What famous artist did you back up?

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 16 Apr 2005 6:39 am

1. Bill Kirchen
2. Commander COdy
3. Dale Watson

Far more memorable experiences for me than these artists I'm sure!

Robbie Bossert

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 16 Apr 2005 7:15 am

its not name dropping if the person is telling the truth.

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 16 Apr 2005 7:50 am

Well, my list reads a lot like Smiley Roberts' list because I worked as a Nashville "sub-player" for a few years. When an artist's band member needed a few days off, I would fill in for them. It was one of the most fun and rewarding times of my career. However,some of my long term jobs include: Jack Greene & Jeannie Sealy,Ace Cannon,James Pastel,and some I'd rather forget. If I listed all of those "short term" jobs, you'd think I was bragging. Once upon a time I even got to fill in for Don Helms with the Driftin' Cowboys...I loved it!
That was on Austin City Limits,incidentally. Oddly, I never got to see that one.
~~W.C.~~

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 16 Apr 2005 8:42 am

Never on a steady gig with any stars, one night with several. The most fun was with Ferlin Husky. What a terrific guy, and his wife Marvis is a jewel. I once got hired to play six string by Claude Gray. He fired me during the first song at rehearsal, saying the notes I played did not mean anything. He called me several days later and wanted me to come back. Of course I did not go.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 16 Apr 2005 9:52 am

A very good friend of mine, John Halsey, was a busy and in-demand drummer back in the Old Country (England). He landed gigs with Chris Jagger, Mike McCartney (Mike McGear!), and several other 'celebrity' family members, and went on to become the Rutles drummer.

He had a business card printed that read - 'Drummer To The Brothers Of The Stars'

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 16 Apr 2005 11:55 am

The only well known artist I've been with anytime is Darrell McCall in the mid 80's. Some of the one nighter backup has been:
Margo Smith, Connie Smith (early in her career) , Bob Wills, Floyd Tillman, Lefty Frizzel, The gang from Hee Haw, Ernest Ashworth, George Hamilton the 4th, Billy Walker, Charley Walker, George Staight before he was known, Kenny Dale, Stoney Edwards (recorded with him also),Red Sovine, Johnny Bush, Frenchie Burke, Curtis Potter, Warren Smith, Marty Martel (several years Bass & Steel), Kenny Price, and more that I can't think of.

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 16 Apr 2005 12:05 pm

its not name dropping if the person is telling the truth.

C.C.
I think you've been "had"!

While we're on the subject of "droppin' names",several years ago,I was "subbing" for Gene O'Neal in Printer's Alley,& this "kid" used to hang around there,wanting to get up & sing all the time. Well,Jimmy (Snyder) let him. He wasn't bad either. As I recall,he always thanked us for backing him up. Back then he was just "Tug McGraw's kid". Of course,y'all know him today,as Tim McGraw. He seemed to be a nice "kid". Wonder whatever happened to him?

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
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Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 16 Apr 2005 1:15 pm

At the risk of "name dropping"> my answer is NOBODY..ha..

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Ricky Davis

Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@austin.rr.com

John Rosett · Post by **John Rosett** » 16 Apr 2005 3:53 pm

i got to play guitar with rose maddox once. what a great lady.
the rest of the resumes on here read like "who's who". mine reads like "what's that".
john

Chuck Cusimano · Post by **Chuck Cusimano** » 16 Apr 2005 10:00 pm

In 1973, I worked in a band in Odessa Tx, and we backed up Jeanie Pruit. Not a good experience for me.Then, I moved to Lubbock, and one of the nicest "Big Names" I ever got to back up was a grerat country singer you never hear of any more. It was also in 1973 and his name is Stoney Edwards. He had a couple of small hits on the radio, and I had never seen him. Until rehersal. He came out on stage, and tried to tell me he was Charley Pride. ('Course, he was jokin') But, he is black. His recording of "She's My Rock," (and I ain't gonna throw her away) was one that I had just learned to do with the four piece band I was working with, in Lubbock Texas. He did a great job, and was a very nice guy, but a natural comedian. Soon after that we backed up Freddy Weller. He was playing a solid rosewood telecaster, and it may be the first one to have a "B" bender in it. I know it was the first one I ever saw. We also backed up Jerry Walace. Later I joined another band and we backed up some guy from the Southern Coast of Texas, but I can't remember his name, and a few months later, after I started my own band, we backed up a lot of Houston talent. Gene Watson, used to ask for us to back him, and by the second time he came around, he had hired a fine guitar player (Danny Rainwater) and we backed him up a couple of times more. We backed up Johnny Lee, Vern Gosdin, Kenny Dale, Fiddlin' Frenchy Burk, Bobby G. Rice, Jim Owens, Wynn Stewart,and a couple more I can't recall right now.

