The Steel Guitar Forum

A GREAT non-pedal player and big wheel in the bisiness community in Nashville.
I'd like to hear what a lot of you remember about him, like his playing with Hank Snow,,,, and funny practical jokes he played on the music community in Nashville.
A wonderful crazy guy in a business suit.
Check him out on Google, remembering his great playing abilities.


Bobbe

I'd like to hear some tales about him too, Bobbe.

Here is a 1952 clip with Hank.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1lSYN7d6Q8

Yes! GREAT! This is big Joe on steel. You can even get a sparkle of his personality on this wonderful clip!

Bobbe

I still remain a fan of joe's playing on the live recording of "Gone On The Other Hand" by Charley Pride. I did not know him personally, but I have always heard nice comments about him.

I know, it's off topic, but did Hank wear a rug?

I've been listening to a lot of Hank Snow lately and would really like to know more about Joe Talbot. There is practically no information about him on the forum. Sounds like he played C6.

Yes,,I believe Hank did wear a wig..I heard a story one time that the fiddle player's bow got caught up in it somehow and lifted it off Hanks head,, and Hank got really mad....Joe Talbot was a great player, and had great tone too...I never heard a lot of his playing,,but what I heard,,I liked....

yup, I remember Joe...I used to do demo's for his publishing company. A great guy to work for and one of my heros. So many cuts in the late 40's-early 50's featured Joe's understated playing.
I remember one demo session where Id just bought a 4 neck Fender Stringmaster and set it up in the studio...you should've seen his face when he walked in!! ....that led to a good talk about the 50's and Nashville....a guy who'd seen it all for years, for sure. I miss him still today. Glad you brought him up there, Ace

What other artists did he work with besides Hank Snow?

I can't find a whole lot, but he did record with Mac Wiseman as well as Tompall and The Glaser Brothers.

And he did an overdub session in 1955 on Jimmie Rodgers recordings when he was with Hank Snow.

There has to be more than that.

Carson Leighton wrote:Yes,,I believe Hank did wear a wig..I heard a story one time that the fiddle player's bow got caught up in it somehow and lifted it off Hanks head,, and Hank got really mad....Joe Talbot was a great player, and had great tone too...I never heard a lot of his playing,,but what I heard,,I liked....

That was the legendary Chubby Wise!

Charlie Pride has cut several live recordings featuring and mentioning Big Joe by name.

right after the panther hall album, Lonzo and Oscar or the Willis Bros or some comedy team did a little song about Joe that went something like Joe got ticked off at the Opry and the song implied that Joe got even by deficating on the steps of the Ryman. I'm probably the only one who heard the record and I only heard it twice. This was strictly tongue in cheek. cc

Charlie W. "Gone on the Other Hand" was originally recorded by Tompall & the Glaser Brothers with Big Joe on steel and they mentioned his name on the record. Charlie Pride covered the Glaser's version with an inferior cut IMHO.... The Glaser's vocal(s) blew Charlie's right out of the water and of course Joe's steel ride was awesome.........JH in Va.

You got that right, Jerry.

http://picosong.com/RWT

The Glasers are unfortunately largely forgotten, but were wonderful on this track and Big Joe knocked it out of the park.

Talbot and Charlie Pride supposedly put a bunch of detergent in the fountain at the Country Music Hall Of Fame as a prank, but I don't know if it is a true story.

I played with Bob Williams on WLAC radio around 1949 or 50 and Joe played with a guy named Jack Henderson. He was a great player then and had a super tone like no one else. Johnny Sibert also was playing with Big Jeff Bess at that time. I believe Joe was playing a Rickenbacker at that time.
Gere

Gere:

Did you play steel on these Bob Williams recordings:

Hot Rod Race

Hot Rod Race 2

Hot Rod Race 3

Morning After Blues

Waiting For The Tide To Change

Gere, I know you well, you ARE a great steel player and a even better guy!

Bobbe

Bobbe I appreciate your kind words. I sure do try hard to be a nice guy..


Gere

in the late 50's and early 60's Joe judged steel guitar contests in and around Ponca City, OK - my teacher (the late Bill Pruitt) lived in Ponca and taught in Blackwell, Wellington, KS, Arkansas City, KS, Bartlesville and Parhuska

We had contests back then and won little trophies or ribbons

Joe was always great fun for every (young and old) - Great memories

We all had Rickenbackers - 6 strings and steels (that was B-4 the Beatles too)

I still remeber him telling about traveling with Hank Snow - Hank made Joe set up front with him to keep him awake - this was obviously before they used busses ---- Joe would say - Yep says "Fleetwood" in my knee cap cause Hank made me ride up front and he was so short and had the seat so far forward NO One could be comfortable in that front seat ---- then he would say those guys that rode in the back seat had a ballroom.

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com