Joaquin Murphy at "76 convention

Don McClellan · From: California/Thailand

I was just listening to Jim Cohen's great jazz steel site and I was reminded of seeing Joaquin Murphy play at the '76 ISGC. I was young and had never heard of Joaquin at that time and I recall that as he got ready to play, all of the great players, Emmons, Chalker, Anderson, Jernigan, Rugg, Green and all the rest, gathered around his side of the stage like teenagers about to see Elvis. I remember wondering why(?) Who is this guy?
He set up on the far right side of the stage and his steel guitar had very wide spread legs on it that I thought made it look very odd. And before he started playing I thought this guy doesn't even look like a pro steel player. He looks like my uncle Jack for God's sake!
Well, of course, he played great and I'll never forget the respect he got that day from all the folks who knew something I didn't know.
His fluid jazz lines with such accurate intunation were so beautiful. Wow.
Does anyone else remember seeing the pros gather around the front of the stage for Joaquin Murphy that day? Don

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Where's that recording?!

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

You bet I do
I went every year from '74 through '90. There were lots of memorable moments -- Buddy's live album a year later; the first year Paul came after being on the road with Mel Tillis and Jerry Reed; all those guys passing around a C6 lap steel and trying to get each other to mess up but playing brilliantly. But the Year of Joaquin was something special. Not as much for how brilliantly he played as for the impact his playing had on the art. I remember to this day the expression on Buddy Emmons' and Jimmy Day's faces when Joaquin started playing and they just looked at each other and smiled. PRICELESS.

It took me quite a few years to realize that the single string style and technique Buddy Emmons demonstrated on SGJazz and the Black Album didn't come out of thin air. And that what I heard that day in St. Louis WAS really special. Cool

Roy Ayres has some great Joaquin stories from when he was in the service in San Diego and Joaquin was playing nearby. He got to hang out with Joaquin quite a bit.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

There is a recording of that show. When Murph died someone gave me a 3rd or 4th generation cassette copy of it and it was pretty much un-listenable due to wow and flutter. I'd love to get a better copy.

Don McClellan · From: California/Thailand

Ron, Here it is. Scroll down a bit and you'll find them. Don

http://www.steelguitarjazz.com/?section=music-74

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

(just so we're on the same page -- no pun intended)
Those recordings on Cohen's site are older recordings == probably from the 40s == I believe Andy Parker and the Plainsmen == not the live recording from St. Louis. Is there a chance Bill Ferguson might have copies? Was anyone recording back then? I suspect Scotty may have something. Anybody know? MJ? Bill F?
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Who did the recording, where are the masters, have copies been released in top shape, why isn't this historic material widely available?
Those who missed the event and/or care about these things would like to hear it before we're all dead and gone. JM's performance deserves to be enjoyed instead of stuck away except for a few priviledged ears that have mostly joined him by now.

Incredible finds are still to be had, I scored unbelievably recently, and this is another that should be out.

Don, older or newer, if find nothing on the listening page at present, but thanx anyhow, I'll check again some time.

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

In 1946 I joined the Los AngelesMusician's Union Local #47 and was issued the Union Card. Most Dance Halls that charged admission would honor this Card and you got in free. The first place I headed for was the Riverside Rancho in Glendale, Ca. where Joaquin was playing with the Spade Cooley Band. I think he was playing a double neck Rick which sat on his lap. Joaquin was an inspiration to just about every Steel Player in Town. One day Speedy West came over to the house and we tried to figure out some of Joaquins licks from the Cooley recordings.
At that time we just finally gave up ! Joaquin's playing was a major milestone in the development of a new style of playing the Steel Guitar.

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

I was at the 1976 convention in St. Louis & was fortunate to have spoken to JOAQUIN just before he went up on stage. He was quite nervous & he told me, "I just want to get up there & get this over with".

Here is a short clip of Joaquin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELdZdYQYyHs&feature=related

ROGER

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Ron,
Just in case you didn't know . . .
Recordings of Joaquin Murphey are not rare. In fact, if you look on YouTube videos are pretty plentiful. He was with the hottest western swing bands in the country and in movies, on tv, as well as audio recordings, with Tex Williams, Spade Cooley, Andy Parker, and others.

Forumites Andy Volk, Michael J, Chas Smith, and others were responsible for two further products that documented Murph's extraordinary contributions: A book of 18 solos transcribed for C6 note-for-note by John McGann with some great pictures and information is still available. The second was a CD entitled 'Murph' produced by Michael and Chas that was recorded just before he died in 1999. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to these folks for recognizing that this needed to be done and for DOING IT. You owe it to yourself to check out these resources. Support the Forum and buy the CD from b0b == go to this page
http://steelguitarmusic.com/music.html

The transcriptions are available for purchase on John McGann's website
http://www.johnmcgann.com/joaquin.html

Yes, the St. Louis performance would be great to have but there is a wealth of other stuff out there if you haven't already checked out the Murph CD, the book of solos, and all those YouTube videos. The St. Louis performance was not a recording session. At best, somebody took a feed off the board into a cassette recorder; at worst, someone in the crowd with a portable cassette machine may be the best that's out there.

