Big E...

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 29 Jul 2015 10:55 pm

Been on the road for a couple of days with no internet, listening to a lot of steel guitar.... which means a lot of Buddy. This is really hard news to hear.

RIP Buddy.

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 30 Jul 2015 12:10 am

RIP Buddy - Thank you for showing us the way.

Dan Wistrom · Post by **Dan Wistrom** » 30 Jul 2015 12:35 am

So, January 18th of 2014, my Wife and I were at a loss for a name for our recently born son (he was a month early and we didn't know it was a boy until he popped out 3 days prior). Combined with a lot of sleeplessness and wonder, we threw out a few names and nothing stuck. The fact that I called him buddy for those first few days combined with the fact that I was just starting to "get" the pedal steel must have done a number on me. I suggested Emmons and my wife loved it (even more when we found out that The big E and my wife share the same birthday)!
I sent an email to Buddy through his website last year, but I have no way of knowing if he received it. I hope he did. It included a pic of my little guy and a brief explanation. People should at least be reminded every once in a while of their enormous impact on their successors. Buddy Emmons made a weird plank of steel and wood do things that are indescribable. He made the instrument cooler than anybody else did. That's it. Hopefully my son will someday realize what a man he was named after.
My love goes out to all the people that will be personally effected by his passing.

I will try to insert a photo of Emmons Lee Wistrom somewhere in here.[/img]

Dan Wistrom · Post by **Dan Wistrom** » 30 Jul 2015 12:39 am

Emmons Lee Wistrom

Dan Wistrom · Post by **Dan Wistrom** » 30 Jul 2015 12:42 am

If anyone has an S12 ext E9 Emmons P/P that they want to get rid of, please let me know. I kind of need to have one now.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 30 Jul 2015 12:53 am

Buddy Emmons was inspired and an inspiration, gifted and giving. Our love of the steel guitar honors his legacy.

Spencer Scott · Post by **Spencer Scott** » 30 Jul 2015 1:37 am

A very sad day to learn of the passing of the big "E" he will be missed by so many.I am so pleased that I had the chance to meet him many times the last being four years ago in Nashville.
RIP Buddy.
Spence.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 30 Jul 2015 1:41 am

I received an e'mail telling me the sad sad news...I am in tears...I met him a couple of times in U.K. when he was the guest star at a convention....what a lovely man with such a great sense of humour. I have his Autograph under my Sho-Bud. Sad to say the greatest has gone...he's with Peggy again!! R.I.P. Buddy.

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Geoff Noble · Post by **Geoff Noble** » 30 Jul 2015 1:46 am

So sad to hear.

Ferdinando Ghidelli · Post by **Ferdinando Ghidelli** » 30 Jul 2015 2:08 am

The man

Bas Kapitein · Post by **Bas Kapitein** » 30 Jul 2015 2:11 am

His hands moved us

His laughter inspired us

Chris Sattler · Post by **Chris Sattler** » 30 Jul 2015 2:24 am

I am so so glad Buddy was honoured by the Hall Of Fame last year.

What a tragic loss to the world.

My thoughts go out to his family.

Rocky Evangelisti · Post by **Rocky Evangelisti** » 30 Jul 2015 2:29 am

Thank you for all the inspiration & joy you've given to all of us.
R.I.P.

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 30 Jul 2015 2:43 am

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 30 Jul 2015 3:12 am

very sad news - he was a true gift to us all - always a huge smile and great guy.

Jack Dougherty · Post by **Jack Dougherty** » 30 Jul 2015 3:27 am

Find it hard...even a day after....there is a hole in the steel world in my mind that can't be filled.....sad indeed....rest well Mr. Emmons...

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 30 Jul 2015 3:28 am

I got over the passing of Bill Monroe. Wasn't easy, but I did it.

Earl Scruggs--I talked to Earl just a few weeks before he died--He called me

to play dobro on a couple of shows he was doing...He passed away, and the public viewing turned ugly--But I got over losing Earl.

And now, my favorite steel guitar player is gone. I wonder how long it'll take to get over this one--But it won't be easy.

When I decided to take up pedal steel, I called my old friend Mike Auldridge. In that beautiful speaking voice, he said, "Steve, the first thing you gotta know--Buddy Emmons is god." So sad.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Jul 2015 3:47 am

Buddy will never be forgotten, he set and raised the bar for all of us to follow. To refer to him as a master musician is only telling part of his story...

How lucky we all are to have crossed paths with Buddy and lived in the same moment as him, not just with his music but with his life, even if we never had the chance to meet , see and hear him play live.

To me, Icon doesn't describe Buddy, Icon is a step lower on the ladder. Buddy is the one who inspired and set the example, as high as it was, for each of us to learn from, follow and try to emulate.

I'm not sure Buddy knew exactly how much influence he had on us, but if he did he sure didn't exploit it...

I saw and met Buddy many times over the years , each time was like the first time.

I'm reminded of Scotty asking Buddy on stage why he sets up on the side...Buddy replies "because I'm a sideman".

Sideman ? sorry Buddy , I don't think so !

RIP Buddy ,thanks for all you have done for each of us, I am thinking you have no idea...

t

Tomi Graso · Post by **Tomi Graso** » 30 Jul 2015 4:02 am

Yes very sad news indeed , rest of the day was filled with sadness and emptiness...I am sure God is looking well after him !!! Buddy, may your eternal life be filled with God's Blessing , We'll all miss you, RIP Maestro !

Delbert Phelps · Post by **Delbert Phelps** » 30 Jul 2015 4:03 am

This is the news I never wanted to hear . RIP Mr Emmons and thanks for all the wonderful music, and inspiration .The world will never forget you .A sad day for Steel Guitar .

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 30 Jul 2015 4:09 am

It's hard to be philosophical about this one. Although I've never been within five hundred miles of the man, his passing leaves me with a feeling of emptiness. Apart from his unmatched musical ability he possessed a charisma that made him stand out from every other steel player I've ever heard of. The temperature of the steel guitar world just dipped below zero.

Donna Sherrard Williams · Post by **Donna Sherrard Williams** » 30 Jul 2015 4:20 am

[/img]

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 30 Jul 2015 4:24 am

That thing's there for a reason, you know...(?) I can't think of what else to do, everybody already used up all the words.

http://www.buddyemmons.com/Pockets.htm
http://www.buddyemmons.com/MinorPockets.htm

Jason Rumley · Post by **Jason Rumley** » 30 Jul 2015 4:26 am

Buddy was the best. I didn't find steel until my mid 20's and I'm still young so I never got to meet the man. But my exploration of pedal steel music led me to his album with Lenny Breau and that was intro to jazz. Even the guitar I own is from his company Sho-Bud. And listening to his playing last night alone in the dark, I got sad about the loss someone I've never met for one of the few times in my life.

Here's a youtube clip from the convention in the 80s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeI1ZO5ht3M

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 30 Jul 2015 4:53 am

Vaya con Dios Buddy Emmons.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Big E...

Mr. Emmons

My son

Btw

big E

Big E..

Delbert Phelps