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Topic: I never worked for Johnny Paycheck |
Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 28 Sep 2011 4:47 pm |
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Johnny Paycheck’s brother, the guitar player and bandleader, called me one night and left a message on my answering machine (remember them?). They were looking for a steel guitar player, and could I go out on the next trip? I put off the decision for a day or so and then called him back, and they’d got somebody by then. Whew, now the decision was out of my hands. The rest of the story.
_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville |
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Jack Harper
From:
Mississippi, USA
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Posted 28 Sep 2011 5:53 pm
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hey cal...how ya'll doin.
so that you know that this didn't go un-noticed i'll throw in my take on it.
to my mind came the thought of the red headed stranger album, the concept that began with a story in song and each story led to the next.
i'm glad you put this up as a go to post.
i went there and soaked up each story in the order of appearence and noticed that, coming from a writer,
it was layed out in episodes. chapters in the book that translated to a movie of a career with the bit parts and players that made it all fit and built-up to the final chapter as the suspense exploded with such fan-fare and what a back-drop as the credits roll .....sweet dreams, the sheriff on top of his game ....what an ending,
keep the chapters coming.
the shows not over til' it's over ........
jack............. |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 28 Sep 2011 6:05 pm
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Thanks, Jack. I've been doing this blog for a year and a half, with no thought of continuity or concept. It's kind of a stream of consciousness thing I guess, though I've never really thought about that until now, just recalling things at random and posting. Not as indecipherable as, say, "Naked Lunch", but kinda in that direction. I have some nebulous plan about making an ebook out of this sometime.
_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 28 Sep 2011 7:54 pm
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Cal,
It would have been a good gig to do at least once. I saw Johnny in the 80's right after his release from prison. Brother Jeff Lytle was playing guitar and forum member Leonard Bick was playing steel. It was a good show. I had to listen to 2 hours of club band, southern rock, new country, junk before Johnny came out, but it was worth it.
I met Johnny in 1994 in NY. I was working with Bill Monroe. It was a Marty Martel package show with Johnny Rodriguez, Jimmy Dickens, Jeannie C. Riley. Paycheck was super good. I don't remember who was playing steel. It might have been Jay Alexander.
I agree, the Little Darling stuff with Lloyd was the best. I especially liked "Pardon Me, I've Got Someone To Kill"
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 28 Sep 2011 8:05 pm
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Paycheck played Gabe's in Nashville once, and I met Leonard than, blue Emmons. Another time when I was with Faron we played some gig with Paycheck up north outdoors and it got cold all of a sudden and I loaned my insulated vest to Paycheck's steel player - Bobbe Seymour. He even returned it when we all got back to Nashville. I was on another show with Paycheck, Jones and Jimmy Dickens - http://steelguitarmadness.com/insanity/jimmy-dickens/
_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville |
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Dave Harmonson
From:
Seattle, Wa
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Posted 28 Sep 2011 8:25 pm
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Cal, I love your blog. Great info. I met Big Jim Murphy once when he was playing with Clinton Gregory. He called Paycheck Johnny Hotchecks. May have been a good pass on your part. I still love Johnny's tunes and agree the old Little Darlin records with Lloyd were probably his best.
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www.facebook.com/countrydaveharmonson |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 29 Sep 2011 2:18 am
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Rick Campbell was that 1994 show at Hunter Mountain in NY? If it was I was playing steel for Johnny Rod.
Jay Alexander was on steel for Paycheck on that show. |
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Tony Davis
From:
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Posted 29 Sep 2011 3:47 am
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Hey Cal ?
Love those stories
You still with Joe Diamond at Long Hollow ?
Dont forget that Paycheck was a member of Joes Band before he was Paycheck......then Joe was on the road with Paycheck as his Bass player...just the two of them in one car...using Pick Up bands.
