Buddy Emmons, Look at THIS career!

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 24 May 2008 5:29 pm

I have recently been really thinking about the immortal Buddy Emmons and what this true genious has contributed to steel guitar over the past 60 years, whew!

Lets all take a moment to re-think this great player and what he has done for us and how he has indirectly or directly changed all our steel guitar playing lives.

Possibly many of the younger players don't realize this mans influence on the world of steel guitar and what it is today.
I feel we all owe him a quite vote of thanks.

Thoughts on this subject?

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 24 May 2008 6:10 pm

I am confident that all young, dedicated pedal steel players, will at some point acknowledge who's on first. As the hardware of pedal steel evolves, I suspect playing styles and technique will take a change too. There still won't be any denying where this all started and who made it happen. Bobbe, my "vote" was casted years ago, for BE.

Moon in Alaska · Post by **Moon in Alaska** » 24 May 2008 6:12 pm

Bravo !!!!
We can't say enough about Buddy !!!!
I just hope the new, younger players get the chance to learn about everthing he has done for Steel Guitar
playing !!
My Salute, Buddy !!
Moon

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 24 May 2008 7:03 pm

I marvel at licks Buddy created and performed 50 years ago. And the hits just keep on coming.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 24 May 2008 7:06 pm

Who?

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 24 May 2008 8:42 pm

Gary Lee Gimbal,
I wish what you said was 100% true, but many great players that laid the foundation for us all are slowly becoming unknown.
I recently had a very good young pro steel player from the Gospel field come into my store and ask "who is that player on the CD being played now, he's good!". My reply was, "that's Buddy". He exclaimed, "Buddy Who?" I told him it was Emmons, to which he asked,"he's good, is he new in town?"
I feel many of us "Old timers" would be shocked at how little many of the newer players know about our history, even the recent history.
Next time you go to a steel convention, ask some folks about Curly Chalker, you'll be supprised at the blank stares you'll get!
How many players are in the SGHOF have you not heard of? Several I bet.

Come on guys, lets keep the history alive and let the next shift know what was done for them,

Memorial Day Weekend, remember those that served in the military. Some gave the ultimate for our freedom. And remember the great steel players that made out lives more enjoyable in a free country because of their great efforts also.

Gary Lee, I know it is unconcevable to think that someone doesn't know who Buddy is, especially after we have known him and many other great old pros all our lives, but believe me, I'm seeing it, and I don't want to.

There are a lot of new players, yep, lots. Many think that Robert Randolph, Jerry Garcia, Buddy Murrell, Santo and Johnny are the only players in the world. You know this is true because there are players on this forum that think this way!

Gary, I don't like it either, I don't want to see it, and I don't want to believe it, but I'm seeing it.

I don't want to just live in the past, I want to remember the past and honor the greats that made my life what it is today, (good or bad

)Buddy is one, and there are many others.

It's our chance now to mentor the new guys, and to try to be their Buddy Emmons, (big shoes to fill, granted) But if I can give back, share what was handed down to me, I feel it's my duty to do so.

I'm sure you agree with this Gary knowing you. Yep, hard to believe the years going by and the changes that are happening. Seems only yesterday that I was paying only 26 cents a gallon for hi-test Blue Sunoco gasoline for my '63 Stingray,

Thank you Gary and everyone,
Bobbe

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 24 May 2008 8:43 pm

Douchette, you kill me!

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 24 May 2008 9:20 pm

Douchette WHO ?

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 24 May 2008 9:36 pm

IMO,I think Buddy and Day were the two big influnces on steel as we know it today,but remember bet they had HEROS also.And Bobbe I remeber you saying one time a young guy that had been playing three years came in your shop,you had a Curly tape playing,he had no clue who he was,kind of sad don't you think.DYKBC.

Mike Poholsky · Post by **Mike Poholsky** » 24 May 2008 9:58 pm

I think it shows how YOUNG this instrument is. I get a feeling in my gut that this instrument is on the verge of going in some new and exciting directions. Through what I read on this Forum and see on You Tube there are people starting to play steel that have no idea of the history of the instrument. I am excited to see where the Steel Guitar is going to go. I have always felt that the potential of this instrument has barely been scratched. Now, all that being said, the greats and pioneers up to this point in time should not be forgotten. I doubt that will happen as they have contributed too much. Like many other fields, the emphasis of attention may change to the players that are doing new and different things now. Bobbe is right. As I meet new younger players I like to share some of my favorite steel music and knowledge of the greats, but it is very cool when I'm introduced to something new that I haven't heard before. Just my opinion!

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 24 May 2008 11:11 pm

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 25 May 2008 1:00 am

Are you sure, Bo????

