Johnny Gimble

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 9 May 2015 8:56 am

Just got word that the great Texas fiddler Johnny Gimble passed away this morning. Very sad to hear, though Johnny had been in very poor health for a long time.

I played many a fun job with Johnny, he had a great sense of humor (and a very dry wit). And brilliant musicianship.

We will miss you, Texas Fiddle Man. You're probably chatting up Bob Wills and other bandmates right at this very moment.

mtulbert · Post by **mtulbert** » 9 May 2015 9:05 am

What sad news you bring today Herb. I worked with Johnny alot in Nashville in the early 70's. Unbelievable musician and always had a smile on his face. Amazing picker.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 9 May 2015 9:53 am

So sad to lose Johnny . what a great person and talented musician. God's Speed , will miss him.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 9 May 2015 10:17 am

Very sorry to hear this. Such a nice, talented, funny man.

Darrell Birtcher · Post by **Darrell Birtcher** » 9 May 2015 10:32 am

Johnny was a treasure and a true gentleman. He once did a very kind favor for a friend of mine whom he didn't even know who was on his deathbed. I'd always liked Johnny's brand of fiddling but that act really elevated his status as a human in my book. Good to know the man was as warm as his smile. He was special.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 9 May 2015 10:54 am

One of my all time favorite fiddlers! He played on so many great songs and groups. We will all miss him!

Dennis Atkins · Post by **Dennis Atkins** » 9 May 2015 10:55 am

I am sorry to hear of Johnny's passing. He was one of my favorite musicians. I had always wanted to meet him, even though I never played the fiddle. I have seen him many times in videos and TV shows, and have enjoyed every minute of his playing. Being a big Bob Wills fan, I always enjoyed Johnny's playing with the Playboys. I have seen Johnny and Tiny Moore doing twin fiddles and twin mandolin playing on TV, and you couldn't ask for two of the finest musicians playing together.

Reese Anderson told me that when he first joined Bob Wills, it was Johnny Gimble who helped him quite a bit in playing Bob's style of music. Quite a compliment coming from a great steel player to his fellow musician. Thanks for the many musical memories Mr. Johnny Gimble.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 9 May 2015 11:20 am

There's a good 41 minute documentary on Gimble that you should be able to find on youtube. Done in 2011 by a Waco TV station. Title is "Waco Remembers".

Never met him and saw him perform only once, maybe 25 years ago in SF, with Vance Terry and Bobby Black. Picture below. He always struck me as someone you'd want to spend time with, his musicianship aside. Like Bobby and Vance, coincidentally.

First two pix below are from 1947. The group is "The Homefolks", a Waco band led by Jimmy Thomason and his wife Louise.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 9 May 2015 3:54 pm

Just a quick sample of what this great musician could do:

"I'm Falling on Love Again" Willie Nelson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVCWeUh5tXE

Here also is a documentary on Mr. Gimble, "Waco Remembers,"
produced by The City of Waco:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9lLjQCQcj0

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 9 May 2015 5:04 pm

Think it’s fair to say that Johnny may have been the “Standard” for many years... Always enjoyed watching him play on TV, and wish I’d been able to watch him play live.

Ford Cole · Post by **Ford Cole** » 9 May 2015 5:32 pm

Johnny and his son hosted a western swing workshop in Waco, Tx in the 90's and I was able to attend the guitar portion of the classes. What a super time all us us had with Mr. Gimble. A side note-Johnny led music in churches sometime in his past. May God bless and comfort the family at this time.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 9 May 2015 5:39 pm

The steel player in the 1947 photo that Mitch posted is Lou Rochelle. An old, dear friend of mine, Lou was inducted into the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame this past March. His other musical claim to fame was as writer of the TX dance hall standard made popular by Darrell McCall, "There's Still A Lot of Love in San Antone."

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 9 May 2015 6:33 pm

What a huge loss! He is the gold standard to which all western fiddle players should be compared.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 9 May 2015 7:01 pm

RIP Mr Gimble, Thanks for the memories.
The first time I met Johnny was at the ISGC in the late 70s. Bill Lawrence had a display of different Guitars with his P/U's in them. I picked up a Tele, he complemented me on my playing and invited me up to his room at break. I walked in and Johnny was on Mandolin and Bill was playing guitar. They were playing some smoking jazz. I was totally memorized. I played a couple songs with them but I new I wasn't in their class.

Skeeter Stultz · Post by **Skeeter Stultz** » 9 May 2015 7:53 pm

Johnny sat in with us at the Foothill one night. Sure glad I had the chance. Just a few tunes but that was memorable. Such a nice guy.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 9 May 2015 8:20 pm

A sad day in the music world. RIP, Mr. Gimble, a giant.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 9 May 2015 11:20 pm

That is really sad news. Another legend and pioneer gone. RIP Johnny and thanks for the great music!

Walter Stettner
Vienna, Austria

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 10 May 2015 4:41 am

I'm sorry to hear of Johnny's passing. I just loved his playing and his touch and tone... a big, warm fiddle sound... just awesome !! On top of that he was an absolutely great guy to be around.

I was fortunate enough to play several gigs with him back when. One cool gig was a Republican event in Houston in early 1980 that we played with Gene. Johnny sat in with us. We all got to meet soon to be Vice President, George H.W. Bush at that event too. Very cool!!

RIP Mr. Gimble. The mark you have made as a musician is unquestionably huge. My prayers and deepest sympathies go out for Johnny and his family.

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" Olson

Andy Eder · Post by **Andy Eder** » 10 May 2015 6:08 am

Truly a sad day to hear this. Growing up 40+ years ago, Johnny was all the older pickers spoke about. I remember him well.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 10 May 2015 9:38 am

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/jo ... ederated=1

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 10 May 2015 10:16 am

RIP Johnny Gimble ,Our old friend of many years from Southern California Country Music. Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr.

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 10 May 2015 1:21 pm

I'm sorry to hear about Johnny Gimble passing away. He was an incredible musician and an inspiration. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. May he RIP.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 11 May 2015 2:48 am

I noticed on that old photo from '47 that he was already playing a 5 string fiddle back then but then again, he was always ahead of his time. A wonderful musician and a nice guy....JH in Va.

Jeff Harbour · Post by **Jeff Harbour** » 11 May 2015 3:56 am

He had a long time friendship with my friend and mentor Reece Anderson. It's a comforting thought that those two guys are playing together again. Reece's "Steel Playin' Texas Swing" is one of the best steel albums ever recorded... So good you don't even notice the lack of pedals! Johnny's fiddle work on that album was amazing.

Jeff H.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 11 May 2015 5:48 am

http://www.discogs.com/Johnny-Gimble-An ... se/3402706

Anyone who doesn't have it should run down the 2 LP set shown at the above link.

Recorded about 35 years ago, with the best of the first generation of Texas western swing musicians, all of whom Johnny had known for decades---Deacon Anderson on steel, J.R. Chatwell, Bill Mounce, Zeke Campbell, Cliff Bruner,and Eldon Shamblin. Gimble on mandolin and some vocals.

I always thought it was the best western swing album recorded since the 1950s. Worth it if only to hear Deacon Anderson take off and to hear J.R. Chatwell run off at the mouth. Not sure if it ever made it to CD.

That group did a great performance on Austin City Limits in 1981--this LP may be the sound track from that performance? I haven't played it in a while.