OPry 1979 Crazy Arms Big Jim Webb

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 9 Sep 2008 3:56 pm

Here's a clip provided to me by our own Jim Hartley (Jim is the drummer in the video)

See if you recognize any people milling around or the other pickers and post names here on this thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2-vdqnjL2I

Bill

John McGlothlin · Post by **John McGlothlin** » 9 Sep 2008 4:25 pm

Well the anouncer is the great and famous Grant Turner and there is Weldon Myrick seated at the Emmons pedal steel. I'm not sure but is that Ralph Davis on the rhythm guitar or was Ralph one of the opry drummers?

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 9 Sep 2008 4:54 pm

Weldon was on deck as was Leon Rhodes, but not as part of FDR's band.
Ralph Smith on acoustic.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 9 Sep 2008 5:18 pm

Watch this closely. On the chorus of My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You, Del says:

My SHOE keeps reaching for you
My eyes keep looking for you....

But, it was in time, thanks to my buddy Hartley.

Dale Lee · Post by **Dale Lee** » 9 Sep 2008 5:28 pm

Nice. The drummer can sing it too.

I also liked it when Del give a little nod at the steel player after a zingy little fill, somewhere around 2:38.

And, this was funny to me, I think Del sang "my shoes keep reaching for you' at about 3:30.

And I had no idea he could fiddle.

Brandon Ordoyne · Post by **Brandon Ordoyne** » 9 Sep 2008 6:53 pm

Cool video!

Boy, you rarely see that many steels stacked on the Opry Stage anymore!

Brandon

Tommy R. Butler · Post by **Tommy R. Butler** » 9 Sep 2008 7:06 pm

Brandon Ordoyne wrote:Cool video! Boy, you rarely see that many steels stacked on the Opry Stage anymore!

Brandon

More Like You NEVER See That Many Steels Stacked Anymore.

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 9 Sep 2008 7:17 pm

Maybe Harold Bradley on rhythm,(?), Keith Whitley talks to Leon a minute and the balding steeler, is that Pete Drake?
Sure a good shot of the Big'un. Thats the way to remember him.

Jim Hartley · Post by **Jim Hartley** » 9 Sep 2008 8:44 pm

Hey friends,

Hope you enjoy this little blast from the past. This clip is a small part of a tape that my wife found while cleaning out a closet a few months ago. It was from a Public Television Broadcast of the Opry and is about 1 1/2 hours long. If any of you were working with an Opry artist in '79 or "80, there is a good chance you are on the video. The Opry stuff is great, but the coolest part for me is that my Dad (who passed away 10 years ago) is standing at the back of the stage having the time of his life. I had completely forgotten that he was there that night. Nice surprise.

As for the players, the Good Time Charlies at the time were Allan Miller, Ronnie Lutrick, Jim Webb(Big'un) and me. Some of the other players seen were Leon, Spider Wilson, Harold Weekley with Weldon and Sonny on Steel. They were probably waiting to play strings with somebody, they did that alot in those days. The Rhythm player is Ralph Davis who played just about all the Opry spots. His brother Glenn was one of the Opry drummers at the time.

Thanks to Bill Ferguson for posting.

Jim

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 9 Sep 2008 8:54 pm

Thanks to Ralph Mooney for writing the National Anthem of Country Music," Crazy Arms." Jody.
.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 10 Sep 2008 3:42 am

Jim; Your post reminds of the time I did an interview with Weldon. The receptionist said to go down to such and such a door and he'd be in that studio.

Well I did that but I heard music from inside the studio so I only cracked the door. It sounded like the Nashville Symphony was in there so I went back to the receptionist to double check and she assured me it was the right studio.

They were doing overdubs with Weldon as the only musician there but the sound was really terrific.

BTW: He also played the Hot Rod for me at the urging of the engineer. Yes, those indeed were the days !!

Regards, Paul

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 10 Sep 2008 5:27 am

Sure enjoyed that a lot. And I didn't realize that Del was a pretty good fiddler. Bill, I haven't thanked you in a while, so here's a big thanks.

Jeremy Drawbaugh · Post by **Jeremy Drawbaugh** » 10 Sep 2008 1:24 pm

I CANT BELIEVE THAT IS YOU JIM

THE DARK HAIR AND BEARD WOW! AND IN 79 I WAS 2 YEARS OLD

HEY MAN I LOVE THE SEE OLD VIDEOS LIKE THAT TO SEE PEOPLE I HAVE HEARD OF BUT NEVER SEEN CAUSE IN THEM DAYS I WAS A LITTLE KID. I JUST THINK ITS NEAT. WHAT GREAT TREASURE FOR JIM

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 10 Sep 2008 1:54 pm

This must be a colorized video. I don't think color TV had been invented when Hartley was on the Opry. I think this was just after battery powered radio and George D. Hays with his horn.