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Author Topic:  Grunting: Who else does it?
Eric West


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 2:50 pm    
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I know it's funny, but I know I do it.

Lionel Hampton, the vibes player used to do it so loud as to be distracting, and can be heard on his most famous recording.

Neil Rogerson, a local player of much respect used to have trouble with a keyboard player in one instance that I heard of, and relayed a comical "cure" he found involving a glass of water..

What I notice is that when I'm trying to ignore the Rythym, or rather the *percussion* section, I do it the most, also when I'm next to an annoying hollow body, out of tune guitar.

I think it provides a physical link that over-rides what one hears while playing.

I caught myself last night when our local "godfather", Ray Montee came out with the Missus to hear us. Usually I'm playing at the old Bakersfield/Eastern Shore ear bleeding volume, where you can't hear gunfire. I thought I'd "dynamicize", and realised it might be coming thru the mix.. I think Ray was paying more attention to my "kitchen knife handle" collection under the steel. ( I hope that was what he was looking at...)

I know it's a bad habit. Many times I've come home from playing a "combat" gig nearly hoarse.

Anybody else?

Any famous grunters, or are they all relegated to the low level scrap heap of the money gigging hacks that I seem to be headed for?

------------------
EJL63FLH
'78 Pro III Sho-Bud
'63FLH 90"Stroker
'80 Gold Wing
-Peavey: When it's *not* about "The Sound"-
"You can Smart Yourself Dumb.
Why Can't you Dumb yourself Smart?"-Me
"There are only so many ways to fry cat food."- Buster
"At my age, sometimes I run out of Adrenaline, but I've still got plenty of Gall.." -Me-
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Gary Lee Gimble


From:
Fredericksburg, VA.
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 3:28 pm    
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I always thought grunting was confined to the necessary room until I heard Oscar Peterson. That was my first musical, grunting experience. Screaming Jay Hawkins was next.
Gary Lee
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Steve Feldman


From:
Central MA USA
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 3:54 pm    
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How about Keith Jarrett??? Guy sounds like he's about to get off any minute....
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Larry King

 

From:
Watts, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 4:21 pm    
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Re: grunting....Joe Edwards of the GOO part of the band that lost their jobs...best grunter I ever heard..at least back in '68
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Bob Anderson

 

From:
pemberton mn 56078
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 4:30 pm    
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Earle Gardner composer of the song "Misty" was a classic grunter. Sometimes you could hear him over his piano playing.
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Drew Howard


From:
48854
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 5:03 pm    
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I'm famous for grunting and moaning while I play. I have to concentrate on not doing it, especially if I'm recording acoustic instruments.

Drew

------------------
www.newslinkassociates.com
www.drewhoward.com

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Gene Jones

 

From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 5:12 pm    
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In his youth (when he was with Bob Wills), Johnny Gimbel used to hum along with his riffs on the fiddle....don't know about now! www.genejones.com
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Tim Harr


From:
Dunlap, Illinois
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 5:59 pm    
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Bob A,

That is Errol...


Thanks,

TH

------------------
Tim Harr - Carter D-10 8 & 9 - Troy Cook & the Long Haul Band
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 6:34 pm    
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What a surprise to find myself mentioned in the post of one of the Pacific Northwest's
most phenominal steel guitarists; one, that can articulate with more eloquence than even the nation's most successful politician or used car salesman. He's definitely way out in front of whomever is in second place.
Old Tired Eric cannot be intimidated by ANYONE.........not even a bountiful, rack of bouncing beauties, even when they belong to the band leader.
Actually, I heard no "grunting" from Eric but that's to be expected when he makes so much racket stomping on his 14 or 15 foot pedals. Ad to this, the high frequency squeeking sounds from the legs of his equally tired old Sho-Bud with the Cadillac emblem emblazened thereon.
Actually, my wife and I were discussing Tired Old Eric's substantial, visually obvious "CABINET DROP"; the two stainless steel table knife handle knee levers; the flip flopping of his extremely long and untrimmed "STRINGS"; the swing and sway of his entire guitar; the bow-legged "RODS" leading to his pedals; all of which is topped off with about 1/4 inch of accumulated "DUST" and "Dog Hair".
Old Tired Eric, is one mighty fine steel player with a fine creative flair, tasteful
passages, executed flawlessly with just the right amount of finger dexterity and attack;
the perfect amount of reverb; and volume set so LOOOOOOOOOOW we could barely hear him in the front row.
Oh by the way Old Tired Eric, my wife wants you to know, that THE ONLY REASON we were looking at you with such amusement, is because you played the entire two first sets with your fly wide open and your Roy Rogers & Dale Evens underwear were vividly displayed for everyone in the audience. (That new white spotlight shining on you, made this happening, hard to ignore) We wondered how long it would be before the air conditioning would give you the first clue as to your
as yet, undiscovered dilema.
By the way Old Tired Eric, some low down, no good, scoundral and scalliwag apparently put your guitar up for sale here on the Forum a few weeks ago. I've determined this from your description of your Knife handle tuning knee levers that were noted in the earlier post.
Old Tired Eric most likely grunts more when he lifts his Harley Hog off its kick stand.
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Dave Zirbel


