Paul Franklin & Brent Mason @ The Hall f ame Motor Lodge Early 80's

[Chris Templeton]

Before they were booked solid in session world, I used to see them play at The Hall Of ame Motor Lodge. Anyone else catch them there?

[Pete Finney]

Yes, many times; "The Soundtrack Restaurant and Lounge," I think? Seems like Emmons and Phil Baugh played there some during those years, and Jim Vest and the Nashville Cats, even Curly Chalker now and then? It all kind of runs together all these decades later... it was definitely a place to be for many years; saw some amazing music and hung with a lot of pals.

The hotel's still there; it's now the "Best Western Plus Music Row."

[Chris Templeton]

Ahh yes, Phil and Buddy. I forgot.
I backed up the LeGarde Twins there.

[Dale Rivard]

Paul was in a band with Sid Hudson when I was there in '83. They even let me record their sets on a cassette player. If they're not already lost, I'm hoping to digitize them soon.

[Ron Hogan]

Yes I was there. I came to Nashville in 1980 by a call from Billy Walker to start playing the Opry with him. I got lucky.

There were many good places to go back then. Of course that place was a treat.

Back then and before, it was natural to bring your guitar and set in, without invitation. Now a days, hardly any steel player asks you to set in. I don’t know what happened.

To this day, I go out of my way to ask a fellow steel player here in town to set in.

[Bob Blair]

Pete Finney mentioned Curly Chalker playing there and I remember staying at that hotel for a few nights in the late 70's when Curly was playing along with Jimmy Bryant. Bryant didn't play much guitar on the nights I saw them - mostly he was playing fiddle - as I recall his fiddle was painted gold. It was quite a scene!

[Chris Templeton]

Ron- yes, it used to be that a country groups/artists would often have sit ins, if they didn't have a steel player, and gradually many would say that they were "rehearsed" and wouldn't allow it.

[Chris Bauer]

My very first night in town I went there to hear Buddy and Phil. I was disappointed to hear that neither would be there and, in addition, that there would be no sub on guitar. Then, it turned out that it was Paul and Doug both playing steel...