Buddy and Hank

Gerry Brown · Post by **Gerry Brown** » 11 Dec 2010 12:16 pm

Forgive me if this is one of those "DUH!" newcomer questions, but I was wondering if Buddy Emmons ever collaborated with Hank Garland. Seems like such a natural pairing.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 11 Dec 2010 7:37 pm

Gerry,Your right that would be great,But I don't know if that ever happened,If you have'nt already check out Buddy and Danny Gatton's Red Neck Explosion. That's really worth a listen. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 12 Dec 2010 8:23 am

I do remember hearing the Nashville Superpickers (Buddy and Russ Hicks were the steel section as I recall) playing at the Exit In ('75 or '76) and paying tribute to Hank Garland who was in the room but it was after the accident and he could barely hold a guitar but he played Sugarfoot as well as he could -- Even though his brain was severely damaged, HE STILL HAD THAT GLEAM IN HIS EYE. Everyone loved it and there was thunderous applause. Hank Garland never fully recovered the ability to play; the accident was in 1961 -- probably a bit early to interact much with Buddy.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 12 Dec 2010 1:02 pm

That was such a shame[the accident] BUT Hank [in my opinion] recorded the GREATEST jazz guitar album ever made before he got hurt. Gary Burton [vibes] was 17 when they cut this album, also the great bassist Joe Benjamin,and Joe Morello on drums..YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Gerry Brown · Post by **Gerry Brown** » 13 Dec 2010 5:03 am

One of the many mind blowing moments since I got interested in PSG a few months ago, and that prompted my curiosity about Buddie and Hank, was hearing "Steel Guitar Jazz" which iTunes incorrectly id'd as a"country" recording. To my ear this is a straight up jazz album. Not a "jazz inflected" country album. I don't know of many musicians who can migrate so successfully from one genre to another like that. Hank did. Rob Ickes took a pretty good stab at it with his "What it Is" and "Road Song". I am loving how playing this instrument is leading me to artists I never paid much attention to. Ray Price!!!! Gene Watson!!! For god's sake where have I been??

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 13 Dec 2010 11:54 am

Forgot to name Hank's jazz album [JAZZ WINDS FROM A NEW DIRECTION] YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 13 Dec 2010 3:43 pm

According to some promo I have about Buddy in 1976, Buddy did work with Hank Garland and also the great jazz guitarist, Johnny Smith. What they did and when and where I have no idea. It just says what he did work with them.
Dave A. Burley

Gerry Brown · Post by **Gerry Brown** » 13 Dec 2010 4:33 pm

I found a similar reference here on IMdb. It mentions that they worked together but doesn't cite a specific instance.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1775382/bio[/url]

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 14 Dec 2010 12:10 am

With Hank there were many sessions they shared together, most notably Faron Young's first album Sweethearts Or Strangers comes to mind, some Brenda Lee sessions, etc. Both were also frequent attenders at Carousel Club's jam sessions. I think it was there that Justin Tubb suggested that Buddy should record a jazz album which lead to Steel Guitar Jazz.
As far as Johnny Smith, I'm pretty positive that there's no recorded work by the two together. Johnny did work on Don Gibson sessions in Nashville but Buddy's not on them.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 14 Dec 2010 10:15 am

Brenda Lee's 1958 recording of "Little Jonah, Rock On Your Steel Guitar" is supposed to have Buddy and Hank as well as Grady Martin--but Buddy dominates the record.

I just listened to it and am reminded what an absolute powerhouse Brenda Lee was--and probably still is. She gets way too little respect. I'd guess she was the top selling pop/country female artist in the country for at least 5 years, yet is largely unknown to your average listener today.

Justin Tubb is another possibility where you might find Buddy and Hank working together.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 14 Dec 2010 12:51 pm

You're right Mitch, Buddy and Hank are both listed on Justin's more pop-country stuff, but I was disappointed to find out that there really is no steel on them, at least not audible. There are however couple of interesting tracks that reveal Justin's liking to jazz; just Hank and an upright bass backing Justin's vocal, much in the style of Barney Kessel backing Julie London on her first album. Wish they would've done a whole album like that!

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 15 Dec 2010 6:44 am

Mitch Drumm wrote:
Justin Tubb is another possibility where you might find Buddy and Hank working together.

Justin was also a factor in Buddy recording "Steel Guitar Jazz",originally "Steel Guitar and all that Jazz" as per liner notes on 4Wheel drive/Steel guitar jazz album.

Bill

Larry Dahl · Post by **Larry Dahl** » 15 Dec 2010 7:28 am

There is a movie I watched about Hank that I found at Blockbusters. I think the name of it was
Sweet Dreams. It was produced in the last few years.

Gerry Brown · Post by **Gerry Brown** » 15 Dec 2010 9:16 am

The film I saw, which prompted my curiosity about Hank and Buddy working together, was called "Crazy". It was not a great film but it held my interest because of the references to many iconic musicians of his time. The music is pretty good, too. Found it on Netflix. They used some gorgeous guitars in the film. May have had a promotion deal with Gibson.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 15 Dec 2010 2:00 pm

Nope, they pretty much used Hank's personal guitars...
http://www.crazy-themovie.com/photosvideo/guitars.html