Curly Chalker

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 22 Aug 2002 7:27 am

Yes Herb, that Dickens album was incredible. Curly put new spice into those old songs and he almost created a different slant to his own style just for that project. When I first heard it on the radio, I almost didn't recognize his playing at first only hearing one tune but when I bought the album, I was in awe of his work as I was on every session.
Another interesting event was the difference between Carl Smith's Bonapart's Retreat and Good Deal Lucille and Don Gibson's versions of the same tunes done about the same time, very different.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 22 Aug 2002 8:03 am

Gary: What you said about the Carl Smith work: YES ! YES !! YES !!!

Regards, Paul

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 22 Aug 2002 8:39 am

His phrasing reminded me of Hammond organist jazz great, Jimmy Smith

Definitely no relation!

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 22 Aug 2002 9:01 am

really miss hee haw and his always (the right stuff to play) ya Curly is on a 70's Honda 750, single overhead cam, 4 Kiehan carbs, with a Craig Vetter fairing, this model did not have knee levers (at least stock)

Michael McGee · Post by **Michael McGee** » 22 Aug 2002 9:05 am

I'm fairly certain that it is Curly on Ray Price's 'For The Good Times' album. My memory is poor, but I think he's on every song BUT 'For The Good Times'.

Some fantastic E9th with an unmistakable style like no other on this album.

I miss him very, very much...

mm

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 22 Aug 2002 9:58 am

.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 06:13 PM.]

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 22 Aug 2002 11:10 am

I sure enjoy reading this thread about Curly chalker. He still is one of my all-time favorites. As mentioned, he could really play the E9th well. I always enjoy listening to his tribute album of Gordon Lightfoot tunes (Early Mornming Rain, Summer Side of Life), and his work with Hank Thompson as he covered tunes of the Mills Brothers (Cab Driver) and Nat King Cole (Mona Lisa).Curly was one of the greats, and I miss him.
Chuck

Brooker Buckingham · Post by **Brooker Buckingham** » 22 Aug 2002 11:22 am

Thanks everyone. It's great to learn all about the giants. I'm going to track down a whole mess of these albums. Tom Bradshaw has a whole bunch of Curly on tape: http://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/achalker.html

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 22 Aug 2002 12:01 pm

Thank you Brooker for asking about Curly and giving me the opportunity to talk about my favorite steel player and friend. He was as complicated a personality as his was his playing. Not everyone was crazy about him as a person, he wouldn't kiss a** and would tell you to your face what he thought. His self-imposed "exile" from Nashville and the music-biz mainstream cost him dearly. By the time of his death he should have been a wealthy man but he was not. His name still doesn't come up nearly as often as most of the other greats (we know who they are and I don't need to name them) because he left the scene for too long, but no one can deny he was a true original and genius of the steel guitar, pedal and non-pedal. He was also a sensitive, intelligent and funny human being. I like seeing him get the recognition he deserves.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 22 August 2002 at 01:13 PM.]

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 22 Aug 2002 12:20 pm

I have a couple of old 45's (records, not pistols) by Johnny Bush, that has Buddy Emmons and Curley Chalker both on them. One of the songs is "Tennesee to Texas", and I can't remember the other one. There is about as much instrumental as there is vocal, and it sounds like Buddy and Curley were trying to outdo each other. These songs were probably also on an album, Herb Steiner probably knows.

I have everything I could ever find instrumentally by Curley, all of it is fantastic.

Curley also played on some of Harmonicast (?) Charlie McCoy's albums. He does a break on "Danny Boy" on one of them on the 6th neck, that is a classic. This is the prettiest I have ever heard this song played.

------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 22 Aug 2002 12:27 pm

Oh yeah, his work on Danny Boy is beautiful! By the way, I'd heard rumors about some kind of rivalry between Curly and Buddy but when I knew Curly and asked him he had nothing but respect for Buddy, never said anything remotely negative about him. Probably there had to be a bit of competition between them, after all, when I was growing up everyone said Chalker and Emmons (or Emmons and Chalker!) were the two best, equally great but with totally different styles. That's still how I think of the two of them. [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 22 August 2002 at 01:57 PM.]