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 25 May 2008 3:13 am

BobbeSeymour wrote:Douchette, you kill me!

Bobbe, sad part is, there are a lot of youngsters seriously asking that...

Bill Dobkins wrote:Douchette WHO ?

Bill... the REALLY sad part is they're asking that in every age group!

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 25 May 2008 4:37 am

I'm sure that when the book is written on the psg Buddy will get a whole lot of ink. I first heard him with Earnest Tubb, I guess 50 years ago. I collected ETs LPs, heck the bars I frequented in Japan had ETs LPs and would play them on request. I think that most of us have our own heroes, so to speak, but Buddy Emmons started a lot of stuff. I remember an instrumental he did on a ET recording and Jay Dee Maness showed me how; I don't know how many times I played that. Thanks Buddy & Jay Dee.

Joe Smith · Post by **Joe Smith** » 25 May 2008 4:57 am

I still remember the first time I heard Buddy play. He was with Little Jimmy Dickens and they played in Charlotte NC. Man, that was quite a few years ago. I must be getting old

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 May 2008 4:57 am

BobbeSeymour wrote:I recently had a very good young pro steel player from the Gospel field come into my store and ask "who is that player on the CD being played now, he's good!". My reply was, "that's Buddy". He exclaimed, "Buddy Who?"

"There is none so blind as he who will not see." $:\$

Gary Lee, I know it is unconcevable to think that someone doesn't know who Buddy is, especially after we have known him and many other great old pros all our lives, but believe me, I'm seeing it, and I don't want to.

There's really nothing wrong with that. If you don't follow a player's style, if you don't like what he plays, it's real easy for him to not be on your radar.

I don't want to just live in the past, I want to remember the past and honor the greats that made my life what it is today...

A lot of new players aren't interested in the past, they want something new and different. If you talked to Buddy back about 1956, he'd brobably be thinking the same way, and I'd guess that's why he didn't stay with a non-pedal guitar.

When I started playing pedal steel back in the mid '60s, there were 3 players whose names were shining beacons: Emmons, Chalker, and Green. And they are still beacons, to a lot of us. I'm glad I lived through those years.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 May 2008 5:28 am

Ask any kid who walks in to a Guitar Center to buy a knock-off Strat if he knows who Segovia was. If he doesn't, be sure to ridicule his lack of knowledge of 'the history' of his instrument and make sure he knows that he is not worthy to play it. In about 5 or 10 years you can then complain about how your instrument has been marginalized and is dying. It's a complete system! Try it-- it works!

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 25 May 2008 5:30 am

While I was thinking of something appropriate to say, Donny and Bobbe said it all. Then I went to WS's clip of the week and got a nice reassurance.

Regards, Paul

John McGlothlin · Post by **John McGlothlin** » 25 May 2008 5:36 am

All I want to do is just voice my honest opinion on steel guitar. I was first inspired with the sound of steel guitar from listening to the Happy Goodman Family back in the 70s and just recently learned that the magic sound of pedal steel was done by Jack Smith..he had a style that originated from Buddy Emmons. A couple years later I heard a gospel group from Mt. Airy NC known as the Easter Brothers. The man was Russel Jr. on pedal steel and then later it was his first cousin on pedal steel his name is Steve (Rabbit Easter). All these men brought out the Buddy Emmons style to me. Later on I took interst in the real Nashville sound that was done by greats like Weldon Myrick, Hal Rugg and Sonny Burnett. Its the use of that lever that drops the second string a half and a whole tone that cought my ear and is in my opinion the true and only definition of real pedal steel guitar. I personaly will always favor the C6th sound because of what I have heard out of Curly Chalker and John Hughey. I'll admit I was wrong in criticizing the modern day country music and basing my critisism on George Jones songs but those kind of songs are pulling the steel guitar out of focus. I guess maybe I'm just more of a pedal steel guitar fanatic rather than a country music fanatic. The point is...Buddy Emmons has inspired everyone of us and we all owe him the thanks.

Len Ryder · Post by **Len Ryder** » 25 May 2008 5:41 am

There are imitators and inovators. Emmons is the inovator. Like Segovia in classical music there will be only one Buddy Emmons ! ! !

Len Ryder
Princeton
B.C.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 25 May 2008 5:51 am

I would equate being unfamiliar with Mr. Emmons to driving an automobile and not knowing who Henry Ford was. He may not have actually invented the concept, but who did more to develop it and make it what it is today.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 25 May 2008 6:02 am

Yeah, Jim - that's true. I agree that ridicule is a bad idea.

