Who did you play for?

Delvin Morgan · Post by **Delvin Morgan** » 1 Nov 2009 6:53 am

I know a lot of you here played for a recording artist at some time in your career, why don't you tell us who you played for. It would be interesting. Oh, and it don't have to be psg, any instument.

Bill Bassett · Post by **Bill Bassett** » 1 Nov 2009 9:40 am

Interesting that it has taken about 3:30 hours before someone responded to this question. I guess it has something to do with our inate humility.

OK, I'll start. Back in the 70s and early 80s I was very very fortunate to be in groups that got to tour and open for lots of the stars of the day. Many of the Opry stars and Hee Haw regulars were not carrying bands at that time so we'd back them up too.
From the top:

Pat Roberts 1974 thru 1978 (Not many remember Pat but he did have 8 national chart singles on ABC Dot records)

Ferlin Husky
Bobby Bare
Sheb Wooley
Buddy Alan
Hank Thompson (in 1973)
Sue Thompson
Johnny Tillotson
Kitty Wells/Johnny Wright (Filled in for Jimmy Crawford, 3 dates in 1976)
Grandpa Jones
Susan Raye
Susan Falconer
LaWanda Lindsey
Roy Clark
Rex Allen Jr
Charlie Pride (1 night up in Canada, I have the tape to prove it)
Brandi Carlile (Before she was a star)
Many more, but I'd have to look 'em up.

Recorded with:
Pat Roberts
Susan Falconer
Gregg Shelley

This was a partial list of some you may have heard of. Those were really fun times. Wish I'd kept a journal.

BDBassett
Rimrock AZ

Stephen Gregory · Post by **Stephen Gregory** » 1 Nov 2009 1:12 pm

Interesting subject. Are you asking what members of the forum were actually part of a "known artists" band, or are you including any of us that might have backed up a "known" artist, a time or two as the "local" back-up band? The first scenario would have a much smaller response than the latter. I would dare say the latter scenario would include half or more of the members here. The first scenario, much less. I would be most interested in scenario #1, that being, how many here, were or are, a member of a known artists touring band.

Delvin Morgan · Post by **Delvin Morgan** » 1 Nov 2009 1:19 pm

Thanks for the responces, keep them coming. I mean a member of the "stars" band or recorded on a session with them. I guess that would cut the the number somewhat, but that would be really interesting. I sure don't mean to leave out the backup bands, because you guys and gals are fantastic, but maybe another thread.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 1 Nov 2009 10:11 pm

1971/72 Billy Walker's “Tennessee Walkers”.
1976 One-Month Tour w/Kitty Wells.
1976 One-Month Tour w/Bobby Bare.
1977/78 Stonewall Jackson's “The Minute~Men”.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 11 Dec 2009 9:44 am

My friend Ben Molnar (lead singer in this pic) just sent me this picture of my first band, our high school group "The Highland Band".
Cool! I haven't seen this pic in years... probably '79/'80 (11th grade), at the local community center.
I had been playing Pedal Steel for about a year or so by this time I think.

We were probably playing Fire On The Mountain by Marshall Tucker Band in this pic.
Obviously, the Pedal Steel on this tune (intro/solo) was one of the recordings that got me hooked on Steel.

I remember later in the evening we brought the house down with "Take It Easy" by The Eagles (we also played Peaceful Easy Feeling that night).
We played some "CDB", Allman Bros, and some Dead tunes, too.

Tim Fleming · Post by **Tim Fleming** » 11 Dec 2009 10:59 am

I played bass for pop-star Laura Branigan ("Gloria", etc)1982-84. Here we are on the Solid Gold TV show.
music was pre-recorded, vocals live.

Saturday night Live, December 1982(I'm the dork with the hat):

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 11 Dec 2009 1:13 pm

I played fiddle for Roger Crawford once at the Atlanta Steel show.

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 11 Dec 2009 6:07 pm

I was part of a band that backed Billy Dean 2 or 3 years ago at Fountain City Tn. I had a great time. He's a good singer and guitarist.

Tony

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 11 Dec 2009 9:30 pm

i was fortunate enough to work with, or back up, or sub with, or sit in with, or smoke a doobie with, or just hang out with just about all my favorite artists except for one - Loretta. Ironic, because she and Hal Rugg got me hooked on steel guitar, watching them on the Wilburn Bros. Hempker, you dog, you.

But, there's always Photoshop.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 12 Dec 2009 12:00 am

Worked for Dottie West 1972 -76.Was a room mate with Larry Gatlin for 2 weeks in Reno,Nv when we all did her show,Steve Wariner and i both Started with her band the same time.Jan 1st 72

Greg Wisecup · Post by **Greg Wisecup** » 14 Dec 2009 8:27 am

Cal' your ate up!

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 14 Dec 2009 11:03 am

With Dell Shanon about two weeks in Minnesota and Canada sometime in 64'.

Did a couple shows with Bobby Bare shortly after he released 500 miles.

I played bass back then.