There are many compilations of Western Swing that include his work with Cooley, Williams, Parker, and others.

Just thought you might not be aware of all the stuff out there -- I'm sure there's way more than what I mentioned.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Jim, thanx, I'll be there asap.

Mitch Drumm · From: Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake

I assume all of you are aware of the recordings Joaquino made at Bud Isaacs home.

Available on CD from this forum. Sound quality pretty good--in Bud's home studio I guess. It's a CD-R. The last track is the original Columbia recording with Spade which you will already have.

Tracks:

1. Brows'n
2. Carefree Waltz
3. Dance of the Night Blooming Fungus
4. Flawin' the Strings
5. Happy Strings
6. Honeysuckle Rose
7. Moonglow
8. My True Love
9. Sweet Reverie/God's Been Good To Me
10. Sweet Georgia Brown
11. Your Cheating Heart
12. Oklahoma Stomp (Spade Cooley Band)

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I agree wholeheartedly, Ron
(sorry - didn't mean to insult your intelligence - just wanted to cover the bases)
Someone ought to ask Scotty. Maybe he knows -- maybe he RECORDED it.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Chuck S. Lettes · From: Denver, Colorado

Hi Guys,
I was at the '76 Convention, and I remember Scotty introducing Joaquin to the audience. He performed a great set. And if I remember correctly, Jimmy Day was on bass. Scotty even recorded an album with Murphey, and I think, Bobby Caldwell for Midland Records shortly before or after the Convention. Ah, the good old days!
Chuck

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Rick Jackson · From: Carson City, Nevada

Bud Isaacs told me Joaquin wouldn't go to St. Louis unless Bud and Geri took him. He was beside himself with fear of performing. At the last minute before his set began, a well known steel player (no name will be mentioned) knowing his fear, told him his guitar was out of tune and it really freaked him out. He was able to get through the performance fortunately.

Don McClellan · From: California/Thailand

Rick, Interesting post. It reminds me of something that has always blown my mind. When Buddy Emmons performs in front of all his peers (BTW, all the greats gather around the stage when Buddy plays too) he seems to strive on the opportunity to perform for a group who will truly appreciate his talent and he plays his best. It seems to me that any mere mortal would be frightened to death to play at the convention. Or at least be very nervous but not Emmons. How do you reach that point? Performance fear is a real problem for me and I guess it is for many of us. I'm almost happy to hear that Murph and I have something in common. I think a discussion about performance anxiety is another whole thread. Thanks, Don

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Don,
Just bear in mind that when you or I saw Buddy at the Convention in the 70s-80s or 90s, he was playing more hours a day than most of us play in a week. He was at the top of his game and could play anything at the drop of a derby -- a HUNDRED TIMES IN A ROW WITH NO MISTAKES AT ANY TEMPO. He played with the authority and confidence that playing gigs or sessions or jams most every day of the week gives even a lesser player. And he loved to make guys like Day or Lloyd go 'YEAH!!!' and knew he had the chops and ideas (and CONFIDENCE) to amaze the best of them. Smile

Probably not so with Murph at the convention. When he was with Spade he was king of the heap and he knew it and played like it AND he played A LOT. When he was in St. Louis that year he was much less practiced and less prepared, plus he had other personal problems.

It's hard to overemphasize how important preparation is to a musician. In many cases, it is the source of confidence. Just my observation.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

bruce fischer · From: florissant, mo. 63031 USA

i am happy to say i was there in stl and heard joaquin play for the first time live!
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sho-bud super pro II, blue darlin' VI

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

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"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

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"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."

Mike Neer · From: NJ

The one I love is Hawaii Forever, which was a cassette tape. That is a great one.

Here is cut from it:

Hawaii Hana Hou
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Jay Jessup · From: Charlottesville, VA, USA

Mitch,
I didn't know about the recordings at Bud Issac's house---how long has that been available? It's on the way now.
By the way, the shot on the front of the Midland album that Michael posted shows him with a Sho-Bud but I am 99% sure he played a home made steel both at Scotty's and on that record which has unfortunately been lost to time in the LA area.

Don McClellan · From: California/Thailand

Larry Bell, I think you are absolutely right.
Jay Jessup, Homemade? That explains why the legs on his steel were so wide spread like no other steel I'd ever seen. Thanks
Michael Lee Allen, Thanks for the pics.
Mr. Neer, Thanks for the beautiful Hawaiian recording. Don

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