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 22 Aug 2002 1:38 pm

Jim: The Emmons/Chalker issue has been around since 1967. I wrote about it in the Tom Brumley interview and again in the Curly Chalker interview. I doubt if there was ever the slightest chance of a issue between them. It's the the old math puzzle about the Greater Infinity all over again. It's a no win situation with nothing to be gained for or by anyone. My personal take on the matter was that they both had nothing but respect and admiration for the other,

Regards, Paul

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 22 Aug 2002 1:49 pm

Paul, I agree with you and in fact that's what I'm trying to say. When I said "must have been a bit of competition between them" I don't mean that as a negative, was trying to say they were both aware of each other's abilities and would try to play their best, inspired by each other, not trying to "outdo" each other. Shoot, you know what I mean anyway!

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 22 Aug 2002 1:51 pm

Those Hall of Fame nights...nice to see you shared them too Herb.

That must have been really shortly before Jimmy Bryant took ill, or maybe his cancer had even been diagnosed by then. No shortage of personalities or opinions when he and Curly were on stage together. If Curly didn't like something someone was doing, like putting a bridge in the wrong place, he would say "WRONG". If he liked something real well that a guest did, he would put down his bar and clap, as for example he did when Geehaw Jones sang an incredible "Statue of a Fool".

Look forward to seeing a bunch of you at the Convention next week.

John P. Phillips · Post by **John P. Phillips** » 22 Aug 2002 3:27 pm

Just settin here readin and bein quiet and learning. BOY DO I LOVE OLD "CURLS".

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"Let's go STEEL something"
If it feels good, do it. If it feels COUNTRY, do it twice
jpp

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 22 Aug 2002 6:50 pm

Michael, Curly surely did the "For The Good Times" project with Ray Price. It helped give Curly some credibility in the studio scene. I have albums with Curly, even some that you wouldn't know he was there except the credits on the sleeve, for instance, Mel Tillis and Nancy Sinatra and hard to find him on Leon Russel's, Hank's Back but he's there.

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 22 Aug 2002 11:19 pm

I had the rare privilege to meet Curly in Vegas (1985) while visiting a friend. My friend, Lee Holly, was having a birthday party and Curly was his close friend. I have a treasured picture of me jamming with Curly. He was very considerate and forgiving. I also have a rare tape of 2 live shows made in Nevada of Curly working with Ray Pennington in the early 60's. A friend of mine is planning to put it on a CD for me. I hope that it turns out well. Curly was super.

Andrew Brown · Post by **Andrew Brown** » 23 Aug 2002 7:53 pm

Curly started out in a band with Blackie Crawford in West Texas (c.1950) called "The Sons of Texas." This group evolved into "The Tune Toppers" and eventually "The Western Cherokees." I'm surprised none of you guys have mentioned Curly's introduction to Lefty Frizzell's "Always Late," one of the most recognizable intros in all of country music.

Chalker didn't make very many recordings in the early '50s, but the two volumes of Hank Thompson radio transcriptions (on the Krazy Kat label) that came out a few years ago have lots of early Chalker and even in his early 20s he was amazing. Anyone who is into his playing should own these two CDs.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 23 Aug 2002 8:08 pm

Ted, keep us posted about the live thing on CD. I would buy such a critter for my collection, Thanks, Gary PS. My dad grew up in Mineral Wells and was born in Weatherford.

Buddy Buddy · Post by **Buddy Buddy** » 23 Aug 2002 8:19 pm

How about the girl singer, that sang with "Super Curl", at the Hall of Fame? Remember Sammi Smith? Each one blended with the other. I was there EVERY night!!! Some nights Curly would come over to my house and "jam", till almost showtime, the next night. Just like Day, he may be gone, but he sure as hell, is NOT forgotten.
"Little" Buddy.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 25 Aug 2002 1:59 pm

Curly is, and has been for a long time, my all time absolute favorite player. I think he is the greatest player of all time.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 25 Aug 2002 5:50 pm

Mike, I too consider Curly my all time favorite player, bar none. I have a lot of heros but he tops the list.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 25 Aug 2002 7:26 pm

I'm no longer sure of this but speaking of Curly playing on Left Frizell records, wasn't he also the steel on Slim Whitman work as well ??

And yes that intro on Always late was a signature and a half. I used it for years after I mastered it and always loved to be able to accomplish that sound.

Regards, Paul

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 25 Aug 2002 8:40 pm

I guess we all agree on Curly, a great musician.

I was at MSA factory to pick up my D12 and Curly was there picking up his two D10"s.

Reece introduced me to him. I was glad to be there at the same time.

Curly and Reece are my two favorite Steel Players......al

.

Brooker Buckingham · Post by **Brooker Buckingham** » 26 Aug 2002 11:04 am

While we're on the subject, Curly's Columbia album "Big Hits On Big Steel" is on e-bay. Starts at $8. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=901873126