Hearing Buddy Emmons on Steel Radio

Budd Kelley · From: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

I came to this instrument from 6 string guitar. I came, not for the love of the instrument, but because my left hand can no longer fret a guitar - but it can hold a bar!

I first heard of Mr Emmons on this forum. I bought some Ray Price and listened to him. A very good band member and an accomplished player, but i really didn't see the "brilliance". I looked for his solo albums but Wal-Mart just doesn't carry them.

I made a point of listening to his performance at the convention Saturday.
I was expecting an older gentleman with hand troubles. Some one who was being cautious of promising to perform and then not being able physically give the performance he wished to.

I hereby announce that I now understand what you all have been saying!

I was truly impressed and amazed at what I heard. To say I have never heard anything like him before is an understatement. I will now set out to acquire all of his recordings that I can find!

My new goal in life is to attend the convention and see Mr Emmons perform in person. If he does find that his hands physically won't do the job for him that day, I would love to hear him talk about what he is thinking when he plays!! That would be even better than hearing him play!

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Budd, I am happy to see you have a better understanding of Buddy Emmons now. He has been the foremost player for several years. He now is 65 years of age and still sounds good. I understand he has arthritis and he is still a very qualified player. His technique and tone are IMHO superb. I hope you can see him live some where down the road. I first saw him in 1981 and I cannot describe the feeling seeing him come out and watching him play. I still have pictures and tapes of that Convention and occasionally get them out and stroll down memory lane. He is a legend and a first class individual as well. I sure hope he keeps on playing for many more years to come. An Emmons Fan....Paul King

Ernie Renn · From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA

Budd;
Check out: Buddy Emmons Recordings. I know they don't have them at any stores. You might be able to find a Steel Guitar Jazz re-issue, but not much else.

Glad you found Buddy! Take a bit to explore the website. There's plenty of stuff there to keep you busy for a while. (Tab, pictures...) Have fun!

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

Bill Llewellyn · From: San Jose, CA

Steel Guitar Jazz is (fortunately) available on Apple's iTunes site. I just bought & downloaded it yesterday. No other Emmons albums are there....

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Tom Mortensen · From: Nashville TN

What guitar did Buddy play at the convention?
The sound was great, as usual.

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

This is evidence of yet another "generation gap" in the world of steel guitar.

When I was first getting interested in playing steel guitar, early-mid 60's, Ralph Mooney, Curly Chalker, Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons, and Jimmy Day were the men I idolized and emulated. I knew of Leon McAuliffe, Noel Boggs, Jerry Byrd, and Joaquin Murphey, since I grew up in Los Angeles, but their genius had not yet sunk into my perception... they were "old school" to me. Only when I matured as a player and got into western swing upon moving to TX did I go back and realize what a treasure trove of inspiration I had missed.

Now, I dedicate my playing to these guys.

There are now newer players who perhaps have Jay Dee, Tommy W. and Paul F. as their "gods" and know not of Jimmy and Buddy, since they (Emmons/Day) are not the prominent players in the eyes of the public that they once were. This, IMHO, is a great shame and a crime of history.

To Budd Kelly: I certainly don't fault you for not being fully aware of the importance and significance of Buddy Emmons. Let me just say, as the announcer of the Armed Forces Radio Network used to say... "the voice of information and ed-yoo-cation"

, that without Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day, the steel guitar would not be the instrument we know it to be today.

Budd, I envy you. You have a world of great and wonderful discovery ahead of you. Go to Ernie Renn's website and dig in, Bubba!

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jerry Horner · From: Tahlequah, OK, USA

I think Buddy must be an alien because he plays things that's not from this world.

Jerry

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

In most any field of endeavor, there is a myriad of performers who will be remembered. Some good, some great, some outstanding and some super stars.

But NONE of the above even begins to describe Buddy Emmons. To quote a line from one of Lori Morgan's former hit songs,

"Ya had to be there.....Ya really had to be there"

IF you had been, and were made privy to this man and all he did from the time he first came on the scene at age 16; and all throughout that unprecedented era that the PSG as we know it now was evolving; then you too would know what soo many of us know without question. We were there. And the ride has NO equal in my memory with regards to Buddy Emmons.

There is NO word in the English language that can adaquately describe what he meant and brought to the steel guitar world. From the art of tuning a PSG (like no other) to the awesome wizardry of his footwork, he truly epitomizes the meaning of absolute when it comes to the steel guitar.

NO one, and I mean NO one on this earth has ever done what he has done. We have had our greats; and we have them now. The likes of Jerry Byrd, Buddy Charleton, Jimmy Day, Walter Haynes, Lloyd Green, Tom Brumley, Curly Chalker, Hal Rugg, Doug Jernigan, Weldon Myrick, John Hughey, etc, etc. are super stars in the world of the steel guitar.

