How did he get to be Buddy Emmons?

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 24 Apr 2003 5:35 am

Last night, listening to Mr. Emmons’ seemingly effortless playing on “Hillbilly Jazz,” I found myself wondering how he got to be so good. (!) Here are a couple of questions that came up.

Was there a particular period in Buddy Emmons’ life when he was “consumed” by the steel, perhaps practicing for hours a day? If so, when was this? His early teens? Late teens? I believe he left high school early and went to work with bands.

Were his gigs in Calumet City formative? That is, was it during this time that he put in the hours and played with such a variety of musicians that he could play anything, any time?

How did he learn theory? From materials, other musicians, native intuition, or a combination?

We know that kids learn—acquire, more accurately--foreign languages easily before the age of about 14, when the brain seems to become fully wired ("Critical Age Hypothesis"). Seems like the same thing occurs with musicians who start early: they make progress very quickly.

Listening to lick after lick, beautifully connected, Mr. Emmons never at a loss for something to play, reacting to what the other cats were doing, swinging fiercely: for a minute, I contemplating burning my Carter and taking up basket weaving as a hobby . . .

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....

Bobby Bowman · Post by **Bobby Bowman** » 24 Apr 2003 6:32 am

Chris,
Without trying to be "over cute",,, that's kinda' "all in the hands too",,,,,

BB
ps: Stick with the Steel. It's more fun.

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 24 Apr 2003 6:51 am

I will share the following bit of trivia that may shed just a little light on the subject.

Buddy Charleton told me once that he watched Buddy Emmons practice NOTHING but chimes for four solid hours back stage at the Grand Ole Opry!

If BE did this for chimes, it would suggest that he did it for everything. When you add that to God given talents, it makes for the world's greatest steel guitarist; from where I stand.

carl

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Apr 2003 6:57 am

Um... Chris, wasn't that Doug Jernigan on "Hillbilly Jazz"? At least he's on my copy of it!

Terry Wendt · Post by **Terry Wendt** » 24 Apr 2003 7:16 am

That grin came upon my face too Jim... when I was reading

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PedalSteel.us Magazine

TheEarlyDays.com

and appearing regularly...aLotOfSpace.com
Jimmy Crawford/Russ Hicks... and Buddy Emmons on Bass!

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 24 Apr 2003 8:17 am

Jim,

Yes, that's Doug on Hillbilly Jazz.

Chris,

As far as I can tell, Buddy got to be Buddy Emmons through the act of birth.LOL
And yes I've heard he practices religiously, Just like all the other great players.

Mike Sweeney

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 24 Apr 2003 8:59 am

I do believe you guys are correct. I too have that album on Flying Fish records. Its pretty old but I still like it. "The Steel wasn't made to Raz-A-Ma-Taz". Good ol Doug can sure make it do so. : )

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 24 Apr 2003 10:10 am

During my many years of listening.....I do believe that the BE's, JB's, etc., are plucking and sliding to a different master, possibly. I know that if they have something in the back of their mind, they spend the required time to dig it out, like an author of a great novel, or airplane designe or whatever. Too many of us, GIVE UP when the work gets a little difficult.

With regard to "BACKUP" playing. I KNOW FOR CERTAIN that the BE's, JB's, and others, DO LISTEN to the vocalist and when they play, it is complimentary throughout. Listening to many other pickers, you'll realize immediately that they have no conception of what the singer just mouthed, nor the phrase to which the words were sung. They just play, often loud and furiously, and seem to be satisfied with their misguided efforts.

Audiences all to often, have no idea of how good or how bad someone plays.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 24 Apr 2003 10:50 am

Ray,

Truer words were never spoken. Let me give you three examples of this very thing:

Buddy Emmons' "Once Upon a Time in the West"

Buddy Emmons' "Witch's Brew"

Jerry Byrd's, "LaCumparsita"

In all three examples, the instrument is used to perfectly emulate a sound NOT found commonly when one thinks of the steel guitar.

In other words, these two maestro's have an ear/brain/heart combo that is soooo in tune with the basic nature of sound, that they are able to duplicate precisely, sounds that could otherwise only be imitated; if that.

And lastly, NO players on earth could ever be better when it comes to backing a singer than these two giants. It has been said,

"They deliver the NEXT note to the singer on a Golden, diamond studded platter".

and....

"They always have one more note, if they need it"

I agree totally, bless Jerry Byrd and Buddy Emmons. The steel guitar was given a blessing that is unprecedented when God gave these men the talents and desire to play our chosen instrument,

carl

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 24 Apr 2003 11:13 am

Too many of us, GIVE UP when the work gets a little difficult.

Sometimes, and reflecting on the things that Mr Charleton told and showed me in my brief period with him, I think that what they settle for in the aftermath, they call "Their Style".

Possibly even "Retirement".

and from the "headline" post:

Mr. Emmons’ seemingly effortless playing

No doubt as to which is the "Operative" word here, is there?