From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 6:52 pm    
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Don't forget Mose Allison.

Dave Z
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Dave Birkett

 

From:
Oxnard, CA, USA
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 7:07 pm    
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Grunting, or singing what you play, is a method jazz players use to keep from sounding mechanical, like they're playing scales. Try it, it works.
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Stephen LeBlanc

 

From:
Los Angeles, CA
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 8:22 pm    
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Leo LeBlanc grunted all the time...really loud sometimes...when he played Dobro he consciously kept himself from getting loud with it but he wasn't bashful about it otherwise.

I grunt sometimes, I've never had a constant grunt going though...mostly just on the accents...I guess it depends on what I'm playing.

I think Grunting comes naturally when you're fully commiting to the music...not everyone does it vocally though. Something I can never control at all is my feet when I'm playing piano/rhodes...they just dance like crazy.
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Smiley Roberts

 

From:
Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2002 9:29 pm    
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It's Errol Garner.(uuuggghhh,uugghh)

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  ~ ~

©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
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Doyle Huff

 

From:
Broken Arrow, OK USA
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 7:14 am    
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Hey guys, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that does that. I was told last week that was the reason they give me a mike.
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Tiny Olson

 

From:
Mohawk River Valley, Upstate NY
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 7:52 am    
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This is a fun topic and I don't remember seeing this question here in the past.

I am a major grunter while playing. While I worked for Gene Watson, I had to chew a huge chunk of gum when doing his records to keep from being heard grunting. Al Pachuki, the engineer at Pete's Place (Pete Drake's studio) where we did alot of Gene's records singled me out one time and had a ton of fun with my grunting. The gum was the only thing I could think of to help me be quite. I still have to do this when recording and it works.

When on stage, where the volume level flows with a little more gusto, I don't worry about it. It is very entertaining for my wife though if I decide to practice through head-phones at home... then the grunting really is in evidence !!!

When I was a kid, I loved to listen to my parents Errol Garner records too. You guys are right, he could be heard grunting over his piano, big time.

Tiny Olson
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Gene Jones

 

From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 8:18 am    
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....but of course, the REAL grunt is the guy, (or gal), with blood running down the corner of their mouth from "grinding" the side of their tounge and teeth while playing a knocked-out ride!...... www.genejones.com
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Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 9:27 am    
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At one of the very first studio dates I ever did (Lansdowne Studios in Bayswater, London) the engineer was at his wit's end trying to identify the extraneous noise that was coming down the mic. along with the 12-string guitar licks I was playing - up to that point, I had no idea I was doing it!

Sometimes, when I'm driving and playing CDs, I'll stop for gas, only to discover I've got a slightly sore throat - again, I have no idea I'm 'grunting' along with the music, but I guess I must be.

Thanks to this 'thread', I now know I'm in some pretty lofty musical company!

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Roger Rettig
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Mark Tomeo

 

Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 9:27 am    
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I've heard Buddy Emmons do this, although I never thought of it as something so undignified as "grunting." It was more like he was reacting to something either he or someone else had just played - kind of growled "yeah!"
Lenny Breau used to do something of the sort when he played. He'd puff up his cheeks and make all sorts of noises. I saw Breau with Tal Farlow once and on the break asked him what all the facial stuff was about. He said he was holding and releasing his breath like a horn player and trying to match his fingering and phrasing to his breathing.
John Sims


From:
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 10:50 am    
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I grunted for some deer last week...No luck, but I did get two tom turkeys with one shot...