Today we have Paul Franklin and Tommy White who are two of the greatest that have EVER been. Paul is a budding, shinning star and will be one of the greatest of all time. Tommy White will blast thru the clouds in a blaze of glory one day as he succeeds a long list of greats.

But again, Buddy Emmons has NO equal in what he has brought to us. His musical proweress and talents are completely unprecedented in the world of steel guitar. His creative and inovative mind is light years ahead of all the rest.

Even today, as he backs up an aging Ray Price, one is treated to the most gorgeous sound I have EVER heard on a steel guitar on Ray's latest CD titled "Time". Strongly suggesting there is NO end to this man's total mastery of our beloved instrument.

From playing true Jazz with NO fretboard when Jazz was unheard of on a steel guitar; to lightning fast stacatto notes; notes that are crystal clear, that spoke to the listener musically rather than just a series of 22 "rifle shot" notes that did not "hit" anything; to his melodic and spine tingling timbre that brought tears and chills to seasoned players when he played the slow tunes; to his incredible use of such accessories as the Echoplex ("Witches Brew") and Ebow ("Once Upon a Time in the West"); to his entre' into the world of classical music in "Cannon in D" (by Pachelbel); to his unision notes resolving in two different directions in Ray Price's "Healing Hands of Time"; to his unbelievable blues playing in Ray Price's "Night Life"; to his own creation of "Four Wheel Drive" that simply could not be done on a steel guitar (at the time); to his ability of making his 3rd string sound as though it is as wide as the mighty Mississip; to his awesome demeanor and endearing smile as he plays; to the absolutely artful dexterity in his fingers, hands, toes and feet; Buddy Emmons is in a word....

THE perfect steel guitar player. He IS the greatest steel guitar player who has EVER lived. Bar none.

And to repeat and oft' quoted phrase, "that includes those yet unborn".

Yes my friend, you unfortunately will never have the incredible pleasure of seeing this youngster wax strong and develop as countless hundreds of us have. But had you "been there" as many of us were, you would then KNOW that every word above is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

May Jesus continue to bless this man for all he has brought to us that allowed us to relish and savor the unbelievable things he gave us.

carl

[This message was edited by C Dixon on 17 September 2003 at 04:16 PM.]

Graham Bland · From: Tennessee, USA

Tom,

I'm the one who mixed Buddy on Saturday afternoon for recording and the internet.

Let me tell you,
"Mixing Buddy is easy,all you have to do is put him in the mix, he does the rest".

As for the guitar, it is the one that all others aspire to be like.
Buddy was playing a Emmons Legrande III

Tom Mortensen · From: Nashville TN

Graham,
Good job on the mix and thanks for the info.

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

To Budd Kelley;

Budd a good friend of mine and a fine steel
player forwarded a CD of Buddys to you. Since
there are many different virus's going around
you wrote back to my friend and explained that you were afraid to open his attachment.

Budd,I can vouch for my friend Hank Pell as he is a stand up guy and a reliable and good person. Dont be afraid to open any attachments from Hank.

Hank e mailed me and explained that you were reluctant in opening his e mail attachment.

Hank is a fine steel player and fiddle player
with over 50 years of proffesional experience
in the music business.He has performed with many name bands and western groups and you couldnt find a nicer fellow than Hank Pell.

Trust me.He is a good person.

Thank you.

Jody Carver

Stephen Simms · From: Currently in Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Some of you may not be aware that Albert Lee has a new CD out.(Heartbreak Hotel or Hill)I can't remember which. Buddy is playing 6 of the 10 cuts. Excellent CD!!! I should probably mention that it is not yet released. I believe that it will be available October 14th.

[This message was edited by Stephen Simms on 19 September 2003 at 06:22 PM.]

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

Mr. Carl Dixon is not at all exaggerating about the "big E". After I begin practicing and playing the steel guitar and begin catching up with the information of what E had been doing for years, my first thoughts were, "this guy is from Ripley's believe it, or not".

Magician musician is one way of putting it.

Rick

Dirk B · From: Harrisburg, MO, USA

I think Herb has some important points. I sometimes get the idea at the convention that some in the audience perceive Buddy as just another one of these great steel players who get up on the stage. Sorry, but there's a lot more to it than that. No other player's music simultaneously embodies the whole history of the instrument, and at the same time contains some the most inventive, hearfelt and "out" music ever played on the steel.

John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

To jump in on Herb's point; I think there is no greater musician to play with (or listen to) than one who has completely and passionately absorbed the entire history of his/her instrument and genre.
Players who don't just sound hollow to me. Just mho.
-John

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