Weldon Myrick - Master Player

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

One of my all time favourite players is Weldon Myrick. I didn't quite realise what his total musical achievements have been until I checked out a truncated autobiography on the internet at http://cdbaby.com/cd/weldonmyrick1 Well worth a look to see that he is right up there with the all-time greats.

Mind blowing. It would be easier to list those country singers that he hasn't played with over the years. He has always had a wonderfully clear, yet sweet tone on the slower numbers, and fantastic red hot staccato licks on up tempo things. Anything to do with his allegiance to Emmons push pull guitars by chance?

Bobbe Seymour told me of a situation that happened many years back. Bobbe had been asked to play on a session and took his brand X guitar along. He played on one number and thought he sounded great. When he went in the control room, the producer told him that he didn't like his sound. Bobbe was put out by this, as his guitar was a mechanically great instrument at the time. The producer played back a recording that he had done previously with Weldon, and Bobbe said that the sound of that Emmons just jumped right out of the speakers. He said it sounded 'huge' compared to his own guitar.

Have a listen to some of the clips on the link above to hear Weldon's sublime playing and tone.
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,

Bill Simmons · From: Keller, Texas/Birmingham, AL, R.I.P.

He is one of my all-time steel guitar hero's. I remember going to Nashville with the gospel group I had just joined in the mid 70's and Weldon was on the session. I just could not believe how great of a player he was and as a person he was so nice to a starry eyed kid. He has influenced and inspired me a great deal.

His solo "Hot Foot" is just incredible...what a creative player!

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Area Code 615! Winking

_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Yes indeed. a phenominal player. Jody.

Danny Letz · From: Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540

I'm certainly subject to be wrong, but I don't think the bluegreen Emmons he played for so long was a push-pull. ?

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

great player and post very well deserved, one of the great overlooked quiet players that comes with a pure love and tone without any fancy glamour and BS...
_________________
www.steelguitarsonline.com

Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

I remember going to Carl Dixon's Steel Guitar Extravaganza and watching Weldon standing by the stage watching one of his heros play. That was Hal Rugg who was one of those friends to Weldon that all of us have now and then in this steel world.

Regards, Paul

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

Always good to hear Weldon's name. Here are a few prime examples of his work readily available on iTunes:

Becky Hobbs: "The Hottest Ex In Texas"

Connie Smith: "Where is My Castle" & "I'll Come Running"

Johnny Bush: "Whiskey River"

George Strait" "Right or Wrong"

The Weldon cut to look for is Steve Young's original version of "Seven Bridges Road" from the 1972 Reprise LP of the same name and reissued on the now out of print CD: "Steve Young 1968-1978 Lonesome, On'ry and Mean."

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

Ken, this is a true story you told, that was in 1974, after that I played nothing but Emmons P-P on Nashville sessions. Tone became my utmost priority.
Without good tone in the 60's and 70's, you didn't work. Doesn't seem to be to important in this day and time, but then country music isn't what it was either. Good or bad, like it or not, it's not the same.
Weldon's tone, Hal's tone, Lloyd's tone, Stu's tone and some others will not be forgotten soon!
This is something that is more important than most players know. Bad tone is sort of like bad breath, no one will tell you that you have it, but when you are all alone someday you may figure it out! Laughing

Bobbster

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

Paul, funny you would mention Carl's show. I had a picture made with Weldon at that show...it has a very prominat place here in the music room. And Bobbe, it's right next to one of you!

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

The one with the rope around my neck? Whoa!

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

No rope, but you're wearing a black shirt, black pants, playing the black PP, sitting in front of a black back drop. It almost looks like two hands and a face!

Per Berner · From: Skovde, Sweden

Weldon surely is an all-time favorite. I especially like the stuff he did with Moe Bandy, Moe & Joe and Gary Stewart. Fast and complex or slow and simple, just as impressive.

David Collins · From: Madison, North Carolina, USA

I now own and play a black PP that I purchased from Bobbe a couple years back. It was reportedly one of Weldon's studio guitars.