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Regards,

John

Steelin' is a way of life!

My PSG website-Carter SD-12-U, 8p/5k, Nashville 1000


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Rich Weiss

 

From:
Woodland Hills, CA, USA
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 5:16 pm    
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Many tennis players grunt when they hit the ball. I wish they didn't do that.
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Eric West


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 6:51 pm    
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Ray:

Thanks for your patronage last nite. I really enjoy playing Larry Jeff's songlist. Nobody around here seems to appreciate the old stuff.

Well.. What the hell is "Cabinet Drop"? I think that happened at Montana's in Seattle when the hand truck I was driving hit a bump..

I actually tightened up the legs a bit after youse left. I wanted it to look like I was working.

The Cadilac emblem? Well, I might get in "trouble". ( what then?), But Bud Charleton told me at one time that a certain local brand of steel guitar was like a "Cadilac without an engine". ( Before Mr Emmons started playing one, whereapon he thought they were the hottest thing since canned beer..) With those pickups that Danny wrapped for me years ago, I felt like I had to show that this is one that *does*. Kind of like an Old Telecaster. I don't really care if there are titanium/graphite/kryptonized/compensated/ or otherwise improved rigs out there. I still can't play Bud's Bounce exactly the way I want it, and a new guitar or a 3000$ effects rack just won't help me. The Old Pro III is patiently waiting for me to catch up. Dog hair and all...

The RR/DE underwear..

After you left, a couple dancers came in from Exotica with a buddy of mine, and you could see Trigger, Nellybell, and Bullet...

Richard Edge, of the old local Amarillo band and originally of the Bobby Helms band still has his old pre 63 non roller non "chromatic" Sho-Bud. D10 1 knee, and if you think *mine* has seen it...

I think I'm gonna blue laquer it like everybody else and get a half dozen more knife handles..

Well, back to *Stun* volume....

Thanks again.

Work/sleep/gig/work/sleep/gig/bike/etc. etc. ad infinitum

Tired Old Eric West.

Ray, are you losing weight?

------------------
EJL63FLH
'78 Pro III Sho-Bud
'63FLH 90"Stroker
'80 Gold Wing
-Peavey: When it's *not* about "The Sound"-
"You can Smart Yourself Dumb.
Why Can't you Dumb yourself Smart?"-Me
"There are only so many ways to fry cat food."- Buster
"At my age, sometimes I run out of Adrenaline, but I've still got plenty of Gall.." -Me-

[This message was edited by Eric West on 29 October 2002 at 06:54 PM.]

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Doug Jones


From:
Oregon & Florida
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 7:17 pm    
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Eric, you may have been grunting because you forgot to bring your special Voodoo doll with you. Either that, or you've forgotton how to play that cool ole country stuff. I'll have to pay closer attention next time I come out to harass; I mean hear you play.
- DJ -
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Reggie Duncan

 

From:
Mississippi
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2002 9:48 pm    
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My family grunts when I play! No, seriously, I know a fellow steeler that hums way off pitch to what he is playing. I think he is breathing along with his grunts because he exhales and inhales with his grunts.
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Eric West


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2002 1:01 am    
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Dr. Doug:

I think my El Joneso Voodoo Doll jumped out of my briefcase..

I think you're being missed at *your gig*. I think I'm using too much reverb.

I heard that CD, and it's gonna keep me busy for a month *trying* to cop half of your C6 stuff.

The E9 stuff will have to wait til my silverware shipment comes in..

Hurry back. I think Artie's going to go off the "deep end".... He went out and bought a case of Nyquil and a roll of duct tape..

Erico

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William Steward


From:
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2002 10:52 am    
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Steve....yes Keith Jarrett also gets my vote for the world champion grunter....his groans, screeches and moans sound a bit too gleeful in spots to be merely humming tonal centers and there are a few recordings where he sounds like he may have had an accident in his pants. Whatever it is he is doing it works - he is wonderful player.
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