Spade Cooley and His Buckle Busters

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 22 Jan 2003 11:17 pm

Anybody seen/heard this band or have info on this part of the Cooley saga? Any steeler? All I know is they backed Roy Rogers around 1940.

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Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 23 Jan 2003 5:35 am

Joaquin Murphey cut most of Roy Rogers' records during those years.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 23 Jan 2003 9:01 am

I found this web site through a search on Google for "Spade Cooley" and "Buckle Busters" (both terms in quotes).
On this site, I see the following:
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
Roy was an accomplished square dance caller. RCA Victor used fiddler Spade Cooley & his Buckle Busters as Roy's backup band for a square dance tune called "Round That Couple Go Through and Swing." This recording was made in Los Angeles on September 3, 1940.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 23 Jan 2003 7:47 pm

ROY! Who cut Roger's RCA "The Kid with the Rip in his Pants". I was under the impression it was Joaquin but others here on the Forum have indicated it was a fellow with a Hispanic sounding name. You da expert?
Help and thanx.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 23 Jan 2003 8:33 pm

Ray, it was Joaquin, and he was proud if it.

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 24 Jan 2003 8:31 am

Ray: Joaquin. 100% certain. He and I discussed the Roy Rogers stuff in 1951 when I used to go out to the Bostonia Ballroom in San Diego when he was with Smokey Rogers, Same holds true for Rogers' record "Dusty." I had virtually ALL of that series of records but made the mistake of lending them to a friend just before I went "off to war" so they are lost forever. (Incidentally, "Joaquin" is a Hispanic-sounding name.)

Edited: Or was that "Hispanic" thing a joke that went over my head?[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 24 January 2003 at 10:04 AM.]

Mike Black · Post by **Mike Black** » 14 Feb 2003 1:34 pm

Roy, I've wanted to ask you this question for some time. Since you mentioned the Bostonia, did you meet Slim Dossey there? Or perhaps you knew him while at Fender, he worked there 59-67. Or perhaps at WLW in Louisville, he's from Brownsville, in the early days of Clayton McMitchen's Wildcats, and Charlie Monroe & the Kentucky Partners?

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 14 Feb 2003 3:23 pm

The fellow with the hispanic sounding name was Pete Martinez, but I'm sure it's Joaquin on "Kid w/Rip." Murph played the song with the Plainsmen, who are probably backing Roy on this cut... though I don't have the session personnel list.

Martinez left LA early, like 49-50, and relocated back to Wichita Falls. He played some sessions for Merle Travis, but his main gig was with Jimmy Wakely. Pete was inducted into the Texas Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame a couple of years ago.

Incidentally, "The Kid With The Rip In His Pants" was written by Jack Owens, who gained fame as the composer of the Hawaiian classic "The Hukilau Song." Little bit 'o trivia for y'all.

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Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 14 Feb 2003 4:19 pm

Roy
Who was ths steel player on Roy Rogers RCA Victor recording of "That Miss From Mississippi??" recorded app 1947. The back side is I"m Rollin.

edited I spelled Mississippi rong.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 14 February 2003 at 05:18 PM.]

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 15 Feb 2003 6:53 am

Mike:
I met Slim Dossey when I worked at Fender. He called me one day and introduced himself and asked me to cut a session with him. As best I can recall, we only cut two sides: "Wish I Knew" and "Gotta Roll, Gotta Ramble." It was released on a 45 from Landmark Records in Fullerton. Slim was a tremendous ballad singer of the Jim Reeves variety.

Jody:
"Miss from Mississippi" was also one of the series that Joaquin cut with Roy Rogers. It's also one of those from my collection that was lost while I was off doing my heroic thing defending my country. (At least I thought I was a hero until someone told me I was just a "burden on the taxpayers.")

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Feb 2003 8:35 am

Let's see if Kid With The Rip works.

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Texas Steel Guitar Association

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 15 Feb 2003 9:29 am

Herb:

Thanks. That's it. Haven't been able to listen to that one in many years. Any chance you could email me that MP3 to royayres@earthlink.net ???

