Tunes Of The Week #24 - Jerry Byrd

[Joe Goldmark]

Steeler: Jerry Byrd
Tunes: Steelin' The Blues, Limehouse Blues
Album: Steel Guitar Favorites
Label: Mercury MG 20345, Year: 1961



There's no new ground here, it's just time to showcase a couple of favorite Jerry Byrd tunes. Not only was he the greatest non pedal player, he was also a fun guy and a gentleman. In the early 1970s he quit Nashville, where he had to play "second fiddle" to the pedal guitar, and moved to Hawaii where he was venerated for being the virtuoso that he was. He also got a weather upgrade.

I still have some wonderful letters that he sent me regarding my album projects, and the Steel Guitar Discography, etc. From the stories I've heard I wasn't alone. It seems that he always took the time to answer letters and to encourage young players. One of his albums is called "Master Of Touch & Tone." True dat.

http://www.vinylbeat.com/forum/22SteelinTheBlues.m4a

http://www.vinylbeat.com/forum/02LimehouseBlues.mp3

[Don McClellan]

Joe, Thanks for all the stuff you've posted. I don't always find the time to respond but I always listen and enjoy. Don

[S.M. Johnson]

Joe, I've passed along your kind email.

[robert kramer]

I didn't know there were words to "Steelin' the Blues!" Excellent!

[S.M. Johnson]

Why, they've been around since the first recording of the song, in the early 1950's was made. Rex Allen, Sr., was the first recorded vocalist for the song.