CC Johnson's Jerry Byrd photos

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

This topic is carried over from a previous thread where CC Johnson said "The first time Jerry came to the Winchester Convention we were all in the parking lot that evening and Jerry was playing everyone's guitar, Changed guitars about every 3 songs. We all were amazed at how much better our guitars sounded. Scotty had a Panda I believe that he had for sale cheap as it was a pile of junk. Jerry played it and the music was beautiful. Someone said "How much Scotty?" Scotty said "Man its not for sale anymore." Jerry played Paradise Island on this guitar and others. Most of the time the guitars were in C6 and Jerry would run the C to C# and the A to G# and play the whole song on three strings. So apparently Jerry preferred C#m to play this song even though he did not retune the bottom 3. I have a pic of Jerry playing this panda in the parking lot, bare footed, I can send a copy to anyone who would care to post it. Jerry played this song on my frypan tuned to A6 and he did the Danny Stewart sounds and then he used the split string technique; bullet nose one and C# and lower part of bar slanted to make A into G# and played the entire song this way and it sounded like C#m. I have tried ever since but usually drop the bar about the 4th measure, Oh well".

Jerry with back to camera, I'm sitting lower right corner, Jess Hurt in front of me, Scotty to Jerry's left, Frank Miller to left of door, Dwight Harris center near rear with big smile.

Jerry with Scotty's Panda, Scotty to his left, Wally Phieffer behind Scotty, me in rear to the right of Jerry, laughing, this was right after Scotty said the "pile of junk" wasn't for sale anymore.

Jerry tuning Panda, Scotty with thick black hair on Jerry's left, me to the rear of Jerry, Jerry was using my Webb amp.

Jerry on Fry Pan, the great Jess Hurt to Jerry's right, me to the rear, and the mighty Vern Cornwall behind me.

Same lineup. The guitar player was great but I can't remember his name.

Jess, the late Roland Nite, Vern Cornwall "slightly" interested in what Jerry was doing. I think Vern threatened to "whup up" on me if I didn't make room for him closer to Jerry.

Another shot. The reverb on my webb went out so Jerry is now playing thru Jess Hurt's Peavey.

[This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 23 November 2005 at 03:16 AM.]

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Jerry needed reverb?

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Great job of posting Andy.Thank goodness for fellows like you with some smart.

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

My pleasure. Your comments on each photo really made them extra cool.

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

You may notice that Jery is using his vol ped operated with LEft foot. The toe of the ped is off and the heel is on. In the large foto in addition to the names I mentioned, pick out Tom Reeder, Red Moser, Tom Shilstra, White haired fellow on left and rear Charlie Hine from Scotland, Edna Reeder,Jack Montgomery, Kaleo, I don't know who the fellow in the window of the motel is, this was either Kay Koster or Tom Reeders room My room is the one on the very end and Red Moser was across the hall from me. We all had the same rooms yr after yr. Good bunch CC

Vernon Hester · From: Cayce,SC USA, R.I.P.

Just talked with Bill Blevins,Those were his floor mats Jerry had his barefeet on to prevent electrical shock. Bill is sending me a cassette of this trip.
Vern

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

oh yeah, the grest Bill Schmedlin in the rear with sideburns and glasses. The dog house bass was played by Red Mosers nephew? and Norm Koons mostly. CC

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

one more and I'll quit. The great OT Coffin is in the middle with his hands on the back of the chair. Norm Koons is on the extreme right Just his head shows. OT had a vintage all alum National with a tuning changer built into the guitar. It would change the top three from e b g# to e c# a to e c# g#.

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Nice Super 400 with a Charlie Christian pick up the guitarist is playing! I have seen a few of those with that pickup--BIG tone!

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Like I said Bill; the guy was great and he had tone to boot. cc

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

cc,
Just a note to let you know that I got my Excel D-8 Jerry Byrd model guitar and it really looks nice. I put some new strings on it yesterday that Scotty sent along and now let's see if I can get just a "little" bit of the Jerry Byrd sound out of it. At least it has his name on it, that should help, shouldn't it?
Erv

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 23 November 2005 at 08:24 AM.]

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Erv you bet. It always helps to have the master by your side. CC

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Those are really cool pics! Thanks for sharing them!

Warren Slavin · From: Southampton, PA, 18966. USA

CC -- Appreciate you sharing the pics with us. I heard a lot about the jam session in the parking lot where Jerry took his shoes off and played up a storm. Do you know if there were any recordings made of that session? Let me know of any cost if there are any tapes. I believe it was the convention of '78 -- I didn't join the Aloha Club until '81.

Mahalo Plenty Warren

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c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Warren glad you liked the pics. I sure thought you were somewhere in the big pic however it was in 78 so I guess not. I believe that is Frank Nespo in the foreground with the pipe. I know Red Moser was going to tape this but I nrver heard it.I don't believe there was any video. CC

Kevin Ruddell · From: Toledo Ohio USA

Thanks for posting these pictures and comments . You get to " be there " even if you weren't . Jess Hurt who is pictured in some of these organizes the local annual Steel Guitar Benefit . Scotty announced at the last one this summer that Jess would possibly not be doing it anymore . I was talking to my friend at one of the benefits and Jess came over and talked to us . A very nice guy and classy steel player too .

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Bill Hatcher I just remembered that the guitar player was playing through a Standel and the body was a dark lime green color. I think it had 1 12' spkr. Something pops in my mind; I believe he came to Winchester with Jess Hurt. Maybe Jess can help.cc

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Kevin Ruddell No one can say too much about how a great fellow Jess is. Having been to so many Haw and Scottys shows with him A person come to know what a fine guy he is. For a couple of yrs Jess and I were the only two who played pedal guitars Jess played a formica covered black dbl 10 MSA and I played natural wood single 10 MSA.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Give a listen to the first tune on the Jerry Byrd Fan Club site and tell me if that is from the same event around which these great photo's were taken. If so, there was a recording made. Wasn't that great guitar player IAN UFTON from Toronto? I wasn't there so am just guessing.....

[This message was edited by Ray Montee on 24 November 2005 at 11:28 AM.]

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

No Ray that wasn't Ian in the foto. At later conventions in Winchester Ian an Neal Cosand did a lot with Jerry.

Vernon Hester · From: Cayce,SC USA, R.I.P.

I have a videotape of Winchester and looks like Ian playing with Jerry.
Vern

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Ian played in later conventions. On stage in Winchester in 1978 Jerry used Pule Waters exclusively. In those later yrs Jerry did use Ian and Neal Cosand. Jerry loved to play with Neal who used alot of jazz chords. They did Mood Indigo, Satin Doll, Flamingo and others. Great music. CC

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