Bud Issacs

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 21 Feb 2006 7:42 am

Recently, at the Mesa show, I had the honor to meet Bud Issacs, and picked up a copy of his CD of material he recorded during the 1950s.

We all know how important Bud is historically, but I never realized before how GOOD he was. Bud must be close to 90 now, and can no longer play, but in his day, he was really terrific.

This music is 50 years old, and it's dated and somewhat corny by todays standards. But that doesn't alter the fact that Bud was a real virtuoso. And you can hear in his music, the roots of much of today's playing.

Others have carried the ball further, but Bud's the guy who threw it in the first place. We are all in his debt.

This is a great CD, and from a historical point of view, an important one. I think it should be in every steel player's collection.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 21 Feb 2006 7:51 am

Is there contact information on the CD, or other info as to where we may purchase it Mike?

Bobby Caldwell · Post by **Bobby Caldwell** » 21 Feb 2006 7:52 am

Mike, I also have been a big fan of Bud Issacs for many years. I had the pleasure of working with him many times and enjoyed it so much. I too have the CD you are talking about and it is a must for everyone. His is one of the greats of steel guitar and his music will live on and on. I'am sorry to hear his guitar is silent but he has left us his music to enjoy. God bless Bud and Jeri.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 21 Feb 2006 8:17 am

I have a letter from Red Foley dated April 15th, 1955 when he had the Ozark Jubilee. It is in response to a letter I sent to him regarding the setup that Bud had on the Bigsby he was playing on the show at the time. One of my little treasures.
Erv

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 21 Feb 2006 9:05 am

Hee-Haw was corny. Bud's playing on his first pedal steel tracks was sublime and revolutionary. There is a quietness in the simpler recordings of that time that allow you to hear every note of every instrument. And great artists like Bud took full advantage of that and played with a feeling and tenderness that is rarely heard today. Their leads and fills were simply loaded with creative phrases that today would be called "hooks," but that somehow seem like much more than that. The '50s anthologies of Webb Pierce and Ray Price are full of this type of pedal steel and fiddle work. And having the vocals puts the instrumental work in its true context for me better than much of the instrumental numbers. I have some of Bud's instrumentals on CD, and encourage people to buy them (he had a web site about a year ago). But new steelers interested in roots music steel should also get some '50s anthologies with numbers like "Slowly" that made pedal steel so integral to country music for decades.

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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 21 Feb 2006 9:09 am

I remember having a few of Bud's old 78's
Yesterday's Waltz, Skokian, etc. I wore them
out in 1954 or thereabouts.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 21 Feb 2006 9:16 am

I still remember a sort of novelty tune Bud played, called "Listen To The Mocking Bird."

Roger

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 21 Feb 2006 9:27 am

Corny was wonderful,Hee Haw was wonderful,still selling millions of dollars worth of D.V.D's thirty five years later.Wonder if Kenny Chesney,Big and Rich,or Cowboy Troy will be doing the same thirty five years from now?Bud was like Pete Drake ,Making a lot of hit records for other artist by playing CORNY and TASTFUL.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 21 Feb 2006 9:29 am

I still remember a sort of novelty tune Bud played, called "Listen To The Mocking Bird."

Roger, it's on the CD. Bud does bird calls on the steel.

Dave, Bud can be reached at "bigisteel1@aol.com" [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 21 February 2006 at 10:34 AM.]

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 21 Feb 2006 9:55 am

Bud must be close to 90 now

Bud was born Mar. 26,1928,which would make him 78. Here's more:
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Bud Isaacs goes into the history books as the man who added pedals to the steel guitar. He started his career at the age of 16 initially playing lead guitar. He switched to steel guitar after taking preliminary instruction at music school. He got his first job at WIBC Indianapolis working with Asher Sizemore and from there he went to WOAI in San Antonio, Texas and then on to Arkansas. In 1951, Bud joined Eddie Hill’s band and started to appear on the Grand Ole Opry. During the early 50’s, he also played with Jimmy Dickens. In 1953, he had hit upon the idea of putting pedals onto the pedal steel in order to change the pitch of the strings. The first record to feature this new device was Webb Pierce’s No.1 hit, Slowly in 1954. Soon Bud was in great demand as a session player in Nashville and was instrumental in changing the sound of Country music records. He signed to RCA Victor in 1954, and his first single for the label was Hot Mockingbird/Waltz You Saved for Me. That year, Bud released three more solo singles, Steelin’ Away/Indian Love Call, Skokiaan/ Yesterday’s Waltz and Panhandle Rag/Beautiful Kahama. By 1955, he was a featured member of the Ozark Jubilee on ABC-TV and radio and appeared with Red Foley on Foley’s daily radio program. During that year, he played on the top eleven Country hits of the year. During 1955, Isaacs released a single that will always be identified with him, Bud’s Bounce. He had three more singles for the label, Steel Guitar Breakdown/Waltz Of The Ozarks (1955), Boing!/Westphalia Waltz and Bud’s Waltz/Bohemian Polka (1956). In 1978, Bud and his wife, singer/yodeler/bass player, Geri Mapes (she recorded for Midland Records), were inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame and in 1984, Bud Isaacs was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. Bud and Geri put together an act known as the Golden West Singers. The Isaacs have for some years lived in Yuma, Arizona.

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

John Lockney · Post by **John Lockney** » 21 Feb 2006 10:19 am

Scotty's has a Bud Isaacs CD called “Steel Guitar Instrumentals”, which used to be called "Bud Isaacs and his crying steel guitar". Chet Atkins plays guitar.

It is accepted that Bud Isaacs was the first to use the pedals but, I think his playing is under-rated. This instrumental CD is amazing! I wish there were more pictures, descriptions of his tunings, etc.