Geo

Mike Archer · Post by **Mike Archer** » 14 Dec 2009 11:29 am

chance brothers band 84-86
Benny Wilson 86-88
dave friday band 88-92
Tim MaGraw 92-94
tg sheppard 95-98
theater and road work

backed one time or another
James Rogers theater in pidgeon forge
johnny lee
normma jean
bill phillips
Joe Diffe
Janie Fricke
Conn hunley
always Patsy cline severiville tn
lee greenwood theater
and a few more i cant remmber
right now

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 14 Dec 2009 12:22 pm

Rick Campbell wrote:I played fiddle for Roger Crawford once at the Atlanta Steel show.

Rick, that's not helping your image one bit!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 14 Dec 2009 1:02 pm

Cal - you might have photoshopped yourself a red suit; maybe you'd have hoodwinked us all!

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 14 Dec 2009 1:48 pm

Roger Crawford wrote:
Rick Campbell wrote:I played fiddle for Roger Crawford once at the Atlanta Steel show.

Rick, that's not helping your image one bit!

I'm plugging for a HOF spot.

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 14 Dec 2009 2:29 pm

All right, I'll play. I wish I had some clips of some of the other "artists" I've backed on bass, but here's a couple funny ones. A friend told me he saw this on Mystery Science Theater. I have no memory of having done it (OK it was the '70's. I may have lost a few brain cells back then).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vizT8Bh9 ... L&index=73

And one I do remember doing, in 1984.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc0FamuVRRo

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 15 Dec 2009 1:22 am

Loretta. Ironic, because she and Hal Rugg got me hooked on steel guitar, watching them on the Wilburn Bros. Hempker, you dog, you.

Cal you got that right! How many of us would have loved that job??? could be a thread all on its own!!

This is as close as I got!!

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 15 Dec 2009 3:51 am

I worked a few shows in the 80's with Loretta's cousin from Butcher Holler and even some live radio in Paintsville, KY. That's as close as I got.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 15 Dec 2009 5:32 am

Delvin Morgan wrote:\ Oh, and it don't have to be psg, any instument.

Guitar and bass for...

Chet Atkins
Luciano Pavoratti
Oscar Peterson
Herb Ellis
Chuck Berry
Johnny Cash
Roy Clark
Nancy Wilson
Bob Hope
George Burns
Rich Little
Nancy Wilson
Bernadette Peters
Marvin Hamlisch
Henry Mancini
Howard Shore
Diane Shurr
James Brown
Jerry Lee Lewis
Ben E King
Petula Clark
Donnie Osmond
Richard Chamberlain
Perry Como
Lena Horne
Phyliss Diller
Joan Rivers
Danny Ganz
Urbie Green
Rosemary Clooney
Trini Lopez
Brook Benton
Billy Eckstein
Lesley Gore
Kenny Rogers
Jerry Reed
The Turtles
Jack Jones
Clay Aiken
Nipsey Russell
The Four Freshmen
The Sandpipers
Four Aces
Ink Spots
Shirrells
John Denver
Anthony Newley
Roger Williams

many many more.....

I used to do a lot of shows and concerts here in the Atlanta area from the 70s till present. Most of these great stars are either retired or have passed on.
Don't have many entertainers these days that just roll into town with a conductor and a road case full of music and hire local pro musicians to come read the show down at a rehearsal in the afternoon and then play the show that night.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 15 Dec 2009 5:41 am

I've had the priviledge of working with several over the years.

Michael Twitty
Tommy Jennings
Jack Greene
Bobby Bare
Roni Stoneman
Ray Pillow
Dusty Owens
Merv Shiner
Bill Box

I've also toured the last 7 years, in Florida, with Tommy Cash (winter tours) and did two Florida winter tours with George Hamilton IV.

I've produced, recorded and picked on several CD projects for semi-retired Nashville songwriter and producer, Jimmy Peppers the last 7 years. The most recent was a 10 song "demo song" project this past spring.

I also got to play rhythm guitar behind Bill Monroe at one of the Saturday afternoon "shows" at Little Roy Wiggins Lower Broadway music store in 1972 (I worked at the store as the amp tech).

Edit/Added. I forgot the Frizzell brothers, David and Alan (Alan before he changed to Gospel).

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 15 Dec 2009 7:25 am

Not to many famous performers here, but our band recently did a gig to raise money for a private migrant school in China where my wife & her students teach English on weekends. This will help buy coal for heating. The kids parents are laborers from many provinces who move temprorarily to work in Beijing. If you saw the Olympics, you were looking at just a tiny bit of their work. We raked in $665 which should keep them warm for a couple months.

Marke Burgstahler · Post by **Marke Burgstahler** » 15 Dec 2009 8:38 am

I guess the longest run was with the Gregg Allman Band - from around 90 til about 98...I'm the guy with the mullet on Gregg's left.

Here's a link to a batch of old videos (poor quality) of us playing in Atlanta back in 94. Several of them feature a little teenaged kid on slide guitar - Derek Trucks.

No laughing at the mullet, OK?

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... C1CC86A221

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 15 Dec 2009 9:35 am

Here's a cross-section....

Starting with the worst experience of all....

Now - the most fun (and the most money!!!); 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' at London's Piccadilly Theatre, with Paul Jones, Carlene Carter and the incomparable Kiki Dee - here seen holding my hand!!!

Next: The biggest thrill....

Finally - the most musically-satisfying; singer-songwriter Sonny Curtis (note my pal Gerry Hogan on the left!)

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