Kapp releases by Freddy, but I have very little info on the 1960s Heart Beats.
Jimmy Collins also played with Big Jim DeNoone, some time around the early 1960s I'd guess. A few people have mentioned Jimmy popping up in Texas and Colorado in the 1970s, but nothing really concrete I'm afraid.
Jason
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Jeff Evans
From:
Cowtown and The Bill Cox Outfit
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Posted 9 Sep 2002 10:31 pm
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| One of the unknown personnel: Buddy Emmons. The song is "You Can't Take It With You." Of course, it's an educated guess on Buddy, but if it isn't him, it is hands-down the best impression of him I've ever heard. The cut features a harmonic intro and a "Touch My Heart"-esque ending. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 10 Sep 2002 3:16 am
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| I saw Wynn on a show with E.T.in 1973.It was a great experience with about 500 folks watching at a small show.So many of the stars I saw when I was between 13-15 are gone now.We had a local dj/ station that brought many stars in WYDE/ Duke Rumore.The WYDE shows had thousands enjoying real country music.Duke's brother Joe, back around 1950 use to play the Mothers Best shows with Hank on WVOK.Hank use to talk about Joe on the programs.If you like Wynn get a copy of California Country-The Best of the Challenge Masters.This is the cd that has 29 songs on it.You will have to find one on Ebay or somewhere because it is out of print.I have seen this cd sell for $40.00.I always liked the song Heartaches For A Dime. [This message was edited by Andy Alford on 10 September 2002 at 04:19 AM.] [This message was edited by Andy Alford on 10 September 2002 at 04:20 AM.] [This message was edited by Andy Alford on 10 September 2002 at 04:22 AM.] [This message was edited by Andy Alford on 10 September 2002 at 04:28 AM.] [This message was edited by Andy Alford on 10 September 2002 at 04:31 AM.] |
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Kenny Yates
From:
Hattiesburg Mississippi
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Posted 10 Sep 2002 5:36 pm
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I backed Wynn a few times when he was in the Sacramento area. He once told me his defnition of life, "just one damn thing after another". However I think it was a little tongue in Cheek.
Paul Bunyun
MSA Steel
two session 500 amps |
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Bob Hayes
From:
Church Hill,Tenn,USA
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Posted 11 Sep 2002 4:55 am
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I didn't play with him...but I sure got to see hime..back in the day's that he had the "Nashville Nevada Club" on the Henderson Hiway in Las Vegas ,Nevada. ('61-'64) Just abot the time when his Bass player , Bobby Austin..got a "HIT" record and was replaced with a young "singing bartender-bass player" named Merl., Ralph Mooney on Steel...Roy Nichols on Lead Gitar,
a lady drummer..(I forgot her name) and a great piano player that eventualy went with Bobby Austin to his ne Club. He had the number 1 record "Preety World" and still worked in His club with Friend and leader of the other band(they rotated) Norm Owens (kin to Buck)..Fuzzy would also show up occasionaly..to get up and entertain. What memories..I think that I was influenced to eventually take up the PSG because of those early days in Vegas and getting to see some of the great pickers in various clubs (ie..Nashville Nevada,Golden Nugget,Mint,Fremont..and at a Mexican place on the Corner of Las Vegas Blvd..and I think Fremont..a guy Named Curley .
Grouchyvet |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 11 Sep 2002 4:39 pm
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Bob, it was Peaches Price on drums for the Nashville Nevada Band, while Speedy Young was the drummer for Norm Owens.
Wynn's Vegas piano player was Jim Pierce who left or a time due to ill health, he was replaced by George French.
Later Peaches left and Jim rejoined as the drummer, that is until George split for Bakersfeild as Haggard also did. Bobby Austin did indeed rejoin and Wynn left as well.
The Wynn Stewart box set also has a Vegas session by the Nashville Nevada band on Wynn, Peaches, Bobby Austin, Roy Nichols, Jim Pierce and Ralph backing the club's 'girl' singer on a demo session. Really cool stuff and probably gives an indication of how good they were live.
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Bob Hayes
From:
Church Hill,Tenn,USA
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Posted 12 Sep 2002 6:39 am
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Jason,
Thanks for refreashing my memory "AGAIN" .I think we've covered this territory about a year ago..And I might say..Peaches WAS!!!!!She was a great drummer AND VERY attractive.
I left Vegas in the spring of '64 and went to "unknown places in the far east.based in Okinawa..The talk there (ALL OVER THE ISLAND)was the country band that had played all of the clubs..with lead singer Harold Jenkins....I also got to see the great TEX Williams..."Smoke tht Cigarret". After returning to the "World" I landed kind of back home at Westover AFB,Mass..got an off duty job playing in a "North end Springfield" down the street from a place that "World Famous Smiley Roberts" played with a guy named Peewee Gokie(?)...
Ah the memories!!! Chapter???
Grouchyvet |
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