Bobby Garrett

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 4 Jan 2004 4:30 pm

I would really appreciate some info on Mr.Garrett.It seems that I after all these years of playing steel overlooked something I should have not.Thanks.

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Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 4 Jan 2004 5:46 pm

I don't have much info to share (other than he wrote the pedal steel classic "Rose City Chimes")....BUT, if you haven't heard his "Thumbs Up" album, BUY IT!!!! One of the best steel albums, bar none (pun intended!). The album is available on cassette through the Forum (via Tom Bradshaw's donation).

Joe

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 4 Jan 2004 6:23 pm

Demir, Bobby was a great old friend, come by sometime and I'll tell you some great "Bobby Garritt" stories over lunch. (you buy).
Bobby was a great classic player whose playing would span many wonderful styles.
He had personality plus I can't say enough good about this player.
A well deserved "Hall of Fame" member.
bobbeseymour

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 4 Jan 2004 10:38 pm

Bobby Garrett was one of the great players of all time. At 14 yrs. of age he was playing in clubs and live radio. He was doing sessions at age 16. Jim Reeves hired him at age 18. He has worked with 5 members of the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Jim Reeves, Ernest Tubb, Hank Thompson, Ray Price, and George Jones. He also recorded with most of these artists. His "Rose City Chimes" is a steel guitar classic. I met Bobby when he was 14 as we both lived in Tyler, Tx. We were in about 3 bands together from time to time. We spent a lot of time together and shared a lot of laughs and "serious moments". I have his D10 ZB that he played thru most of his career. He was also a member of the Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame. He was a great player, a good friend, and I sure miss him. Jody.[This message was edited by Jody Sanders on 04 January 2004 at 10:44 PM.]

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 5 Jan 2004 12:36 am

Garrett is my favorite Hank Thompson steeler, his back up work and solos on "Live At The Golden Nuggett" are a C6-workbook.

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 5 Jan 2004 4:01 am

He was an awesome picker. The work he did on those live albums for Hank Thompson was incredible to my ears at least. Hanks whole band was incredible. Of course Im kinda partial to Western Swing and my Dad.

Hey Mr. Jody! Man I loved and I miss him too.

Rick Garrett

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Jan 2004 2:27 pm

Jody,
Was that Bobby's guitar that Jim Reeves kicked down the stairs???
Erv

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 5 Jan 2004 3:57 pm

Hey Erv, Im not Jody but I know about that guitar because I own it. Its the Fender Stringmaster that was in the Jim Reeves museum till it closed. Story goes that Jim left him in Vegas that night too.

Rick Garrett

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 5 Jan 2004 6:14 pm

keep those stories coming guys,it`s getting more and more interesting.Why did Jim do that?Bobbe,I`ll see you soon my friend.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 5 Jan 2004 9:51 pm

Jim Reeves was a great singer, but was hard to work for. He would hardly ever give the title to the next song. You were supposed to pick up on the tune by the "hints" he gave. If you kicked off the wrong song, or played too loud or "fancy" , you were in deep trouble. This happened to Bobby one night and when confronted by Jim, Bobby told him everything he sang sounded just alike. Jim kicked Bobby,s amp downstairs and Bobby pushed Jim dowstairs. That ended Bobby' career with Jim Reeves. Jim once made the remark that all steel players had brain damage,and quit carrying one on the road. Jody.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 5 Jan 2004 10:05 pm

Hopefully Dr. Wayne Yakes will drop by and add to this. He wrote an extensive article on Bobby, as well as being a great friend of his. A wealth of knowledge on Bobby.

Where are ya, buddy??

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 6 Jan 2004 1:25 am

As great as the book with the BF Hank Thompson box set is, I was bummed out, that it didn't have a single one picture of Bobby. And come to think of it, I've never seen a picture of the Brazos Valley Boys with Mr Garrett on the steel chair. So how about it guys, I'm sure someone here has some!!!???

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 6 Jan 2004 6:01 pm

http://groups.msn.com/Damirsphotoalbum/smiley.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=107
this is the picture I got from Mr.Dean Neeley.Thank you.

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[This message was edited by Damir Besic on 06 January 2004 at 06:13 PM.]

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 6 Jan 2004 6:22 pm

Didn't Bobby Garrett play a D-10 Sho-Bud at one time?

Roger

Larry Harlan · Post by **Larry Harlan** » 6 Jan 2004 6:56 pm

In the early 70's my wife and I went to visit Bobby in Tyler. We had a brief, but good visit. Bobby told me he was playing a 1957 model D-10 Sho-Bud on the Hank Thompson Texas State Fair Album. Still to this day one of my favorite albums due to Bobby's great steel work on the album.[This message was edited by Larry Harlan on 06 January 2004 at 06:57 PM.]

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 6 Jan 2004 9:12 pm

For whatever my opinion is worth,BOBBY GARRETT was a total package of speed,creativity,good taste,& originality.
The great Buddy Emmons even did a guest appearance on one of BOBBY's last albums!
Doesn't that say a lot in itself.
~~W.C.~~

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 6 Jan 2004 9:28 pm

Something else about Bobby and The Big "E". They both worked with Ernest Tubb with both steel guitars on stage. When Ernest came onstage, Buddy switched to lead guitar. Jody.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 6 Jan 2004 9:32 pm

There's a good article on him, by Dr Wayne Yakes, M.D., in the Nov 1999, volume no. 7, issue #42, Steel Guitar World Magazine, that has photos of him playing the first Sho-Bud D-10, that Buddy and Shot made for him.

