I met Julian in the early 70's when he was playing at Deeman's Den (lower Broadway in Nashville). The Den was the place where most every player hung out and jammed. A lot of us got the impression that he was a flashy showman who liked to do things for the sake of showing off or just getting attention. For example, he had this one thing he'd do...he'd be soloing, would pause to take a puff of his cig but leave the bar on the strings and let it roll (either up or down the neck) and then put his smoke down and start soloing wherever the bar was at that moment. It was hilarious and he did stuff like that all the time.
One night several of us managed to slip into the bar without Julian seeing us and there was not another musician in the place that we could tell. He wasn't doing the flashy stuff, instead he was playing some of the most gorgeous things I'd ever heard. As soon as he noticed us, he started right back with the flash! ha ha ha What a nut, but...this guy could really play!
Mike
Julian Tharpe
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
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Miguel e Smith
- Posts: 684
- Joined: 5 Feb 2001 1:01 am
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Contact:
I also had the pleasure of playing with Julian. i was just a kid, playing guitar in Birmingham. He was a great player, and was the hardest musician I ever met to get along with. Back then the guy never had a kind word to say to anyone....I could listen to him play all night, just wanted to avoid sitting next to the guy at the bar on break....
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Jerry Hayes
- Posts: 7489
- Joined: 3 Mar 1999 1:01 am
- Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
Can anyone out there post a copy of his copedant? I saw one years ago in Winnie Winston's book but I can't find that anymore since my last move. I remember that after hours jam Carl West was mentioning. What a great night. The old Imperial Inn was the place back then. I saw my first steel guitar show there in '68 or '69 which was put on by Blackie Taylor and featured Maurice Anderson & Tom Morrell, talk about some pickin'!!! Morrell was playin' pedals then.
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Have a good 'un! JH U-12
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 10 September 2001 at 09:50 AM.]</p></FONT>
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Have a good 'un! JH U-12
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 10 September 2001 at 09:50 AM.]</p></FONT>
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Larry Bell
- Posts: 5550
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Englewood, Florida
- Contact:
Terry Wood:
You listenin'???????
I believe Terry uses Julian's tuning and would probably be our best resource. I would also be interested in seeing his copedent, particularly in the years between when Winnie's book was published and Julian's tragic death.
I seem to recall one of his early 'Jet XIV' Sho-Buds with more stuff hanging off it than you can shake a stick at. 10x10 or 10x8 maybe? More pulls than a taffy factory.
You listenin'???????
I believe Terry uses Julian's tuning and would probably be our best resource. I would also be interested in seeing his copedent, particularly in the years between when Winnie's book was published and Julian's tragic death.
I seem to recall one of his early 'Jet XIV' Sho-Buds with more stuff hanging off it than you can shake a stick at. 10x10 or 10x8 maybe? More pulls than a taffy factory.
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bob drawbaugh
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: 30 Dec 1999 1:01 am
- Location: scottsboro, al. usa
Let me say this about Julian he was an origional. No one I know can or even trys to play like Him. My Wife and I were on vacation and saw Julian play. He played Danny Boy with no Bar. When he was done my wife had tears in hear eyes. The only other steel player that makes my wife cry is me, but not for the same reasons.
I told my wife I want Julian to play that at my funeral. Well Terry you may have to sub for Julian some day so pratuice up. I hope you have a long time to pratice.
I guess if you have never made a mistake or have never done a bad deed then you may be in a position to judge Julian. I am not in that position nor do I know many people who are! I will leave that to Julian's maker. I will only judge his music and his talent which were both great. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by bob drawbaugh on 10 September 2001 at 03:08 PM.]</p></FONT>
I told my wife I want Julian to play that at my funeral. Well Terry you may have to sub for Julian some day so pratuice up. I hope you have a long time to pratice.
I guess if you have never made a mistake or have never done a bad deed then you may be in a position to judge Julian. I am not in that position nor do I know many people who are! I will leave that to Julian's maker. I will only judge his music and his talent which were both great. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by bob drawbaugh on 10 September 2001 at 03:08 PM.]</p></FONT>
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Rich Mounce
- Posts: 523
- Joined: 17 Dec 1998 1:01 am
- Location: Dunfermline, Il
Hey Guys. Just wanted to let you know that we are in the process of adding some Julian Tharpe music real soon to Steelradio.com playlist. I had the pleasure of meeting him years ago in Nashville when I was still working the road and what a great player and a super nice guy he was. Keep listening!
Rich Mounce
Promotion Director http://steelradio.com http://countryupdate.net
Rich Mounce
Promotion Director http://steelradio.com http://countryupdate.net
To sun it all up...Julian was just about a genius!!The "Jet Age" was one of my prized posessions untill I lost it in a fire..I tried to "Copy" some of his stuff ..but how?
He did set the bar higher..and I'll bet that some of todays greats..(and my heros) picked up a lot of Julians licks..Why?..WHY NOT!!
Grouchyvet
He did set the bar higher..and I'll bet that some of todays greats..(and my heros) picked up a lot of Julians licks..Why?..WHY NOT!!
Grouchyvet