Can such a legend be replaced???

Charles Tilley · Post by **Charles Tilley** » 2 Aug 2015 4:18 am

The fact is that no one could ever replace such a talent that was Buddy Emmons is evident. The legend will never die in the hearts of those so close to the the steel guitar family and all of us know and feel that.
But I am in need of a living legend to give me the desire and the will to become better each day. Each of us have someone we admire and depend on to be the (encourager) and model to become better.

I simply submit to you that there are those still with us that can do exactly that for me and their names are Paul Franklin and Tommy White. I don't know how many of you feel the need I have.

I admired and looked upon Buddy Emmons as the Zenith of steel guitar and always will but I need someone living to feel close to because of their love and commitment to the same love I have.

Maybe some of you feel the same way. As for me, I choose Tommy White as legend to follow as I did Buddy.

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 2 Aug 2015 5:51 am

Charles, I agree with you, but I must add Mike Johnson to that list also. Larry

Charles Tilley · Post by **Charles Tilley** » 2 Aug 2015 6:02 am

I'm sure everyone has someone they look up to. Mike Johnson is a good choice but Tommy is my legend.
Have a great day Larry.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 2 Aug 2015 7:24 am

There are a lot of steel players to still revere (e.g. Lloyd, JayDee, Tommy White - to name a few) but no one can ever replace Buddy for me. The "Big E" was in his own league, much like the other iconic musicians that have defined their instrument: Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix, Andre Segovia, John Coltrane (you get the idea).

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 2 Aug 2015 8:53 am

no need to 'replace' any legends. there can be many.
as great as tommy, paul, mike johnson, steve palousak (sp), and so many others who have learned from buddy's direction are, the one's that inspire me now are the individuals with their own direction...coming from within their own unique perspective.
a couple examples of this would be :
jaydee maness
lloyd green

hearing everyone else trying to sound like buddy can get tiresome. show me some personal creativity.
not to slight the huge talents of the previously mentioned monsters.

there was never a doubt who it was when you heard
buddy or curly or ralph.
and as a caveat, paul does have his unique personal sound, it's just that so many players copy it, as with buddy, that it comes off as sounding generic from anyone but the original creator.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 2 Aug 2015 8:59 am

and just to add for rolene's sake, tom should be included in the unique and instantly recognizable column!

Wayne Quinn · Post by **Wayne Quinn** » 2 Aug 2015 9:11 am

I have to go with Toney on this one all the greats Toney mentioned are awesome. for me Tommy White would be a number one contender.jezz can he pick he blows me away when i here him. but i think Tommy and all the other great steel players would admit there was only one UNIQUE had it all guy . from inovation to masterful playing. was the one and only Buddy Emmons

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 2 Aug 2015 9:23 am

oh yeah...just got to mention another often overlooked HUGE talent who gets no respect but has been on top from the very beginning:
DOUG JERNIGAN

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 2 Aug 2015 11:22 am

The discussion will now be "the best living player"...

Drew Pierce · Post by **Drew Pierce** » 2 Aug 2015 1:45 pm

I understand and agree with the sentiments of the OP. I doubt any one of the great living players mentioned so far would dispute that a foundational part of their inspiration and playing came -- and will continue to come -- from Buddy Emmons.

The only analogy I can think of at this time would be Earl Scruggs and bluegrass banjo. Professionals and beginning banjo players alike still want to be able to sound like Earl. They may branch out and innovate, but they always refer back to the source from time to time. I think the same will always be true of Buddy.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 2 Aug 2015 1:50 pm

As I was reading about Tommy, Paul and Mike, Doug Jernigan came to my mind. Thanks Chris for bringing Doug in the mix. No one will ever replace Buddy Emmons, not that anyone ever thought they would. IMHO, Buddy was what I considered the "Total Package". Simply put, he was given a God given talent and was placed here to fill that and we all know he did for sure.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 2 Aug 2015 1:53 pm

Our community is populated with so many stellar musicians. Some have been less prolific, recording wise, but that in no way diminishes their talent. Any list will leave out amazing steel players, so I won't start that, other than to say Arizona's SWSGA has several that would be right at home at that high level. That said, I don't think Buddy Emmons will ever be replaced or overshadowed, nor should he be.

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 2 Aug 2015 3:04 pm

As much as I liked what Buddy has done for the pedal steel guitar... my #1 to me is Lloyd Green and I believe he is the one who added the "F" Knee lever.

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 2 Aug 2015 5:57 pm

One of the main ingredients that makes someone great besides "god given ability" is incentive. Incentive to practice, incentive to get the gear, incentive to lug the gear, the pay, love, travel etc. Many of us on the forum have known a time when there were lots of clubs and bands to play with and good music that suited the steel guitar.
Sadly, many of the incentives to put in the time to get good at the steel guitar aren't there these days.
Great players put in a major amount time at honing their craft.
Hopefully, in the future there will be more incentives to hone the craft of playing steel.
Buddy had great incentives that provided the fire for his inquisitive and curious mind: gigging, recording, companionship, and a knack for design, just to name a few.
"Replaced" implies the replacement is for someone or something and the times and circumstances will never be the same, although some of the incentives are still the same.

