Con Hunley - Mike Johnson steel

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 13 Apr 2014 10:52 am

One of my favorite country singers and favorite country songs of all time. Notice the unique lick by Mike Johnson and how it got the band's (especially Jimmy Capps) attention. Con can put more feeling in a song than anyone. Con is one of the few singers that can sing several styles of music and do them all well. I've worked some with Con and watched a lot of his shows and he always has something to please everyone.....and he does it without the aid of light shows, fog machines, etc.... If there's ever been the real deal entertainer, it's Con Hunley.

http://youtu.be/XSg5a2JndTg

RC

Rod Robichaud · Post by **Rod Robichaud** » 13 Apr 2014 1:37 pm

Ahhh. You just gotta love that Emmons!

Rod

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 13 Apr 2014 2:20 pm

Thanks for posting the link. Mike Johnson sounds so good on any steel and I love to hear Con Hunley sing with such feeling. Yeah, the guys in the band perked up on Mikes solo.

Jim Eller · Post by **Jim Eller** » 13 Apr 2014 6:37 pm

Heck Rick, I play licks like that all the time, by accident. I figure if ya do 'um twice in a row, folks think that's the way it is suppose to be.

Gary Watson · Post by **Gary Watson** » 13 Apr 2014 11:23 pm

There's only one word to discribe Mike....A-W-S-O-M-E!!

Roy Peterman · Post by **Roy Peterman** » 14 Apr 2014 4:05 am

Con sang his butt off, Mike played a great turn-around, and had that great tone on his Emmons! That is what Country Music is, and so little we hear today.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 14 Apr 2014 11:42 am

I Have To Agree With Roy. Con Hunley Sings The
"Real Country Music".

Roger

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 15 Apr 2014 7:26 am

Mike is just about the King of steel guitar tone these days. He works so hard to get that tone, regardless of which guitar he plays. I love that Family Reunion band, they are all such great players.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 15 Apr 2014 7:36 am

Excellent vocals, excellent back up band. This is real country music. There is more emotion in this one performance than in all the music being played on country radio today. I think Mike is my favorite working steel player these days.

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 16 Apr 2014 4:00 pm

I love it and Mike Johnson is awesome and what a singer Con is.

Tony

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 17 Apr 2014 6:33 pm

I thought you guys would enjoy this one. I know Mike Johnson must feel honored to be recognize by some here as the top working steel player in Nashville. I've followed Mike's playing ever since his Bill Anderson days and I've never failed to be impressed. His status as band leader and music director on several nationally syndicated TV productions is indicative that his talents are not just limited to a seemingly unlimited supply of tasteful steel guitar licks. If Mike is not Hall Of Fame material, I don't know who is.

RC

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 18 Apr 2014 1:50 pm

Gary Watson wrote:There's only one word to discribe Mike....A-W-S-O-M-E!!

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 18 Apr 2014 10:07 pm

What can you say - that is simply beautiful. Gave me chills!

Kind Regards, Walter

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 26 Apr 2014 6:04 pm

A bump for Con and Mike.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 28 Apr 2014 1:58 pm

Tim Tyner · Post by **Tim Tyner** » 28 Apr 2014 2:17 pm

Told ya Clyde!

Asa Brosius · Post by **Asa Brosius** » 29 Apr 2014 11:16 am

That break was exquisite- but I was distracted by what looks like a dollar menu hamburger on Mike's C6 tuner head...

Tim Tyner · Post by **Tim Tyner** » 29 Apr 2014 6:32 pm

I think it is a leather pouch for bar and picks.Sure
didnt distract me any.Jimmy played perfect intro and fills as always.What a great band!

Desmond Johnson · Post by **Desmond Johnson** » 17 May 2014 7:06 pm

The lick that got everyones attention is a 4 sharp 7th to a 5 7th on strings 4,5 + 6. Use of a slide from one fret to another adds flavor to the pedals and Mike uses it all the time. He also likes the BC pedals in Hughey land. His 2012 album is a masterpiece.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 29 Jul 2014 6:11 pm

From an earlier post I did in 2010. Same song, same Con..... But Herby Wallace this time.

Posted 27 Aug 2010 9:08 pm
Ok, here's one of the best country songs ever written and a top notch performance by my neighbors Con Hunley and Herby Wallace on steel..... LIVE!!!!!!! I've got the CD with some of Nashville's finest on the session, but to my ears, they don't even come close to this performance. Listen particularly to the lick Herby does on the first chorus where it goes to the 2 chord, and the fantastic break. So much taste and feeling in this song and the lyrics hit home to so many people. To me this is as close to the perfect country music performance as I ever expect to hear.

If you listen to the lyrics of this song and it doesn't pull on your emotions, then you are obviously not a country music fan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qkwl7TquDw

RC

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