It reminds me of Les Paul. He is credited with inventing the solid-body electric guitar but, he also then played the heck out of it!! Some people who know guitars would be shocked if they heard those wacky "Les Paul Mary Ford" recordings. Besides the echo-plex and multi-tracking, which he also pioneered, his playing is astounding. It was just way ahead of its time.
[This message was edited by John Lockney on 21 February 2006 at 10:34 AM.]

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 21 Feb 2006 10:34 am

Smiley, thanks for provoding Bud's correcxt age.

I stand corrected on that, but I stand behind my entheusiasm for this CD. I would like to see every single member of this forum buy a copy. [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 21 February 2006 at 01:49 PM.]

Gerry Grider · Post by **Gerry Grider** » 21 Feb 2006 10:41 am

Thanks Smiley for the bio info on Bud Issacs.

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 21 Feb 2006 10:55 am

In the 50's, Chet Atkins recorded an album entitled, "Stringing Along with Chet". It featured, of course, Chet on guitar, Bud Isaacs on steel, Ken Burns (Jethro) on mandolin, Dale Potter on fiddle, and John Gordy on keyboard. If you can find it, listen to Bud's ride on Caravan. Pretty sophisticated for 1955 with pedal steel in its infancy. I have listened to it over and over and ....... I am really glad I had the opportunity to hear him live in StL a few years ago.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 21 Feb 2006 11:57 am

Cattle Records in Germany has two CDs of Bud available, both with material from Red Foley Transcrptions feat. Bud Isaacs and the Crossroads Boys (Grady Martin, Tommy Jackson, Jimmy Selph and Bob Moore)

Here are the links:
http://www.dagmar-anita-binge.de/cd9050-9051.htm
http://www.dagmar-anita-binge.de/cd9052-9054.htm

Check out the entire catalog, lots of gems to find!

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 21 Feb 2006 12:29 pm

Here's a link to Chet Adkins and Bud Issacs playing Caravan. Click on # 7 song.
http://freddie.spb.ru:8000/music/instrumental/chet_atkins/1954_1/ [This message was edited by Roger Kelly on 21 February 2006 at 12:30 PM.]

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 21 Feb 2006 12:55 pm

Being a dee-jay back in the 50's,I have the COMPLETE collection of Bud's RCA Victor single recordings. All are "45's",except for the 1st one,"Hot Mockin' Bird" b/w "The Waltz You Saved For Me",which is a "78". I also have the 45 "EP",(4 songs) "Cryin' Steel Guitar",w/ a pic of Bud on the front cover playing his Bigsby. Can't tell if its a single or a double neck. Bad angle.

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 21 Feb 2006 12:55 pm

Here is the link to Bud Isaacs website.
http://hometown.aol.com/bigisteel1/myhomepage/index.html

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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 21 Feb 2006 1:04 pm

...Chet Atkins recorded an album entitled, "Stringing Along with Chet".

Ben,
I think the album you're referring to is called,"A Session With Chet Atkins".(RCA Victor # LPM-1090) recorded in 1955. Jethro is not on this album. HOWEVER,on "Stringin' Along With Chet Atkins" (RCA Victor # LPM-1236,in 1956) both Homer & Jethro are on it,but NOT Bud.

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 21 February 2006 at 01:13 PM.]

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 21 Feb 2006 1:13 pm

John,
Thanks for that URL!
I used to have that bookmarked
and lost it in a computer upgrade a few
years ago.
Nice to have it back.

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 21 Feb 2006 1:58 pm

Hey guys and girls.Don't let a piano player who played back in the good ol days hear you call it a key board.
They played piano,not an electronic gizmo where the left hand limps along.I started on piano.LOL.Tracy

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 21 Feb 2006 3:41 pm

Smiley:

I stand corrected...it is "A Session with Chet". I never owned the album but my cousin did and I borrowed it for a short time. I think the other artists are correct, however, but then again, I may have it confused with the "Stringing Along with Chet" album. It is good to hear those songs once again....it has been about 45 years since I heard them. In listening to Bud again, I think that he was playing non-pedal, however. Do you agree?

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 21 Feb 2006 5:17 pm

Bud used his pedal on the songs but very sparingly. One has to remember this was pedal infancy in action. Bud was a very good straight steel player. JMO

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 21 Feb 2006 5:47 pm

I HAVE A GOOD COLLECTION OF BUD AND JERI..
I BAUGHT A COPY OF EVERYTHING THEY HAD AT
THE ST.LOUIS ISG ABOUT 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO..
DANG NEAR WORE THEM OUT WHEN I GOT HOME....
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ALL THOSE SONGS WERE
RECORDED WITH A LIVE BAND, EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE....NONE OF THIS "CUT & SPLICE "
OVER DUBING, ECT:: LAST I HEARD ,BUD HAD A STROKE AND JERI HAD A PROBLEM OF SOME KIND
ALSO.. DONT KNOW HOW SERIOUS IT WAS.

I HAVE BIN A FAN OF BUDS SINCE THE EARLY
1950'S , WHEN I FIRST HEARD " WALTZ YOU SAVED FOR ME " IT WAS A CLASS PIECE OF WORK THEN AND STILL IS...YES BUD IS ONE OF MY IDOLS AND HEROWS..........JENNINGS

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 21 Feb 2006 7:57 pm

Hey, I got a question for you all. Did Bud have his guitar tuned to A6th and use the pedal to drop to the E tunning? That was mentioned to me at one time. I don't know if it's true.? I remember seeing Bud on the Red Foley show when I was a kid. They were classic. Smiley, I have some of his 45's too. They were passed on down to me from my uncle when he passed away.