Mike Wilkerson · Post by **Mike Wilkerson** » 2 Aug 2015 6:20 pm

I think Buck Reid could be put in the mix. He is such a soulful player

Mike Wilkerson · Post by **Mike Wilkerson** » 2 Aug 2015 6:24 pm

Bobby Black is another great player

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 2 Aug 2015 6:35 pm

Buddy came through in a different era of steel guitarism so its really not a fair comparison to pick a number one in todays world of steel. There are just so many good players.
Now that Buddy is gone I consider it more like a collective of top players rather than just one at the top. I just can't put anyone else on that same pedestal and I am sure that they all (Doug, Paul, Tommy, Mike, Buck, etc) understand.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 2 Aug 2015 7:17 pm

The guys that Quentin has mentioned are all great players for sure. But there will only be one Buddy Emmons and I find it hard to put any other player up on a pedestal that high. Buddy was the Jimi Hendrix of the steel guitar. Yes we can learn from others but there was only one master. No one else I have ever seen had the ability, knowledge, and showmanship that Buddy had.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 2 Aug 2015 7:44 pm

There will always be great players. What set Buddy Emmons apart was that he was a constant innovator. He advanced the art of playing steel, almost as a matter of routine, over several decades. Someone said that "he taught us how to play". I shudder to think what might have become of pedal steel had Buddy not applied his brilliant mind to the musical and mechanical challenges of the instrument in its infancy.

Mike Wilkerson · Post by **Mike Wilkerson** » 2 Aug 2015 7:47 pm

I agree 100% bOb

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 2 Aug 2015 10:03 pm

Ditto to what b0b said.

Still, my living legend would be Lloyd Green. It's easy to forget how much his sound and approach influenced a whole bunch of us.

A good question is: who would the top pro's of today name as their biggest influences? I suspect Buddy would be atop virtually all the lists, but it would be interesting to hear their other nominees.

Out here on the West Coast, JayDee Maness would have to be right up there, and the list of passed-on heroes would include Ralph Mooney and Tom Brumley, of course.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 2 Aug 2015 10:50 pm

Buddy was my best friend. We'd mail back and forth several times a week. In all seriousness, Buddy was the most amazing person I've ever known. He was a pretty good steel player, too.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 3 Aug 2015 1:50 am

I feel legend is the wrong term. When I think of Buddy and what he has done in his life with regard to music and Steel Guitars I don't lump in other great players at the same time, Loyd, Doug, ,Paul ,Mike, Tommy, Herby Wallace etc. They each have unique and specific qualities and are each well deserving .They are the cream of the crop. I personally think it's an error to put them all in the same sentence. Each of them deserve there own sentence. Who could even begin to describe what each has done, Loyd being the perfect example of this...

Buddy was more of an iconic place card,he set a foundation for others, he wasn't just a player, he was leading a path, setting goals, setting the bar. Buddy had a Machete' in his hand blazing a path thru the thick forest! I didn't know him personally but listening to the many things he has done on "record ", it was easy to see he was not content with any form of status quo whatsoever ! Just take a look at the various CD's/LP's he has recorded, produced, songs he has written etc. Thats not a sign of a legend, thats a legacy.

Then add to it his mechanical and tuning advancements. IF you take away the music,( please don't) we still have a leader , someone who took what was in front of him to the next level.

As Bob so correctly stated, Buddy had a brilliant mind, he could have achieved anything he wanted in life and how fortunate to us that he decided to play a silly Steel Guitar !

Then end up with his name plastered all over the planet on two different brands of Instruments.

and...

I am reminded of what Herby Wallace (RIP) once said while playing a set at St Louis, wonderful guy, great player, he said ( something like this ) , After school the other kids would go play ball, I would go home and practice to Buddy Emmons records then at night before I went to sleep, I would pray to Buddy Emmons...

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 3 Aug 2015 2:01 am

By the way, someone above states that Doug doesn't get his due respect ? Thats a joke , right ?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 3 Aug 2015 3:40 am

No, there is only one who gets to be the "shining star" in each area, the one who innovates, teaches, and builds the foundation for everybody else, and the one who becomes the role model for the majority. Buddy happened to be there, at the right time, and with genius and dedication. He designed steels, he built steels, and he was the major innovator for tunings and pedal setups. He devised many of the licks and phrasings that identify the instrument, and he played with a polish and style that was instantly recognizable. He played many different kinds and styles of music, and he played with the best there was out there.

Sure, everyone has a personal favorite, there are many great players out there, but no one has done it all...except Buddy.

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Can such a legend be replaced???

Can such a legend be replaced???

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