Then in 1980, I was working with a six piece Western Swing Band in Reno, Las Vegas, and we backed up someone every once in a while. I remember, Tex Williams, Susan Ray, Ferlin Huskey, The Hagar Twins, Jimmy Rogers(Honey comb), Johnny Tilitson, Jerry Wallace (again,- No he didn't remember me)
Most of them were nice people, and were gracious, one or two were "Butt heads"

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 17 Apr 2005 11:01 am

...we backed up Jeanie Pruit. Not a good experience for me.

Back in the early 80's,she wouldn't hire me,'cause I was "over 30". I happen to know that she's,at least 1 1/2 years older than ME!!

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

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 17 Apr 2005 12:15 pm

Hey Smiley, How come you didn't include me in your backed up list.

I got you more airplay than Overstreet ever did.

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Smiley 15-4 Crank&pull pro model Deluxe with auto string changer.200 ft. roll.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 17 Apr 2005 2:16 pm

I once backed Elton John at the Palomino at a private party thrown by his record company. Of course, he was sitting in with his band (which didn't include a steel player for some reason) and I kind of just stayed on stage. He did some song called "Tony Danza" which somebody told me had steel on it originally. Weird song, I guess that Elton must just be a "who's the boss" fan.

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www.tyack.com

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 17 Apr 2005 3:15 pm

In 1966 - Freddie Cannon (Tallahassie Lassie)
One night only. Bryan Hyland (S.W.A.K.) was on the same bill, and another local band backed him up. I was playing guitar. Our rehearsal lasted 5 minutes. It was "No fills, no rolls, no solos, no riffs. When I do this, bring it down - when I do this kick it up."
He tore the place up that night - after an extensively rehearsed Bryan Hyland put everybody to sleep.

There are others, but that one just sticks in my mind . .[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 17 April 2005 at 04:18 PM.]

Tom Stolaski · Post by **Tom Stolaski** » 17 Apr 2005 4:47 pm

Percy Sledge, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Mac Wiseman, Charley Walker, John Conlee, Tom Paul Glazier, Bobby Bare, Razzy Bailey, Freddy Weller, Clyde Foley Cummings, Larry Ballard, Linda Hargrove.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 17 Apr 2005 5:04 pm

I'm more famous than anyone I've played music with. I mean, you all have heard of me, right?

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Wally Maples · Post by **Wally Maples** » 17 Apr 2005 6:59 pm

Well I've never seen such stars that you people have backed. I once played with myself!!

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 18 Apr 2005 9:53 am

I have b0b, I got a couple of your big hit cds

I played with Paycheck, Kevin Welch, oh and once with Ronnie Stoneman

Hook

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www.HookMoore.com

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 18 Apr 2005 7:09 pm

STONEY EDWARDS!!!!!! Wowo what a great memory and a great singer..."there's a stranger in my arms tonight and I know..."
one of the greatest country singers i ever heard. I discovered stoney when i first started in radio back in 1981.

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 18 Apr 2005 7:10 pm

John when you were with stonewall did you ever know a bass player named Dave Owens?

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

John Cadeau · Post by **John Cadeau** » 18 Apr 2005 9:21 pm

Bobby G. Rice. And it was on the very same stage that Smiley Roberts played on, but not on the same day. I wonder if Smiley still remembers the name of the place. It was the time he and the boys in T.O.'s band drove down to our gig at the Turf Hotel in Tommy's bus,and when they got back to their gig I understand Mr. Overstreet was not in very good humor. Anyway it was nice to meet Smiley and the rest of the band.
John

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 18 Apr 2005 10:06 pm

Probably due to location (So Cal), I've gotten to back up my share of fairly big names, but this weekend I'll always remember getting to back up (me on guitar)Jay Dee Manness, David Wright, and one of my true all time hero's...Maurice Anderson. It was a high point for me absolutely!

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 18 Apr 2005 10:12 pm

I never met Tommy Overstreet but it sounds like he studied at the Buddy Rich school of bandleading