Are You A Curly Chalker C6th Fan?

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 28 Jul 2011 3:48 pm

It might be easier to ask who isn't a fan of Curly Chalker's C6 work...

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 28 Jul 2011 7:34 pm

Peter got this right.

Anyone with a passing interest of jazzy sounding steel must love Curly on first listen.

I got a D-10 with an E9 neck on it because it came with the C6 neck as a set.
I played C6 lapsteel, but wanted more power and this was the route,
I then learned E9 because why waste a good neck. Since then I have actually mod'd the E9 neck to play more like the C6 without losing the main country part of it. E69 mebe.

I do like the anecdote about Curly not liking steelers looking under his steel but didn't mind Tal Farlow doing it. Harkens back to the war time steelers partially detuning their necks between sets so no one could steel their tunings while they went out side.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 8 Aug 2011 11:08 am

Yes Curly didn't like anyone looking under his steel. Speedy West covered his guitars with a panel to hide what he was doing with pedals.
In '69 at the Dallas steel show at the Longhorn, I walked up to the ShoBud display and nobody was around, and there was Curly's Crossover. This is the time when Curly's copedent had been published with a ? mark under both up lever. So, I got down and pressed each lever to see what moved and found out for myself.
Minutes later in the ballroom, they carried his steel to the bandstand where I had a ringside view of my hero. After which, Jimmy Day did his set and Curly,(being a lefty) picked up a right handed guitar to accompany JD on his fine performance.

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 15 Dec 2015 11:18 am

I finally got off the pot I ordered a copy of Cavalcade of Guitars. What a treat is is to listen to these musical monsters stretch out and strut their stuff.
This recording is stacked with most of my favorite players. I enjoyed everyones playing.

Curly, Buddy and Reece really played their hearts out.

I strongly suggest this cd to any jazz fans out there.

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 15 Dec 2015 5:40 pm

I'm absolutely a huge fan of all of Curly's music !!!

Chris "Tiny" O.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 15 Dec 2015 7:43 pm

About 1975, I was listening to the radio after I went to bed one night, I think it was the Bill Mack show that came on at midnight, and he played a steel instrumental "Gentle On My Mind" that literally blew my mind. I had been playing steel for a year or two, but hearing this song cemented my love of the instrument. It took me a few years to find out who was playing, and of course it was Curley. I have been a huge fan of his ever since, and I have every recording I could find of his.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 17 Dec 2015 11:18 am

Curley ranks in the top 5 of my all time favorite steel players on C6th and E9th. I heard he was asked one time what a person had to do to be able to play like him. Curley said that he devoted 8 hours a day to practice and the gigs he played were just the fun part. He was extraordinary, to say the least.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 17 Dec 2015 4:16 pm

I am a big fan of Curley. I try to listen to everything I can find on him. His chord structures and his tone were one of a kind. Like Buddy Emmons, there will never be another Curley Chalker.