What Tunes Did Jerry Byrd Play on Besides Hank?

Mark Helm · Post by **Mark Helm** » 27 Jul 2020 4:51 pm

I'm trying to listen to as many of his accompaniment work as I can.

Anybody else really great on Country non-pedal back-up/solos?

Been listening to Kayton Robert, and Leon.

Suggest away (I know you will)!

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 27 Jul 2020 5:10 pm

This is from 1960 when Jerry was competing with pedal steel. He uses his diatonic tuning and enjoyed the fact that people swore this was pedals.

Ferlin Husky, Next To Jimmy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaDSMqEku_Y

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 27 Jul 2020 5:47 pm

The York Brothers stuff Jerry played on is among my favorite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDPx0OUfkZ8

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 27 Jul 2020 6:06 pm

Here's some of the artists he accompanied; these are who I've kept, but there are undoubtedly dozens of others, both in the mainland US pre-1970 and in Hawaii after he moved.

Go find "Lonesome Letter Blues" by Rex Allen; there are 2 versions.

If you want to hear a steel player with a different style in the 40s and 50s, go listen to Slim Idaho or Curley Cochran.

Ann Jones
Art Gibson; nearly all of his recordings
Bill Lincoln; Hawaiian
Bill Nettles
Billy Walker
Bob Atcher; probably JB
Bob Eaton
Bob Newman
Bobby Williamson
Clyde Moody
Connie Smith
Cowboy Copas
Denver Darling; probably
Dick Thomas
Eddie Bond
Eddie Hill
Elvis
Fred Lowery
Goldie Hill
Hank Cochran
Hardrock Gunter
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Jack Turner
Jimmie and Leon Short
Louis Innis
Mark Dinning
Marty Robbins
Melvin Endsley
Patti Page
Pete Cassell
Red Foley
Red Kirk
Red Perkins; probably
Rex Allen
Skeets Yaney; probably
Sonny James
The Country Cats
The Royal Hawaiian Guitars
The York Brothers
Zeb Turner
Zeke Clements
Zeke Turner

Mark Helm · Post by **Mark Helm** » 27 Jul 2020 6:32 pm

Hey, Mitch!

Can you suggest specific tunes? Hard to know who's playing steel if I just choose the artist.

THANKS!!!

Walter Webb · Post by **Walter Webb** » 27 Jul 2020 6:49 pm

Wow, what great steelin' on Next To Jimmy! It does sound like a pedal steel. Awful song, tho...

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 27 Jul 2020 6:50 pm

Try this:

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 27 Jul 2020 7:47 pm

this sure sounds like jerry byrd. burl ives singing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Zj_ZCu1sI

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 27 Jul 2020 8:05 pm

The 2 Marty Robbins Hawaiian albums are some of Jerry Byrd's finest work, in my opinion. Tone so rich!

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 27 Jul 2020 9:46 pm

Great thread here.
I stumbled upon this the other day.
I think Weldon Myrick played on the original record (I could be wrong) so its interesting that Jerry Byrd is playing the part beautifully, and without pedals.

https://youtu.be/BANsr_9Yjdc

Chase Brady · Post by **Chase Brady** » 28 Jul 2020 7:40 am

"Anybody else really great on Country non-pedal back-up/solos?"
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Don Helms. There's an excellent instruction book of his work with Hank.
https://www.amazon.com/Don-Helms-Cheati ... 0786689188

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 28 Jul 2020 7:54 am

The late Ray Montee ran a website called jerrybyrdfanclub that contained a pretty comprehensive discography. Unfortunately it expired with his death and currently is showing a Chinese web page. You should be able to find a archived version on the Internet Archive's Wayback machine.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 29 Jul 2020 5:41 am

Before Rays site closed down, i downloaded all the jb tracks he had. I am slowly adding them to my YouTube channel for those interested. I will add a few each day until they are all posted. https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS ... b2jj0QgYeN

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 29 Jul 2020 5:59 am

Scott Thomas wrote:This is from 1960 when Jerry was competing with pedal steel. He uses his diatonic tuning and enjoyed the fact that people swore this was pedals.

Ferlin Husky, Next To Jimmy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaDSMqEku_Y

So, in light of the huge lists of artists and songs JB played on, is there one 8-string tuning that would be most common for him to have used? That diatonic tuning sounds really great but would he have used it on most of the "country" stuff?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 29 Jul 2020 7:23 am

Rick Abbott wrote:So, in light of the huge lists of artists and songs JB played on, is there one 8-string tuning that would be most common for him to have used? That diatonic tuning sounds really great but would he have used it on most of the "country" stuff?

The diatonic tuning just makes it easier to get the harmony notes you want. Pedals on a pedal steel do the same thing. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't use the diatonic on a "country" record.

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 29 Jul 2020 8:58 am

How many of you were members of the Jerry Byrd Fan Club that Millie Annis started and maintained? The newsletter was really nice and informative. That was before Ray Montee's website.
Wally

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 29 Jul 2020 9:02 am

Rick Abbott wrote:
Scott Thomas wrote:This is from 1960 when Jerry was competing with pedal steel. He uses his diatonic tuning and enjoyed the fact that people swore this was pedals.

Ferlin Husky, Next To Jimmy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaDSMqEku_Y

So, in light of the huge lists of artists and songs JB played on, is there one 8-string tuning that would be most common for him to have used? That diatonic tuning sounds really great but would he have used it on most of the "country" stuff?

That I can't answer. My guess though would be his C6 tuning ECAGEC#CA would cover most of it, but he is also known for E9 and his diatonic tuning.

That particular track stuck in my mind ever since it was posted here years ago. I'll see if I can find it. There is a perception that Jerry refused to go to pedals on principle, and that he was out to prove he could get the same sounds his way. I wish I could say I read his autobiography "It was a trip on wings of music" but I haven't. I will defer to those more knowledgeable than I. I suspect Jerry has written on this period.

edit: Here it is. A three page thread on "Next To Jimmy" with tab and discussion of his diatonic tuning:

viewtopic.php?t=265450&highlight=ferlin

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 29 Jul 2020 9:03 am

Bill McCloskey wrote:Before Rays site closed down, i downloaded all the jb tracks he had. I am slowly adding them to my YouTube channel for those interested. I will add a few each day until they are all posted. https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS ... b2jj0QgYeN

This is wonderful, Bill. Thank you for once again sharing for the benefit of all.

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 31 Jul 2020 7:35 am

For those who don't know or probably care,
MRS. Boards was the web master for many years before and up to Ray's passing.
She kept it running as he wished , put up all of the recordings and revamped the obsolete web pages.

At the end, Sally did not care at all about all of the steel guitar gear, recordings web site and so on.

We contacted Todd Clinesmith, he helped her sell some of the instruments.

PJ (MRS.Boards) contacted the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, and managed to transfer all of the web site files photos and so on to them,
under the direction of their president at that point in time.
Unfortunately I do not remember the gentleman's name at this morning's coffeeless moment.

For those folks who want to know if the web site is still working to whatever degree, need to contact the HSGA and inquire there.

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What Tunes Did Jerry Byrd Play on Besides Hank?

What Tunes Did Jerry Byrd Play on Besides Hank?

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