Steel on Marty Robbins Recordings

[Gary Hoetker]

This is a follow up to a very good post by another Forumite discussing the lack of steel on Willie Nelson's recordings.

As I recall neither did Marty Robbins. Yet, his steeler Bill Johnson was front and center on Marty's TV Show. It's not important just wondering why? Maybe it is who the record producer was?

[robert kramer]

Buddy Sherrill hired both Pete Drake and Buddy Emmons to cut with Marty in 1976, and two of the sides went to #1: "El Paso City" with Pete Drake, and "Among My Souvenirs" with Emmons. On "El Paso City," Grady Martin reprises his part from "El Paso," while Pete Drake plays the "drone" part underneath. Spicher shines throughout, especially on "Kin to the Wind" and "Trail Dreamin.'" I'm sure there must be more Marty with steel throughout his career. Regards Marty's songwriting on "El Paso City," they can't do that in LA or NYC.

"Among My Souvenirs" Marty Robbins (Columbia 1976)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQPCUtu6zJo

"El Paso City" Marty Robbins (Columbia 1976)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SicLohDu-qk

Here's the entry for Emmons:

[John Palumbo]

Katz Kobayashi also played for Marty.

[Will Houston]

Marty used non pedal steel in the early days. Knee Deep in the Blues among others.

[Pete Finney]

There's some great Jerry Byrd on Marty Robbins records.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPb7aqvOKQM

[joe long]

One of my early heroes was James Farmer who played on several albums with Marty in his early years. Some of the albums: Marty Robbins, Marty, Song of the Islands. I can't recall the others. Farmer played on "Singing the Blues by Marty. After Farmer got off the road he ran several of Marty's businesses.

[Ricky Davis]

https://youtu.be/iy2bej0V0K0?si=TjqCR3Au5fV7dNMU

This is probably the most unusual Robbins vocal you will ever hear.
Quote from Jerry Byrd's sleevenotes, 'In the beautiful Drowsy Waters (Wailana), Marty demonstrates the the Hawaiian style of falsetto (high tenor). This kind of singing reaches back to the early days of Hawaiian history when certain taboos forbidding women to sing the old chants, left it up to some of the men to sing in a high voice.a high voice. Marty Robbins is one of the few haoles (white men)who have mastered this skill.'

and: here's Marty and Jerry sitting on the dock singing same song; but Jerry Byrd playing it on a REAL original Hawaiian Steel.
https://youtu.be/f8jU092xDW0?si=tynDhCsfFpXLJUMQ
Marty LOVED the Steel Guitar and always counted on His fav steel player Jerry Byrd to direct him to any other steel players to help him out.
Ricky

[robert kramer]

Here's a photo of James Farmer w/ Marty and band from the Nashville Banner, January 12, 1957. Shorty worked with everybody and, along with Tommy Jackson, tons of TV. Later, became a very successful booking agent.Louie Dunn also worked and recorded with Dickens, doubling on drums and fiddle, when Walter Haynes and then Buddy Emmons were on the Country Boys Band. James Farmer was a busy musician, at the time, both road and studio.

The Nashville Banner
January 12, 1957, pg. 6
https://www.newspapers.com/image/603769 ... =145797987



Here, you can see Louie's fiddle hanging off his bass drum. If anybody ever asks you what a guitar player looks like, show them this photo and point to the gentleman standing in the back with the Duo Jet: Mr. Howard Rhoten.



Here's another photo of Marty with James Farmer (standing to the left of Marty) The musician at the end of the row is Joel Price pictured in the above photo with the Telecaster Bass. Joel also worked for Dickens, Ferlin, and many other Opry stars. He was the first musician in Nashville with an electric bass.

[Peter Dollard]

It sounds like Pete is just "A" pedaling in and out with two notes.Anybody here anything more?

[joe long]

To my ears the steel in "Singing the Blues" has Farmer written all over it.

[Dave Magram]

And then there's this...

"Marty Robbins PLAYS STEEL on bandmate Bill Johnson's song'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGebNY21rpI

Marty sure had a lot of talent!!


- Dave