But speaking as a guitar player who used to owned a guitar store and have and still do interact with a lot of younger players - the serious younger guitar players I have known really want to understand everything - like a sponge, they just want to soak up everything they can about guitar. That goes across all styles - believe me, the serious speed metal guitar players know about Segovia and lots of other classical musicians - in fact, that style is very heavily classically influenced. I don't know any serious guitar player of any age who doesn't know about Chet Atkins, Danny Gatton, Merle Travis, Lenny Breau, Wes Montgomery, or any one of a number of the greats of the past. Frankly, it's hard to get serious about guitar and not have this kind of info thrust at you.

I'll bet that, as they develop, serious younger steel players also want to soak up this kind of information. But information about steel guitar - especially pedal steel - is nowhere near as prevalent as comparable info about guitar. It's such a young instrument. You don't walk into a guitar center and grab books on pedal steel history off the rack. Those kinds of guitar books are a cottage industry.

I just tell anybody I run into who wants to learn steel - in any style - to join this forum to dig out the info they need, and also make sure they know about the major steel guitar centers like Bobbe Seymour and Billy Cooper. We have a job to educate - the responsibility falls on us if we simply understand there's a need.

As for Buddy Emmons - what can I possibly add?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 May 2008 7:31 am

Dave Mudgett wrote:...the serious younger guitar players I have known really want to understand everything - like a sponge, they just want to soak up everything they can about guitar. That goes across all styles - believe me, the serious speed metal guitar players know about Segovia and lots of other classical musicians...

Dave, I'm sure that's true, but the world is much bigger than just the 'serious' players, regardless of what the instrument is. In fact, one could say that the hordes of 'less serious' players are what keep the instrument alive. (What? You want to learn to play piano, kid? Better start listening to Horowitz, son, or you'll never be any good. But, but, I want to play da bloos!)

IMHO, they can learn about Horowitz, or Emmons, when the time is right for them. If they never get there, so what? Did they enjoy playing along the way? Did they make anybody else smile along the way? I love Buddy and his music as much as the next guy but, in the end, it's not about the personalities, as important as they may have been (or still are) to the development of the instrument.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 25 May 2008 8:00 am

What becomes an legend most:
The respect and acknowledgment of his talented peers.

Bobbe you said a mouthful!

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 25 May 2008 8:18 am

when i decided i wanted to learn how to play, I had no idea who Buddy Emmons was. After a few days here I quickly learned who he was and after a few listens quicly realized WHY he was so revered. But it wasnt until just recently when i was given a brief history lesson that I was made aware of exactly how MR. Emmons had helped to shape the instrument into what it is today and what the scope of his contribution is/was beyond his incredible virtuosity.

Above and beyond his incedible contributions to the development of the instrument and his unmatched playing skill and style...I cannot help but be equally impressed by his humble demeanor and the pure joy he radiates while he is playing. If you watch Buddy at any point in his career he is almost always smiling ....a huge smile, as if he was having the time of his life playing the instrument...its infectious..you can tell he is having fun up there...always, and you wanna be with him and be a part of that. You're on board from the first note...and what a ride. Thank you Mr. Emmons!

Anyway, if you're just starting out, I recommend a breif history lesson on the development of the pedal steel as it really is eye opening and helps you to understand the instrument in a way you might not have before. i know it has for me.

Dave M. is correct tho, this info isnt sitting in your guitar store. To most of you this will be old news but maybe this will help some of the newer psg players. From wikipedia (Imsure there are better sources out there) and this by no means covers all or even most of Buddys inovations:

"Two of these tinkering musicians were Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day, and their playing and mechanical innovations alike have done more for the development of the pedal steel guitar than any other contributors.

Emmons and Day split the function of Isaac's pedal into two separate pedals and added two strings to fill in the gaps in the E9 tuning, bringing the number of strings to ten.[2] Although Emmons' and Day's setups do the same thing, Emmons and Day used the opposite of each other's pedals to raise the strings. To this day, when one buys a pedal steel, the manufacturer will ask whether the player wants an Emmons Setup or a Day Setup. Emmons incorporated a third pedal to his setup, based on a change Ralph Mooney had used on his instrument.[2] Emmons joined forces in 1957 with another steel-playing machinist named Harold "Shot" Jackson and formed the Sho-Bud company, the first pedal steel guitar manufacturer.[3] Sho-Bud guitars incorporated all the innovations that had taken place during the 1950s, including Emmons's third pedal, Beck's knee levers, and ten strings. The single-neck pedal steel guitar was now standardized with three pedals and (up to) four knee levers."

The story i heard, was that Emmons split the AB pedals , then called up Day and told him what he had done, but did not mention which pedal he put where... thus we have the two major setups (day and emmons)today depending on who you ran into first, Jimmy or Buddy.

if I got that wrong i apologize and if anyone wants to add any info , I'd love to hear it.