Clyde Moody and a fine C6th back-up

[Paul Graupp]

Removed...

[Tommy Alexander]

Paul,
After lisening to these old records for a long time, I'd say that the steel player would be none other than the king "Jerry Byrd". He just that tone.
I haven't heard that old song for a long time.
I have some of the old 78's, I just have to find something to play them on.

[Paul Graupp]

Removed...

[Clyde Mattocks]

Paul, I did a tribute to Clyde Moody CD in Nashville a couple of years ago with Marshall Stephenson, who as you recall worked with Clyde and Homer on the morning show. When I was in the house band at the Pork Palace, Clyde would come out and do a guest spot on Sunday nights. He and I became good friends, what a gentleman! We had great session players Jimmy Capps, Billy Lineman, and Hoot Hester on the CD and I played lap steel on it and tried to capture the playing of that era.

[Paul Graupp]

Clyde: If you get to see Marshall, tell him I have very fond memories of working with him and the Daybreak Gang. He surely was a class act !!

Regards, Paul

[Jerry Fleming]

Hi Paul and Clyde,

I am pretty sure this was my dad's younger brother Jack Fleming playing steel on this cut and not Jerry. I have several home recordings of Clyde singing with Jack playing steel at our house. I remember Jack's aggressive break on this. My dad and Jack both were huge Jerry Byrd fans. They drove each other crazy figuring out those crazy bar slants and different tunings. Jerry replaced dad with ET ~1946 dad took it pretty well as he named me after Jerry. Jack played and recorded a lot with Clyde. We use to have some cool jam sessions when I was a pup... they drove my mom crazy because dad would just invite a ton of people over with out telling her and expect her to feed them

I will see I can dig up some of the old tapes.

Best Wishes for 2011,

Jerry

[Mitch Drumm]

Jerry:

Do you know if your uncle Jack Fleming played steel on Moody's "I've Only Myself To Blame" from 1950?

[Jerry Fleming]

Hi Mitch,

To be honest I am not sure about "I've Only Myself To Blame" I know that was around the same time Jack was working with Clyde. I will do a little more research and let you know what I find.

Kind Regards, Jerry

[Jerry Fleming]

First and foremost Jerry Byrd in my opinion was the finest steel guitarist of all time and hero and idol of everyone professional steel guitarist I know. I received a couple of emails that did not agree with my post and I apparently struck a nerve. My intention was not to start an argument or take credit away from Jerry. I will be the first to admit I make mistakes and this would not be my first. What I stated was what my personal experience was with Clyde and Jack playing the break exactly as it was recorded. I remember this very well because I was playing a couple of progressions wrong and Jack asked Clyde to educate me. I am pretty sure I have this on tape. It really does not matter... both my dad and Jack were excellent steel guitarist and their work and legacy speaks for itself.

Respectfully,

Jerry

[Clyde Mattocks]

Jerry, greetings. In the days that Jerry Byrd took the world by storm, there were quite a few players that could do his style quite convincingly. Byrd gets credit for a lot of Billy Robinson's work. As you say, no one is taking anything away from JB. He set the pace and created the style. We see many posts today in this forum where guys argue over who is playing on a particular record, Weldon or Hal or Paul or Buddy.

[Jerry Fleming]

Howdy Clyde,

You are so right. I was blown away when I heard Chris Scruggs play. I think Chris told me Katon Roberts was a good friend and his mentor. Katon and Jack were also good friends. Just for fun I am going to dig up some of the old tapes to listen to. I will have to borrow a reel to reel to run them off on to CD or DAT.

I would love to hear you tribute to Clyde. My new years resolution is to spend more time with my friends and picking!

Hope to see you soon!

Best Wishes,

Jerry