Jerry Byrd Bass Player

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

My wife was playing an old Marty Robbins record this weekend of Mexican-inspired music and I noticed in the linar notes the bass player was Jerry Byrd. When did Jerry learn bass? Did Marty just do a favor to get his pal some session work or did JB double on bass more often?

Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

My good friend Dale Sledd formerly of the Osborne Brothers band and Nashville during that era. He worked the opry and done t.v. shows with Sonny and Bobby on about everything. He is a great musician and harmony singer.

Anyhow is favorite steel player was Jerry Byrd. He told me on more than one ocassion that Jerry played Bass on some of those shows such as the Wilburn Brothers t.v. show. I am guessing Jerry had to earn a living at various ways throughout his career. Even Buddy Emmons was on Bass for King of the Road, Roger Miller for a few years, and other singers and players have had to work on various jobs playing to earn their bread by the sweat of the brow. Wink

Sledd, said that Jerry Bryd was an excellent bass player. I am sure he was because he was a perfectionist in about every thing he did with music.

Hope this helps answer your question.

Terry Wood

Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

Another thing, I think you probably already know was Jerry Bryd and Marty were close compadres. Marty loved the steel guitar and Hawaiian music.

Marty Robbins love for Hawaiian music came frm his being in and out through Islands and Hawaii during WWII. Marty was in the South Pacific with U.S. Navy. Withou the liner notes if memory serves me correct Marty lied about his age and joined up with the U.S. Navy at age 16.

Jerry shares some interesting info on Marty in his (Jerry's) biography "It Was a Trip on the Wings of Music." Jerry was a special guest on one or two of Marty Robbins t.v. shows in the 60's called "The Drifter."

Hope this helps.

Terry Wood

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

JERRY BYRD not only played bass at various times........he also played rhythm guitar on the Bobby Lord television show there in Nashville.

Jerry was a very hard worker; did painting in the earlier days and also worked in a local drug store, clerking, as I recall. When he wasn't busy at that, he was fishing!

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

At the end of the Bobby Lord series, Bobby thanked Jerry for arranging the music for the show. I guess that's no surpise, knowing Jerry. Very Happy

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

JERRY BYRDwas the designated "band director" on many of the programs in which he participated. He arranged many of the tunes, etc.

He told me that after having done this for many years, he had only rec'd regular UNION FEES for this session work. He later discovered, that he should have been receiving double scale (or whatever) for the extra responsibilities and all. NO ONE EVER TOLD Him..............how discouraging.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Jerry often picked up the electric bass at the HSGA conventions as well as the r/guitar. He was a good rhythm man. Most steel guitarists in the islands are
quite comfortable playing bass, r/guitar, and/or ukulele. Jerry was no exception.

http://www3.telus.net/public/lake_r/

Lee Jeffriess · From: Vallejo California

Im no ,JB or Big E, but after a 15 year break I have gone back to playing Bass fiddle.
I havent had a steel gig in months, but there is plenty of Bass work if your not fussy.
Lee

Drew Howard · From: 48854

I too may plop down the dough for an upright bass. I play electric (who doesn't) but the demand is for competent upright players. Lots of gigs I play on go bassless for want of an upright player. I play banjo in a klezmer band but will start playing electric bass with the group, again because the chair can't be filled.

In the grand tradition of Emmons, Byrd and Johnny Cox.
To go from the heights of musical expression to the depths of rhythm :>)

Jack Byrd · From: Kalamazoo, Michigan

It is very true Jerry played bass on many recording sessions. Down toward the end of his career in Nashville he told me several times that was about all he could do, the steel guitar was not wanted. I went to a recording session with him in which he was the session leader and he played uprigth bass on most all of the tunes recorded. I remember this distinctly because when things went sour during a song he would smack the bass with a loud pluck to stop everyone and they would go back to the beginning. I did get a kick out of that. They did get all the songs of the album done in a double session which he said was unusual. This was for sure one of the reasons he left Nashville because of the lack of work and not getting to play the kind of music he loved all his life.

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Thanks for the info everyone. It's not easy making a living in the creative arena. Good luck with the bass gigs, Lee.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Especially since Jack may be keeping an eye out here, is there any truth to the tale I've heard that Jerry was the first to have played a Fender bass commited to 'record' (or, maybe first on a country tune)?

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Sorry, folks. This discussion has had nothing to do with lap steel. Moved from Steel Without Pedals to Music.
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