Joe told me...one time...they stopped at a sort of Family Diner...young girl served them...they had Burgers or something...but were so tired and worn out that they couldnt eat them........so Paycheck said...lets have some of that Pie........I think it was Apple
The girl went out back.....came back and said.......
Mom says.....you caint finish yer mains....yer aint getting no Pie !!!!!!!!
This close to how Joe told me
See ya Cal
Tony |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 29 Sep 2011 5:41 am
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Hey Tony, Yeah still picking with Joe, but we're not at Long Hollow any more. He's got a new CD out, dedicated to Paycheck. I do his website. I did the CD inserts, too. Say, I haven't got any jokes from you lately.
_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Sep 2011 8:00 am
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Cal, yes, I'll never forget you loaning me the warm highly packed "down filled jacket", I'd never been so cold.
You sure proved your friendship that day!
Your buddy , Bobbe |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2011 7:35 pm
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| Ben Lawson wrote: |
Rick Campbell was that 1994 show at Hunter Mountain in NY? If it was I was playing steel for Johnny Rod.
Jay Alexander was on steel for Paycheck on that show. |
Ben,
I could very well have been Hunter Mountain. Best I remember we had played Chicago the day before and were on the road all night. Now that you mentioned it, and looking at your picture, I think I remember you playing with Johnny Rod. I recall seeing you do your sound check with (of all things) the "Pass Me By" intro. Wish I would have talked to you that night.I remember Paycheck doing "Memory Of A Memory" and I don't think I could even speak for several hours.
That was when a country song had some substance to it. I especially liked Johnny Rod's "Makes Me Wonder"
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 30 Sep 2011 5:03 pm
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Rick it sounds like we both were on that show. Bill Monroe was sitting back stage and as I walked by he said "come sit down here, I want you to listen to some songs I'm writing." Then he sang a couple. I was amazed that he even cared what someone he didn't know would think of his material. He was very gracious to me.
Rick if we end up in the same place again sometime let's try to meet face to face.
By the way Johnny Rod was hanging out with a real pretty girl all day. When the show was over she left him in the dust. He wouldn't talk to us until we got back to Florida.
Johnny Paycheck sang "Touch my Heart" and even with his lung problems he sounded great. I never knew he wrote that song until that day.
Cal I stopped in to see George Edwards when I was in Nashville last week. He said to say hello to you. |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 30 Sep 2011 9:59 pm
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Thanks, Ben. Good to know George is still kickin'.
I worked Hunter Mountain a couple times. Lynn Anderson was on one show, and her steel player, as best I remember, was - Bobbe Seymour. That guy gets around.
_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville |
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Jack Smith
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 4 Oct 2011 11:49 am
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| Actually I think that was me playing steel!! Cal where did you get this picture and are there more. I have no picture of my time with Paycheck. There was a short window for the band members that is in this picture. Roy and Paul Justice on twin fiddles along with Tony Perkins playing bass are the only players I can see. I played with Paycheck in the mid 80's, for a short time, and aside from the off the bus experiences it was the most fun I have ever had as a player. He loved to play and I truely loved the old man!! |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Jack Smith
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 5 Oct 2011 12:29 pm
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| Very cool. Thanks my friend. I hope you do find them. |
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Jerry Van Hoose
From:
Wears Valley, Tennessee
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Posted 6 Oct 2011 5:45 am
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Although I rarely post any longer, I had to weigh in on this one. Cal, excellent decision, enjoyed reading your blog too. During the mid 70's, maybe "76,77" era, I played steel on a package show w/ Melba Montgomery that included Paycheck with Doug Jernigan. If memory serves me correctly, WSM's Hairl (think that's the way it's spelled) Hensley emceed some of our shows. I remember Paycheck enjoyed telling stories while eating dinner, always with a bottle by his side, while slapping  me on the back as if, ain't that right. I certainly got an education during that short tour, quickly returned home afterward and completed a 25 yr. career as a locomotive engineer. I would like to add, that Melba Montgomery was a most gracious and nice lady to play for. |
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