I Remember ed Hardy

Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

If one were to plot a bell curve relating to all the steel guitarists who ever were and still are; with the heighth line indicating the number of players and the base line from left to right indicating the skill/talent level it would follow classic bell curves.

At the right side bottom there would be the few who have achieved the highest positions and the names would be dependent upon your own thinkings and love of the music. Working back to the left would come all those players whom we have seen in threads about the unrecognized players and those with exceptional talent who were never able to break the barriers inherent to all musical endeavors.

At the center/top would be all the night time warriors who play the honky tonk wars and work a daytime job making up the majority of players who love and play the instrument.

But on the bottom/left, where the talent line meets the count line we would find Ed Hardy at the lowest level to be heard. This is not a put down of Ed ! He was a close and true friend and I cared about him in a unique sort of way. He truly loved steel guitar and his life was devoted to playing the music. Try as he would, for all of his life, he just couldn't do it. He never gave up; he played until he died and I miss him. He was the truest example of the vast diversity the steel guitar is known for. It covers not only numerous genres of music but all the inherent skill levels as well.

He would walk in where we were playing and he had his bar and pick bag tied to his belt like a proud indicator of what he wanted to be. He always stayed for two or three sets and then you would notice he was no longer there. He had heard the music and gone home without so much as a goodby; because he knew you understood; and he had to practice, perhaps something he had just heard you do. I have recently had discussions with other steel players in this area and we all have the same feeling about him and the memories are remarkedly similar.

Years ago, when the big St. Louis show featured a rock player as the finale one night, the audience got up and left and I distinctly remember thinking; how rude that must have been for the player to endure.

Ed told me that one time he had gone to Saluda, SC and was playing when they told him to take his things off the stage. I felt the pain and shame he must have enduring and again was disappointed by the show itself. But all of us agree, they were correct in their rejection of his interpetation of the music.

All of us here had, at one time or another, gone to listen to him play. He took over my chair with the Night Riders when I left. I went to hear the band and left after only a song or two. I could not listen to what he was playing. I tried it three or four times as other players here had also done and still could not listen to it, it was so painful. I later asked the lead man, was he even in the same key the rest of you were in ? He did not know because
like the rest of us, he could not tell anything about what Ed was playing.

It was as if he came from another world. Several of us helped him with his equipment and the best story I have to relate something about his gear was that, one time a friend went to his home to help with a new Emmons guitar. He said he could not understand what Ed had done to it or what he was trying to do with it. There was no correlation between what the rest of us had and what he was doing or attempting to do.

Eventually, he tore off the C6th neck because he didn't need it. Others have done this same thing but I doubt if they did for the same reason. He was very limited in what he could play, whatever that may have been, and the additional neck was simply in the way.

He had a Goodrich light volume pedal and a Nashville 400 but you have never heard what he did with them unless, perhaps, you were at Saluda when he was there. But he always heard the music even if he couldn't perform it. He wanted nothing less from life and I have to respect his desires for performing the music even if he failed horribly in playing it himself.

Someone once sent me a tape of their playing and it was so bad, I errased it before any one else had a chance to hear it. But it was concert quality compared to Ed's efforts at steel guitar. And just as the bell curve shows, there are extremes in all human endeavors and we were just unfortunate (or perhaps; fortunate...) enough to remember Ed Hardy.

Sleep well, old friend. I hope that what you always wished for has come true in your new gig. I've heard a lot of wonderful things have happened where you are now and I may only pray that you got what you always wanted.

Regards, Paul

Ed Altrichter · From: Schroeder, Minnesota, USA

He wasn't a failure, because you're not a failure until you stop trying.

Buddy Walker · From: Johnston, SC, USA

I have been at every convention at Saluda SC since we started it in 1987 and we never in all these years ask anybody to take their equipment and get off the stage , unless their time was up, even on jam sessions we let every one play regardless of their level of playing so I do not know what Ed meant He did not come much and left early sick the last time I saw him Buddy Southern Steel Guitar Saluda SC

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Buddy Walker

Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

Buddy: I should have elaborated on that a little more in my first post. But it was getting long and I left it out thinking the comment about his just up and leaving without a goodby would have covered the point well enough. I'm sure it was just as you stated and I apologize for any misconception I may have left open. As I said; he was a very unusual personality !!

Regards, Paul

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

I've asked people to remove their equipment from the stage on Sunday Mornings when I am trying to get set up for the Sunday Show. Sometimes Equipment is left on the stage on Sat Nights by players, thinking it can sit there until they play on Sunday, I usually offer to move it for them especially if they are older than me.

We have a left and right stage operation thing at Saluda where one player is setting up while another is playing. That keeps the show going continiously. So its a matter of needing the space on stage to operate normally if someone is asked to move their equipment.

I have been helping Buddy at Saluda for 4 years now and have never seen or heard of any player being treated with disrespect.

Saluda is like a big family reunion where everyone who wants to gets to play or sing, Sometime during the weekend.

Saluda simply would not be as successful as it is , if Incidents happened like the one described above in Paul's post.

Saluda will proudly mark its 70th Show This May.

John Floyd

[This message was edited by John Floyd on 07 April 2004 at 02:14 AM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Paul, thanks for those touching thoughts!

Though your friend could never "cut it", at least he tried, and that's the real reward. It brings to mind an old quote by Churchill, I believe...

"They also serve who only stand and wait".

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

Paul,
My musical expertise is as lacking as anyone, maybe not as bad as you describe Ed, but if Buddy never asked me to leave, I don't think he would ask anyone. Also Buddy's post explains it ok I think.(and yours)

I may not play very well, but I have as nice looking rig as anyone, and I'm a good lookin guy, maybe as much so as Larry Moore, me and Larry look good on stage (ask Buddy)LOL......

DISCLAIMER.....The above statements by no means were meant to be taken as negative.I've known a few Ed's....."gotta love em" good post Mr. Paul.

Bill

[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 07 April 2004 at 11:58 AM.]

Ed Altrichter · From: Schroeder, Minnesota, USA

I've read this post about a dozen times now, and it always makes me laugh and cry in the same places !
Hank Thompson said at a concert once, to paraphrase him: "Country music doesn't only exist with those who write it or perform it. It lives in the hearts of those who love it and take it home with them."

Colm Chomicky · From: Kansas, (Prairie Village)

Paul,
That is a very touching story. No matter what your skill level, just put your heart in your playing and never give up. Keep pecking away and set your own personal challenge and ring that "bell" no matter what "curves" get thrown at you.

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

I have read everything that Paul wrote. Paul
expresses himself most eleoquently and that is what made Paul Graupp something special
during his Fender days writing "Fretts".

Being a field rep I was disappointed when Fretts no longer was published. CBS was not aware of the god given talent of Paul Graupp.

There are few of us Fender people left but I will always remember Paul and his contributions to Fender Musical Instruments.

As always a nice heartwarming story from a man with a heart to match.

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

Ed Hardy hasn't stopped playing steel guitar, he just switched to an Alkire "Harp"

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Thanks for the story ,Paul.

Jody- I used to read every issue of Fender Frets Magazine every month and I always read Paul's Interesting Steel guitar stories. He was in it through the early days ....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

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