Buddy Emmons "The Big E"

Barry Coker · Post by **Barry Coker** » 21 Jul 2018 7:18 am

July 21 2018 Marks 3 years since the Passing of one of the Greatest Masters of PSG ever Buddy Emmons.
Rest In Peace and make Heavens Music even Sweater.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 21 Jul 2018 12:38 pm

I started playing steel in 1999 and at the time, after hearing the Christmas Sounds of The Steel Guitar record that Buddy did, I wanted to meet Buddy-and my first steel was an Emmons. So, in 2002, I was taking a trip to Murfreesboro, Tennessee and found out that Buddy would be playing steel with Johnny Bush at the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree. I got there and saw Buddy's black Emmons Lashley Legrande he nicknamed "Black Bart" and then sat with a few Nashville steel players, and every steel player got derby hats like Buddy wore in his career, and Carol Lee talked about how many of us steel players were there to see Buddy. After the show, I walked up to Buddy, and he looked at me and said, "So, you're Brett", and I said, "Yes". Then the next year, I talked with Buddy at the ISGC and told him I was still playing an Emmons guitar and he smiled, and then talked with him again at the NTSGA show when I played there for the first time. What great memories of Buddy Emmons!

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 22 Jul 2018 3:13 am

My favorite steel player. Buddy had everything a steel player could want. Speed, accuracy, knowledge on both necks, the ability to design steel guitars and great tone are some things that come to mind. I saw him several times at steel shows and when he played the room would fill up.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 22 Jul 2018 5:55 pm

Buddy was my all time favorite. My birthday is July 21 so it hits me every year at this time. I was able to see Buddy a few times over the years but not nearly enough. There's no amount of praise and respect to measure up to the talent and inspiration Buddy shared with us all. RIP Buddy.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 22 Jul 2018 7:29 pm

My annual day to feel Sad...

Bruce W Heffner · Post by **Bruce W Heffner** » 23 Jul 2018 10:15 pm

The steel guitar world just isn't the same without Buddy.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 24 Jul 2018 8:43 am

Oddly, Billboard magazine puts his date of passing as July 29. That's what I put as an annual event in my iCal calendar when it happened, so I tend to think that's correct. Many sources say it was July 21. Anyone know the factual date? Just curious.

Ron Brown · Post by **Ron Brown** » 24 Jul 2018 9:51 am

July 21st.

Len Ryder · Post by **Len Ryder** » 24 Jul 2018 11:07 am

Well, look at it this way. He was so far ahead of everybody else that the others thought they were first.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 28 Jul 2018 10:24 am

The news didn't reach the outside world (us) until a few days after his death. He was alone in the house when it happened.

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 16 Aug 2018 5:54 pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Emmons

Buddy Gene Emmons (January 27, 1937 – July 21, 2015)
=====================================================

Buddy Emmons
American musician
Image result for Buddy Emmons death
Date of death: July 21, 2015
Place of death: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Cause of death: Heart attack

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 1 Dec 2018 12:01 pm

To assess Buddy Emmons, would be extremely difficult if it was not for a true story I heard 40+ yrs ago:

"It seems there was a music critic (his name I have forgotten) that made the following statement at a musical convention in England.

The statement was, [Vladimir Horowitz is the greatest pianist living or dead!]. Whereupon an overzealous reporter took him to task and stated, [Have you heard every pianist?]

The critic paused for a moment and looked the reporter in the eye and said, [Perhaps my assessment of Mr Horowitz was not at all inclusive enough. For I failed to include THOSE YET UNBORN!]."

I shall add these words:

IF Buddy Emmons had chosen the Piano as his chosen instrument, this critic would have to EAT HIS WORDS!

Finis

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 11 Dec 2018 3:43 am

I miss him every single day and constantly kick myself for not asking him this or that. He was like a second father to me...

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 16 Dec 2018 11:05 am

Agreed, certainly a fellow with a number of guys who feel just like you and me do. Still weird when Buddy Gene will call me and the name shows up on caller ID...chokes me up every time, plus he sounds just like him!
Miss you immeasurably E... and Thank You.
MC

Maurice Daulton · Post by **Maurice Daulton** » 14 Jan 2019 5:16 am

thanks Buddy for all the memories

Adair Torres · Post by **Adair Torres** » 15 Jan 2019 5:35 am

I Still miss The Big "E" everyday....

Sorry but no one can beat Him !!!!

.....What a Genius...!!!!!

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 17 Jan 2019 12:20 pm

I remember sitting in Buddy's car with him one time, he played me some stuff he was working on. He just laughed and said, "I can't believe I've devoted my entire life to this non-tunable son of a bitch."

He will always be the king.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 17 Jan 2019 1:41 pm

No disrespect, but try as I may, I do not understand what Buddy was talking about.

Who or what is "this"?

Sorry for being do dumb.

forrest klott · Post by **forrest klott** » 18 Jan 2019 8:41 am

I think that Buddy was talking about the pedal steel in general.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 18 Jan 2019 10:53 am

And I believe Mr. Dixon was being humorous.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 18 Jan 2019 1:09 pm

Actually I was dead serious. But I realized AFTER I posted my comments; what he meant. And then I felt like a damned fool, because Buddy and I had several discussions about the horror of trying to get a pedal steel guitar "in" tune; and we both came to the conclusion that it is impossible.

How I said what I did on that post is beyond me! Oh well. Chalk it up to 86 yrs of trying to tune the damned thing! LOL.

The reason it is impossible; The overtones (harmonics) of this instrument are like NO other instrument in the world as I can tell. This is why other instruments CAN be tuned to ET (Equal Temperament) and sound fine to most ears. The most classic example is the piano.

But this is NOT the case with the PSG. IF you tune this instrument to ET; it sounds TERRIBLE to MOST players. Thus; why most tune it to JI (Just Intonation-often called "harmonically" tuned) or something close.

That works in some intervals; and it kills it in others and there is NO way to tune a SG to JI across all intervals. It is impossible.

One of the reasons I never cared for Western Swing SG, is because they often used E13th; and that tuning can NOT be tuned JI on all strings. So they are forced to tune ET or close to it. My ears can not take that. LOL. And that takes us back to what Buddy said.

May Jesus rest Buddy's soul. And Michael, may He richly bless you and yours always dear person.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 18 Jan 2019 3:53 pm

Mr Dixon:

I remember making the same point about some of Curly's recordings, yet you challenged me by asking: "Where was he ever out of tune?" or words to that effect.

It was mechanical out-of-tuneness (I've coined a phrase!) and no reflection on Chalker's amazing musicianship.

I had a conversation with Buddy at the Chattanooga show many years ago during which he vented some frustration by saying, and I quote: 'Damned steel guitar - it's set up to defeat you!'

He never sounded 'defeated' to me but I suppose he was having a bad day.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 18 Jan 2019 4:33 pm

Thank you Roger.

I agree with you. For NEVER once did I ever think he was out of tune. But there is a reason for that.

I found this out just recently from Tommy Dodd; one of my dearest friends; and one of the greatest SG players I have ever known. Who told me that Buddy had a knack of slanting his bar just enough to remove the "beats" which is inherent to ET.

Tommy went on to say, "I simply can not do what he did!"

To which I add: There will NEVER be another! For he was the greatest SG player that will ever have been.

And "That goes for those yet unborn!"

End of story. LOL

forrest klott · Post by **forrest klott** » 18 Jan 2019 7:45 pm

Here here, Mr. Dixon! Well put sir.

Skeeter

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 19 Jan 2019 2:44 am

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