Really Buddy??

Chris Sattler · Post by **Chris Sattler** » 28 May 2023 4:01 am

I found this on Youtube. There are two steelers listed in the credits. The one on the left is apparently Buddy Emmons and the other is Smiley Roberts. The singer is one Ross Keys who states in the comments that it is definitely MR Emmons on the left.

Well I don't think so. Both are playing a single neck. I've never seen Buddy with anything other than a twin. The Steeler on the left plays hardly at all in the three songs played, but when he does his left index finger is bent at 90 degrees to the bar. That is not something Buddy does. It was posted in 2012 but when was it recorded, I don't know. Buddy was well retired by then I believe and wasn't playing at all.

I do not know what Smiley Roberts looks like, but maybe that is Buddy on the right then?
Even so, I don't recall Buddy in a cowboy hat (apart from his early days) and torn jeans at all. Not his style. He did have beard for a bit??

Any thoughts on the matter? Idle curiosity is all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2rWyz--BRY

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 28 May 2023 5:35 am

The guy stage left is a helluva steel player but … Buddy Emmons? Naw.

Never mind the dates not adding up, Buddy could have disguised himself as Ralph Mooney & just showed up at this club where all they had was a spare S-10. And he did let out a loud Buddy-ish laugh at one point.

But he would have subtly and sometimes not so subtly taken over that bandstand with his singular playing and natural charisma.

The guy stage right looks like Russ Pahl. Ya think he’d be looking out at the crowd, seemingly slightly bored, if he was sharing the stage with the Big E? Doubtful. My guess is he would be intensely interested in what Buddy was doing. A nice clip, though.

Jim Park · Post by **Jim Park** » 28 May 2023 6:46 am

One look at the right hand technique tells me its not Buddy…

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 28 May 2023 7:00 am

Not either one far as I can tell. Opry band? Maybe somewhere but certainly not the GOO.

Smiley is the king of pranks and has been known to wear disguises, but the shot where that player takes his hat off, the face there is not Smiley's. Smiley does or did play a Sho-Bud LDG.

I don't know who the singer guy is, but he either doesn't know his steel players or someone is pranking him and just told him that is Buddy Emmons...not. It would take a lot of disguising to make Buddy look like that even as a joke....but I can be fooled, I guess.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 28 May 2023 9:12 am

Not sure about everyone but there's at least one Becky Hinson and Russ Pahl up there.

Bill Sutton · Post by **Bill Sutton** » 28 May 2023 10:26 am

No way that is Buddy on the left...Definitely Russ Pahl...But Russ is A great Steel Guitar picker.

John Kubicek · Post by **John Kubicek** » 28 May 2023 5:56 pm

Well, those are not Buddy Emmons or Smiley Roberts that's for sure. The one on the right kinda looks like Big Jim Murphy

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 28 May 2023 8:24 pm

Smiley with the hat and the giant smiley face on his yellow t-shirt.

Emmons player looks like Russ Pahl, as does his left index finger. If it is him, he looks like he would rather be anywhere other than on that stage at that time!

Lou Colbert · Post by **Lou Colbert** » 30 May 2023 2:41 am

The one on the right is Jim Murphy!!

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 30 May 2023 2:57 am

That's Smiley's Sho~Bud single neck with a smiley face sticker on the front apron and a smiley face plush toy hanging from the keyhead. Unless the guy got the date wrong also, it was recorded in 2011. Big Jim Murphy passed away in 2005.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 May 2023 8:07 am

I'll defer to those that have better info. I haven't seen Smiley in years. I suppose he'd grown a full beard since then. I missed the smiley dangle and the sticker, so I stand corrected.

So the consensus is that it's Russ Pahl, hadn't seem him with a beard either, on stage right and Smiley Roberts on stage left?

Lou Colbert · Post by **Lou Colbert** » 30 May 2023 9:30 am

From a family member of Murph's...That is for sure Jim Murphy on the right...That is his Bethel Steel made for him by Terry Bethel..has the pot leaf inlaid!!! Also Murph has his sax strap hanging around his neck!!!
I do not know when this was recorded but for sure not 2011!!!

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 May 2023 10:04 am

I give up. Sure looks like a single neck Sho~Bud to me....and so it continues?

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 30 May 2023 11:59 am

Jerry Overstreet wrote:I give up. Sure looks like a single neck Sho~Bud to me....and so it continues?

Hah, I thought “Murph’s” guitar was a Derby, Jerry!

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 30 May 2023 1:32 pm

Chris Sattler · Post by **Chris Sattler** » 30 May 2023 2:05 pm

Well, that's it then. Russ Pahl and Smiley Roberts. Thank you all.

However, I have seen these debates battle on and on. There was one case when finally Buddy Emmons chimed in and said "yep that's me." The debate raged on regardless. I guess some people don't read previous comments all the time.

Larry Welter · Post by **Larry Welter** » 6 Jun 2023 12:11 pm

guy on the right kinda looks like the guy called cowboy who used to play with hank jr??/

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