I imagine Mr Emmons had some forgettable gigs, if only "Back Home in Calumet". I'll bet it was a rough place. Probably still is.

I LOVED the Midnite Jamboree with Mr Bush. It reminded me of how a REAL live band should come off. Glitches and all.

I'll be a regular listener from here on out.

Went out and saw a Great Band lst night at a local club. I'm working on making some streaming .rams of it. I'll post them Friday If I get a chance before I head out to the "sleep in my car" gig I'm doing down on the coast.

It had changed since I was there last. The Steel Player was made to take his amp "on stage" behind the piano bar. Seems that people were complaining that he was "too loud".

Hmm.... Wonder who that was...

( Just kidding Ray)

EW [This message was edited by Eric West on 24 April 2003 at 12:30 PM.]

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 24 Apr 2003 2:57 pm

I'm assuming you are talking about Redneck Jazz. (Diggin-Doug is indeed on Hillbilly Jazz.)

The period of Buddy's life when he was consumed, started in 1937 and hasn't stopped yet. (He's got a 12 string C6 practice board in his bedroom...) I'm sure there were times when it was more or less intense, but it hasn't gone away. I remember a story that Jeff Newman tells about him having a room over a bar. He came home from work and Buddy was jamming in a bar. He watched for a while then went up to bed. He got up the next morning to go to work and Buddy was still there playing.

As for the Calumet City days: I've heard a couple of things that were recorded around that time. It was already "Buddy Emmons" playing on those recordings.

I don't know about theory, but he learned to read music out of necessity when he moved to LA. He went to a session there and they handed him a sheet of music. He made it thru that session and went right out and bought a stack of music books and went home and learned how to read.

Buddy's playing sounds (and looks to be,) effortless. It's not. He has put a number of years into making it look that way.

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 24 Apr 2003 3:06 pm

Thanks for your insights, guys.

Yes, the album title was wrong. (Wasn't there a "Hillbilly Jazz" back then, too?)

Anyhow, I appreciate the tidbits. I played in Cal City around the winter of 1967. It was a bleak place then, after its heyday.

Chris

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 24 Apr 2003 3:12 pm

I thing it was about 8 years ago at the St Louis Convention Butch Cornwell got Buddy to come up the his room there at the hotel and "just stay a few minutes" to show him a couple of things about Travis picking on his guitar. Well a whole bunch of us showed up and sure enough the "Big E" was there. He played non-stop for us I bet for at least and hour and a half. I couldn't believe that someone could have that much enthousiasm (sp?)to just sit there and play for a bunch of harry legged guys. It was phenominal. Most of us had camera's but I don't think there was even 1 picture taken. So I can't prove it! But I will never forget it.

MALCOLM KIRBY · Post by **MALCOLM KIRBY** » 24 Apr 2003 3:22 pm

Chris,
Perhaps you are thinking of the "Redneck Jazz Explosion" that Buddy did with Danny Gatton

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 24 Apr 2003 4:07 pm

Buddy & Danny. My god what a roller coaster ride of listening. I listen to Song of India every night on my way to sleep. Just incredible.
-andy-

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 24 Apr 2003 7:13 pm

I have heard stories that Buddy and Jimmy Day would come in off the road and get a motel room. They would sit there steel to steel for days swapping ideas. Bring food and drink into the room, sleep when they had to, but basically, just steeling non-stop for days. Was there a time in all the greats lives where the steel became an obsession, and for some, still is?

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 25 Apr 2003 6:21 pm

George-I think you got it right! Ernie, correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't BE born about 1935? If he started to play steel in 1937, he must have been about 2 years old. A Living Legand.....al

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 25 Apr 2003 9:27 pm

Al,
Buddy's birthday is 1-27-37 and he started on steel around age 11. He first started on violin in school about age 10 and gave it up after about a year. He became interested in the spanish guitar and then switched to a six string steel guitar under his father's suggestion. The rest is history...and we have "all" benefitted ever since!

Dave

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 26 Apr 2003 6:14 am

Al;

Dave is right on the date.

What I was implying was that it started at birth and hasn't gone away. In the Real World, I'd guess it started in '47 or '48 and has continued to blossom.

I don't think many of us would (or could for that matter) put in the hours of practice, jamming, sessions and thought that Buddy has. I'm sure there are times that it has been intense. It is the price of genius, which Buddy truly is.

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 26 Apr 2003 7:33 am

"Musik is Life,
if you don't live it,
it won't come out of your instrument"
who said that ?
[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 26 April 2003 at 08:34 AM.]

Buddy Emmons · Post by **Buddy Emmons** » 26 Apr 2003 8:08 am

Junior Ward...

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 28 Apr 2003 12:52 pm

I don't remember Junior saying that. Elmer or Chuck, maybe.

C#

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 28 Apr 2003 3:11 pm

"Hillbilly Jazz" Doug with a great Vassar Clements

at Long Hollow Jamboree,pickin some bluegrass with my idols...

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[This message was edited by Damir Besic on 28 April 2003 at 04:14 PM.]