It does have that classic Emmons PP tone, but unfortunately, Weldon must have kept his licks Rolling Eyes

_________________
David Collins
www.chjoyce.com

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

For Danny Letz...

You're right - the blue-green Emmons was a LeGrande, and he once told me (I got to meet him backstage at the Opry in '93) that he'd ordered that striking colour because he'd begun to notice that the duller coloured guitars he used to play didn't stand out on the telecasts, and would just merge with the background.

As everyone has confirmed, though, his earlier guitars were push/pulls.

RR
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
----------------------------------

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

Roger, One night we asked Weldon why he got a green LeGrande and said: "So it would match Hanks." Hank being Hank Corwin, Porter's steelman for many years who, at the time, was playing a green SD-10 Mullen. Of course, both answers and both our stories are true!

Weldon's next Opry guitar after his last Opry Push-Pull (1981?) was a black, short key head LeGrande. A great sounding guitar.

Matthew Prouty · From: Warsaw, Poland

I just started studying Whiskey River this week for an upcoming gig, what an awesome break in that song. Weldon's playing is no doubt masterful.

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,

Mike Kowalik · From: San Antonio,Texas

Went to the cdbaby.com link mentioned at the top and was pleased to find that a couple of his early recordings that were originally put out only on cassette are now offered on cd.....so I bought them...also found David Hartley's cd as well.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I've always tuned my second string to C# like Weldon and Hal Rugg did because I liked it a lot. I thought there must be some great musical reasoning as to why he did this so I had the opportunity to meet Weldon at one of the "Steelin' For Hearts" shows in Maryland and asked him about it. He simply said that when he started using that string it was that he simply wanted more notes out of it and his particular guitar at the time would raise much easier than lower a string so he reversed what most people do with their second string. All in all, he made it his own and in my book is one of the stellar artists of steel guitar and always will be......JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Danny Letz · From: Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540

I attended all but the first of the Jayton Jams that Weldon had in his home town of Jayton, Tx. What a pleasure. Several hours of Weldon Myrick up close with his friends backing him and he backing them. No admission unless you donated to the volunteer fire dept. that furnished the nice building and barbaque. Just to mention a few of his friends, Johnny Duncan, Ferlin Huskey, Leona Williams, Charlie McCoy. Jayton even named a street after him. The last two years I got to set up and play a little. Not because I'm a good player, but because Weldon is just that gracious and I get to say I played with Weldon Myrick. Each year he had a different amp setup. The last year he played a black Legrand (may have been a III) that he said he'd had in his music room for some time, but had a little trouble getting used to it. Whatever he played always sounded good and just like Weldon. I'm sad he quit having the jams, but we understand and are glad he did the ones he did. I think the Jayton Jam site is still up if you'd like to see some pictures. Just search Jayton Jam.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Weldon indeed played at the Steel Guitar Extravaganza show in Atlanta in '97 I believe. It may have been in '98. I can't remember.

It is interesting, and I told my wife the other day, "Honey, it's as though that show never happened. I know it did, but I could not do that again if my life depended upon it."

It was as though the Lord said, "I want you to do this 2 times, and he brought to me ALL I needed. Even sent people to me I had NEVER met or heard of, out of the clear blue sky, to assist me. And wow, what an exemplary job they did. For which, I shall be eternally grateful.

I only know that after the show; Weldon refunded without any input from me 1/2 what I paid him; with a very nice letter; saying it was too much and he wanted to help me, since he knew I had lost money on the show.

The first time I ever heard Weldon play, was of course on the hit song that made Connie Smith, "Once a day". I thought at the time, WOW! What a sound.

I later met him personally when I was with Gene O'neal in FtLauderdale. What a gentelman's gentleman Weldon was (and is). I have great love and admiration for Weldon; and as I peruse all he did, he is one of my "Giants" in the world of Steel Guitar.

May Jesus richly bless Weldon for all he brought to us; AND to those who were blessed having him on their recordings and backup, at places like the GOO.

c.
_________________
A broken heart + † = a new heart.

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic