Another Buddy Emmons Story

Tom Stolaski · Post by **Tom Stolaski** » 8 Jan 2002 4:39 pm

After seeing posts about practice and motivation, this Buddy Emmons story came to mind. I'm sorry, but the Big "E" is still my favorite.
During the Casey Clark days, Buddy would spend all day at the library listening to jazz on headphones.
He would then come home and start practicing on his steel guitar. A large pitcher of orange juice would be placed next to him. He would practice ALL NIGHT LONG.........Till the sun came up. Then go to bed. Wake up. Library. Orange juice. Practice. Bed. etc.
I think you get the idea.
Now, if YOU want to be able to play at Buddy's level, just follow this recipe.......

Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 8 Jan 2002 5:35 pm

When I was a young man and learning to play the standard guitar I could practice for hours, but not that many hours. But then I didn't have anything else to do. I,ve cut down my time on the Forum but still don't have enough.

BC. [This message was edited by Bob Carlson on 08 January 2002 at 05:36 PM.]

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 8 Jan 2002 7:08 pm

I had the pleasure of talking on the phone, one time, to one of the ex Mrs Emmons. She recalled Buddy dragging his Bigsby to bed and practicing all night.

Tom Pickett Jr · Post by **Tom Pickett Jr** » 8 Jan 2002 7:56 pm

My father said out of all of his 45+ yrs
playin' that it was in minisota with the
wes holly show that in the middle of the
afternoon he heard someone playing in the
tent. he went in and it was buddy by himself
ofcourse.. and he asked dad to play drums
with him . to this day that was the best
time my dad everhad playin'

Dean Dobbins · Post by **Dean Dobbins** » 8 Jan 2002 11:45 pm

Tom Jr.:
And all this time, I thought that
it was backing me in Waterloo!
By the way, E-mail me the dates for
the Waterloo show, so I can reserve my
room(s)-- got some people coming with me
this year, and I'm paying for the rooms.

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Dino

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 9 Jan 2002 6:28 am

Dean The Norheast Iowa Steel Guitar Jam is Feb. 23-24 2002, It's a month before The First Annual Dairy State Steel Guitar Jam(aka The Udder Jam). That would be March 23-24, 2002

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Session 500, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 9 Jan 2002 7:21 am

Tom S.... You don't have to opoligize for the Big E. being your fave. (ha ha).
Chas S.... I know she ain't the only woman that came in second to a guitar.
Regards, fred

Dirk B · Post by **Dirk B** » 9 Jan 2002 10:11 am

Great post and great story --

Now I know the secret... drink more orange juice, drink more orange juice....

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 9 Jan 2002 10:57 am

If I tried to do the same thing, I´d be afraid that on my way home from the library I´d already forget half of the stuff I had been listening to...

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 9 Jan 2002 11:19 am

Chas S.... I know she ain't the only woman that came in second to a guitar.

Yeh, talk to my last ex, but be sure you're safe in a shark cage.[This message was edited by chas smith on 09 January 2002 at 11:21 AM.]

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 9 Jan 2002 11:03 pm

Orange Juice??? I thought B.E. was known more for "Lemonade" than orange juice!

Lem

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 10 Jan 2002 7:22 am

Desire and dedication are the keys. The sad part of E's life is not getting the recognition he deserves outside of the steel guitar world. I listen to local jazz stations and never hear an Emmons tune. The feeling he puts into phrases and passages shows how he feels at that specific moment...frustration, humor, sadness, etc. Only the great musicians can make the connection from the brain to the speakers and make it obvious. Maybe 100 years from now his life will fall into the catagory of famous painters? The "world" finally recognizes them when they're gone.

Only story I ever heard which could easily be a rumor?...Buddy was playing here in Iowa many years ago and for some reason decided to jump out of a 2nd story motel room window? Broke his ankle? Had someone bring his guitar to the hospital room, minus the legs, so he could lay it on his lap and practice? This is just a "hand me down" story and may be just that! My first thought was..."why jump out of a second story motel room window?"
Sounds like a "Coyote Ugly" story to me!

Dennis

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 10 Jan 2002 7:26 am

Dino....you beat me to that one! That's what I was thinking too! I say we don't talk to Tom Sr anymore!

Dennis

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 10 Jan 2002 8:43 am

I think he had a broken ankle when he played Bass for Roger Miller.But only he knows for sure.Both Thumbs and Roger are gone.
Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 10 Jan 2002 8:55 am

I think Buddy likes ( or did like) cranberry juice with a little vodka in it.. a Cape Cod maybe. I had a drink out of Buddy's bottle in St Louis a few years ago..weren't no label on it but I'm reasonably sure that it came out of a tank right off the flight line.Not bad either! regards...

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 10 Jan 2002 8:58 am

After posting it crossed my mind that it could have been some of the same "stuff" that Shot kept readily available in his back room at Sho-Bud...regards...

Buddy Emmons · Post by **Buddy Emmons** » 10 Jan 2002 9:19 am

Fred's post reminds me of the days when Shot and I were making Sho~Buds in Madison and the boys would drop by for a small taste. He always kept two grades of embellishment around: one he called "shop whisky", and the other, the "good stuff." He'd pour a cup of shop whiskey out for the guys and when they weren't looking, he'd sneak off into a corner and pour he and I some of the good stuff. Shot was a generous person but there was a time when he couldn't make it through the day without getting the best of somebody. Heaven only knows how many Shot Jackson stories there are out there.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 10 Jan 2002 9:51 am

Didn't call him 'Shot' for nothin', eh?

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 10 Jan 2002 11:53 am

Ry tells a story about when he hired Buddy to play on something. "All the studio 'cats' were laying around waitin' to see what the 'redneck' was going to do. So Buddy warms up with a run of bebop licks and all the eyebrows went up."

Anne Giroux · Post by **Anne Giroux** » 10 Jan 2002 11:20 pm

Hi Buddy
It's always great to read your postings on the Forum. I'm the gal who bought your Sho-Bud in the 60's with the gold pick-ups. I remember the jam sessions you played at the Andrew Jackson Hotel many moons ago. You were so young and so great a time I'll forever treasure and remember. Your recordings and videos are part of my daily diet. Not only are they a great inspiration but always uplift me when I'm down. It was so great to see and hear you again at the '97 International Steel Guitar Convention.
Always an Emmons fan...Anne Giroux

Tom Stolaski · Post by **Tom Stolaski** » 11 Jan 2002 7:50 am

Chas.. I assume you are talking about Ry Cooder?
Do you remember what Ry Cooder album has a redneck Buddy Emmons track on it?

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 11 Jan 2002 12:49 pm

Tom, I didn't ask what it was for, I was caught up in enjoying the story.

JACK HEERN · Post by **JACK HEERN** » 11 Jan 2002 6:24 pm

How dare you to hint that Buddy ever drank anything but milk or O J except when forced to by Shot or Ron Elliot. Both would hold a 38 Special on him from time to time!
Oh Wellllll see how rumors get started !!!
Hang in there Buddy don't let these tabiloid storys get to you !
jp

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 14 Jan 2002 2:00 am

I'll bet the no-label jug was the stuff that Ray Price made. I had some of it and it wasn't half bad. Between Buddy and Lynn Owsley, a guy could get a little tipsy.

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

nick allen · Post by **nick allen** » 14 Jan 2002 4:45 am

Re: Mr Emmons/Mr Cooder
They both worked on the sessions for "Arlo Guthrie", "Stories We Could Tell" by the Everly Bros, and quite likely a bunch of other sessions in the late 60s/early 70s in California. The story probably comes from one of those, rather than a Cooder album as such.
Nick