Buddy Charleton

George Crowder · Post by **George Crowder** » 25 Jan 2014 3:08 am

Remembering Buddy Charleton. It's been three years since this great player left us. Rest in peace, Buddy.
We miss you.

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 25 Jan 2014 6:46 am

George, there's hardly a day goes by that I don't listen to Buddy Charleton backing E T or one of his instrumentals with Leon, Jack, or Steve from my music library.
Buddy was as smooth as Silk and knew where and when to play.
I am glad I was able to tell Buddy, before he passed away, how much I admired his playing and musical ability. He will be remembered by me and many, many, others as one of the very best steel players that ever lived.
Thanks for your post.

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 25 Jan 2014 7:27 am

I second what George said. I too love and admire Buddy Charleton's playing and still have to have a Buddy fix weekly. Copying some of his licks can be a challenge especially when you try to get the emotion part of it in it. I never get tired of listening to one of my hero's.

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 25 Jan 2014 10:47 am

What an inspiration he was. . .

Thank you Buddy, we miss you.

Sincerely,
Craig Baker

George Crowder · Post by **George Crowder** » 25 Jan 2015 3:51 am

Remembering Buddy Charleton today. It's been four years since he left us. Rest in peace, Buddy. We
miss you.

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 25 Jan 2015 7:36 am

Amen to what George said, and I still have to have my Buddy Charleton "FIX" daily!

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 26 Jan 2015 1:56 am

One of Nashville's all-time top players mentioned to me recently that he honestly thought that if Buddy had remained in Nashville, he would have changed the course and sound of country music. He thought Buddy Charleton was the absolute best.
He's certainly not alone in his admiration of Buddy's talent.

Craig

Steve Alonzo Walker · Post by **Steve Alonzo Walker** » 26 Jan 2015 6:37 am

Buddy was and still is my inspiration for playing Steel! I did get to hang around him on occasion and he was so nice to be around and ready to show you any licks and give great advice. My big thrills were when Me and my Father lived in Nashville, I was around Nine years old and Me and Johnny Cox used to hang around backstage at the old Opry and bug all the Steel players. I used to follow Buddy and all the Troubadours into Tootsie's during their break and sit at their table. And on Saturday nights my Father and I would go to the Midnight Jamboree when Buddy was there with Ernest, and I would always make my way to the stage and stand right there where Buddy was...what a thrill to watch him play and what memories I have!

George Crowder · Post by **George Crowder** » 26 Jan 2015 7:19 am

Some of you folks were very fortunate to be around Buddy back in the Troubadour days to see and hear him
play and talk to him. In those days, I only saw him on the telecasts of the Ernest Tubb show. However, I watched closely when he took a break on a song or played an instrumental with Leon Rhodes.

I was fortunate to get to meet Buddy two or three years before he died. Don Fullmer and I were at Billy Coopers shop when Buddy came in one day to prepare for a lesson, and Billy introduced us. We had a nice conversation but it was brief because he was busy.

Later, I was fortunate to be able to attend a mini-concert that Buddy and Billy did at the store. Both played great that day and I will always remember watching those two masters at work.

Marvin Stegall · Post by **Marvin Stegall** » 9 Mar 2015 11:39 am

yes I miss the man and his playing, may he rest in peice

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 10 Mar 2015 9:37 am

I was fortunate to have taken lessons with Buddy about 15 years ago one summer. Besides learning a lot about the steel, and hearing stories, the guy was just a heck of nice person. stevet

Steve Knight · Post by **Steve Knight** » 11 Mar 2015 5:58 am

I took a half dozen lessons with Buddy about 10 years ago. He was a great teacher. As much as I really enjoyed the lessons, my favorite part of them was listening to his stories while breaking down my steel. I think of him every time I sit down to play.

Marvin Stegall · Post by **Marvin Stegall** » 11 Mar 2015 4:26 pm

yes he was a very nice guy, he got jobs playing
up in that area, I really miss him alot

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 11 Mar 2015 8:21 pm

Was there ever a guy who LOOKED more like he belonged sitting behind a steel?

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 11 Mar 2015 10:32 pm

Clyde,
Yours is an excellent observation. It was hard to tell where the steel ended and Charleton began. I don't know how he did as a bricklayer, but when it came to a maple Sho~Bud, the hat and the grin made it all work.

Craig

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 12 Mar 2015 8:08 am

Buddy Charleton had the "perfect posture" for a steel player IMHO! When I think of a Sho-Bud I see the "Big BC" - then the picture is complete!

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 12 Mar 2015 9:43 am

Craig, you bring up an interesting fact that I didn't know about Buddy and that is he was a Bricklayer by trade. Having been a "mud man" myself for a Bricklayer when I was a teenager eons ago, I saw how much attention to detail he had not to mention the hand dexterity. His hands, especially his right hand more than likely was enhanced from this type of work. (No Hi-Jack Intended Here!

)
I'm with John B., can't hear enough of Buddy's playing. Thanks for the post George...Carl

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 12 Mar 2015 9:35 pm

Carl,
Don't know how accurate it is, but I was told he did some brickwork at ET's home in Nashville.
This I do know. . . While visiting him in VA years ago, he asked me to get something from the back seat of his car. On the floor was a brick hammer and a couple of pointing trowels. He no doubt kept at both of his trades. Somehow, I can't picture sand and cement on those boots !

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