Roy

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Feb 2003 9:46 am

Since y'all are into Murph, try this one with the Plainsmen live on the radio from 1946...
Call The Hounds

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 15 February 2003 at 10:03 AM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 15 Feb 2003 1:06 pm

Thanx for the tunes Herb

would you know what kinda Steel that was bein played on them sides as well as on Oklahoma stomp ?
a young inquiring mind would like to know ?
lap Steel or console ?
Merci

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Steel what?

P Gleespen · Post by **P Gleespen** » 15 Feb 2003 1:07 pm

Holy Mackerel! That Call the Hounds" knocks me out!

Hey Herb, I know this is a lot to ask, but is it possible for you to clue me in on what Joaquin stuff is (still) available out there?

I've got a couple Spade Cooley cds and his "Murph" cd (which may be my favorite steel cd ever...), but that's all I know about.

What else is out there?

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 15 Feb 2003 1:52 pm

Crow
The guitar JM was using starts with the second letter of the alphabet.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 15 Feb 2003 1:56 pm

GREAT PLAYER?? What else is new

None Better. Chas & MJ knew JM well.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 15 Feb 2003 2:51 pm

maybe a Bacher ?
no i think a Bibson !
it ends w: a Y like You ?
of course ! BIGSBY !

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 15 Feb 2003 3:37 pm

That Bigsby Joaquin had was reported to have been the first steel Paul Bigsby ever made. The way the story goes: Paul was a machinist, and Joaquin had him build the guitar to his specs -- and that's what got Paul into guitar building. I don't remember where I heard that, but I knew them both -- so it may or may not have been one of them who told me. Anyway, makes a good story. Maybe Herb knows for sure. When I was headed to Korea, Paul let me use his shop to cut a little wood lap steel in half at the 12th fret and put a hinge in it so I could fold it to fit in my seabag. I bought one of his volume/tone pedals in 1949 and still have it -- although I haven't used it for about 30+ years.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 15 Feb 2003 4:00 pm

Couldn't get that last one to show up, Herb. I'll take all the Murph I can get. He rules!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 15 Feb 2003 5:21 pm

Does it get any better than murph? I think not! Nobody plays those triplet flourishes as quickly & smoothly as Joaquin did. Thanks for these cuts, Herb.

Re other Joaquin CDs to get, my favorite is Tex Williams On The Air (1947-1949) LIVE.[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 15 February 2003 at 08:31 PM.]

P Gleespen · Post by **P Gleespen** » 16 Feb 2003 12:30 pm

Oh yeah, thanks Andy! I forgot about that'n. I love that cd...especially the hilariously non-pc "wimmin' hatin'" songs like "Who Clipped Sampson's Hair" and "Don't Telephone, Don't Telegraph".

Murph was a real giant.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 16 Feb 2003 12:48 pm

Mr. Whitfield have you YET rec'd the tapes of Joaquin Murphy and JB? Sent them out early last week. Let me know, plez. That way I can quit worrying.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 16 Feb 2003 2:17 pm

Herb & Roy

As those of us who remember the special talent of Joaquin can attest to that he not only played great hot steel,but his sweet sounding obligatto's and use of his volume pedal were outstanding.

I have never heard anyone with the tone and expression that Joaquin was blessed with.

If you can,,listen to his great solo on
"Throw A Saddle On A Star" recorded on Coast recordings with vocal by Ozzie Waters.

It will give you the chills and blow your mind as JM puts his heart into his guitar.

Boy,,is he missed? you bet..Michael Johnstone and Joaquin were close friends and those who recall would remember what a wonderful friend Mike was to Joaquin during his last years of his life.

I always admired Joaquin and I admire Michael for being the friend that he was to Joaquin and I'm certain that went both ways.

There will NEVER BE ANOTHER JOAQUIN at least in my lifetime,he will always be remembered. Thanks to Mike for being such a good friend. And you can add Chas Smith to this as well.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 16 February 2003 at 02:44 PM.]

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 16 Feb 2003 3:00 pm

Jody:

Amen!