He also had a D-11 Emmons and a T-11,11,16 Sho-Bud permanent.

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 6 Jan 2004 9:52 pm

Bobby's solo on Hank Thompson's live version of "I'll Step Aside"....
To coin an old phrase, "If that don't move you, you're dead"
-John

p.s. http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum8/HTML/000607.html

wayne yakes md · Post by **wayne yakes md** » 7 Jan 2004 8:40 am

Bobby Garrett is known as the "King of the Thumb Style" on his HOF plaque. When I told Buddy Charleton Bobby was going into the Hall of Fame, he said,"I thought he already was!" Charleton said to me, and Garrett confirmed, that when Bobby was on steel for ET, Emmons on guitar, he travelled with the Troubadours on the "Green Hornet" from Fairfax,VA to Richmond and the whole way Garrett was showing Buddy C a whole bunch of new licks,etc. When Bobby was inducted, 1995 I believe, a tape was played that Lynn Owsley put together, I added tributes from Hank Thompson and Buddy Charleton to Bobby. On that tape, Buddy C talked about that bus ride and the next time they get together, Bobby would have to teach him a few more licks. Right after the HOF induction ceremony, Garrett went to the phone and called Charleton at his his home and thanked him for his tribute, but told Buddy C that he got one thing wrong. Buddy C felt bad and apologized to Bobby and asked what he got wrong. Bobby replied that the next time they got together, he wanted Charleton to teach him a few licks! Typical Bobby!! Garrett ordered the FIRST Sho-Bud pedal DBL-10 steel ever made(1958) when Day and Emmons were still playing dbl-8's. Garrett told me that it was because of Bobby White, who ordered the FIRST Bigsby triple neck with 2 ten string necks and one 8 string neck ever made and took delivery in 1953 in Colorado Springs, Colorado with Hank Thompson, and felt that this was the was way it ought to go to maximize ther steel's potential for E9 and C6 playing. What is the standard ever since? Bobby was truly a visionary. When I asked him what neck he played for the 96 sides he cut on Capital Records in Hollywood with Hank(including the FIRST live country album ever done{Live at the Golden Nuggett}followed by two more{Live at Cheyenne Frontier Days and Live at the Texas State Fair}, Bobby said,"NOTHING but C6th!!" That would have to be a steel player's absolute dream job to play nothing but C6!! What it must have felt like to to play the ride with Hank on "The New Green Light"!!! ALL the BVB steel players I have ever spoken with have to a man said that playing with Hank was the highlight of their career. Hank told me that Bobby was his favorite of all his steel players. During Bobby's 3 years with Hank, and 9 other years, the BVB were voted the #1 Western Swing band!! It was because of Bobby's Sho-Bud playing that Emmons quit playing the Fender dbl-8 they he and Day used to record all those songs by various artists in the 1950's. Emmons and Garrett played twin steels on the ET album "Ernest Tubb Record Shop"(1959) on 4 songs(check out particularly "Am I That Easy to Forget", "White Silver Sands")and Buddy heard the big difference in tone between him and Garrett and dumped the Fender and went to Sho-Bud. How many steel players have had the honor to cut twin steels with Buddy E in studio? Garrett and Emmons roomed together when they were Troubadours and were dear friends all their lives since 1956 when Day introduced them. Day and Garrett met on the "Louisiana Hayride" in Shreveport,LA and alternated playing for Jim Reeves being that both could only stand Jim in divided doses. Then they both finally quit him, Bobby moving on to play in George Jones first band. Bobby had quite a stellar career playing for the great Texans in the Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame(Jim Reeves, George Jones, ET, Hank, Ray Price, Bob Wills). Bobby was also, along with Gene Fields, the FIRST inductees into the Texas Steel HOF. Bobby's first solo album was produced by Buddy Emmons and Buddy E wrote the liner notes!! Garrett's "Rose City Chimes" cut in 1958, is in the Smithsonian's Great Country Music Collection. It also was the theme song for the legendary Ralph Emory's radio show until he ran out of 45's of it!! I could go on, but I guess you get the idea about what I, and so many others, thought about Bobby Garrett, God rest his immortal soul. As in the words of the Nat King Cole immortal song, "I Miss You So".

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 7 Jan 2004 8:57 am

He would have been honored, as am I, to have read your post Dr. Yakes. Thank you!

Rick Garrett

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 12 Jan 2004 11:52 am

bump

This is great stuff....

JB

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"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
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Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 12 Jan 2004 12:17 pm

I've posted this before but it suits this thread so well, I'll repeat myself....

When I was preparing to write a tribute to Bobby; his wife, Pat gave me Wayne Yakes phone number and as I was talking to him, I realized I had it backwards; that he was the person to write the tribute for SGWM and he did that. Reading his earlier post, I am again reassured that I made the best writing decision I had ever made in my life.

Wayne: Thanks for the memories and they never get old because each time you add some additional facts and details that just light up Bobby's memory and move all of us who were avid Brazos Valley Boys fans from all over the world. It was truly an amazing time to live in and through and I thank you for revitalizing it once more !!

Regards, Paul