Picking with Charlie McCoy

Leon Roberts · Post by **Leon Roberts** » 15 Feb 2003 10:14 pm

Tonight I was the steel guitar player in a six piece band backing up Charlie McCoy for a concert lasting about 1 ½ hours. I’m not a regular member of the backup band. They needed a steel player and the band leader, who is a super guitar player, called in some favors I owed him. He has helped my band out on several occasions when we needed a guitar player. When I got the tape of the songs for the program, I was very apprehensive because of the tempos of the fast songs. At 68 years old, my arthritis likes nice slow tempos. The band leader, who happens to be a good friend of Charlie McCoy and has backed him up before, assured me that I could do the job and that Charlie would have a calming effect and bring out the best I had to offer. He was so right on. The only thing that exceeds Charlie McCoy’s talent is his down to earth ability to make each picker on the bandstand play far greater than he ever thought he was capable of playing. His talent simply awes you, but when it’s your time to pick, something magical happens and “away we go”. I might add that Charlie does about half his program using nice slow ballads to sink your teeth into. Kind of makes up for the couple of times your gun jams on the burners.
I assume they don’t need a session harp player that much for this new type country and Charlie is going around doing concerts. I might add that the people simply love him. At least they did tonight. So if you get a chance to back up Charlie McCoy, don’t pass up the honor. You will love it. Tonight had to be the highlight of my musical career. Rest assured,I was no Jernigan or Chalker, but Charlie made me feel like I could be if I spent more time in the “wood shed”. I’ve always been a fan of Charlie McCoy and now I’m even a bigger fan.
Leon.

Bill Bailey · Post by **Bill Bailey** » 16 Feb 2003 11:42 am

I am happy for you Leon,
It is good to know that good things can happen when you least expect them. The lesson here is always be prepared for the good things to find you. I admire you for your perserverence. Did you make a tape of your performance that night? Take care Leon.
Bill Bailey

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Leon Roberts · Post by **Leon Roberts** » 16 Feb 2003 2:40 pm

Thanks Bill. I don't really know if they made a tape off the sound board or not. The Band leader told me they were going to record the show. A bonos was listening to Charlie tell us some really neat stories about his 18 years of Hee Haw after sound check. My greatful thanks again.
Leon

Jim Ashton · Post by **Jim Ashton** » 16 Feb 2003 4:56 pm

Hey Leon,
Glad to hear you are still kicking.
Give my eye teeth to hear you.
We are snowed in up here. Good thing I am not scheduled to play anywhere right now. Take care.
Jim A

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Leon Roberts · Post by **Leon Roberts** » 17 Feb 2003 11:26 am

Jim, Good to hear fron an old "Shipmate". Check your Email. Leon