The Steel Guitar Forum

From left to right
back row:
Randy Beavers
Sonny Curtis
Freeman Cowgar
Wally Murphy
Dickie Overby
Red Rhoades
Tom Brumley
Jeff Newman
Speedy West
Lloyd Green
Julian Tharpe
Bobby Caldwell
Phil Baugh

Front Row:
Dewitt Scott
Buddy Emmoms
Tommy White
Shot Jackson
Zane Beck

How in the world did somebody get all them at the same place at the same time , amazing. historical for sure

Thanks, Steve, that's really something.

Logic suggests St Louis....

I think the guy in the plaid jacket and white tie had something to do with it.

Plaid was big that year. Check out Julian's trousers. Jeff's sport coat, while plaid, was somehow more conservative in impact.

The really sad part of the picture is to see how many are no longer living. Herb, many of the young players will never get to hear some of the greats we have heard.

Ten of those great players in the photo (over half of them) are deceased Keith. You're right about it being sad that the newer player will never get to see them play. I wish someone would put out some videos of the old SGF shows so they could be seen and heard again.....JH in Va.

mumbling between those other than BE might be.....

"how in the world does He do that?"

Wow, what a great picture! Priceless for sure.

Thanks for posting it!

Kind Regards, Walter

Lets try and bring it out a little.

Have any idea of the year?

This was the first St. Louis show I attended. I believe it was 1973, and was at a Holiday Inn near the airport.
Great memories.

Bob

I was there it was my first convention. Buddy played Exodus, I looked over at Red Rhodes he had tears in his eyes, my lower jaw was open, there was not a sound in the room when Buddy finished. It was like he cast a spell on the crowd. Then they realized he was done and the clapping began. I remember holding my breath while he played, I was so taken by what I heard.

I have never heard anything like it since, the emotion Buddy put into and got out of that song on his PP hooked me for life.

I always say, if you want a friend you need to be a friend. If you want to have these types of experiences you need to leave your home, go to a show or convention or visit someone or give them a call, life is short.

Larry Behm
my door is always open

That's the "Blade." "Theme from Exodus" on the "Blade" possibly through an Echoplex? This brings up a good point. Buddy Emmons is one of the greatest ballad players in history - any instrument any genre.

Great photo.....

There are lyrics to the "Theme From Exodus." The title of the vocal version is "This Land Is Mine."

Music by Ernest Gold, the lyrics were written by Pat Boone.

This land is mine, God gave this land to me
This brave and ancient land to me
And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain
Then I see a land where children can run free

So take my hand and walk this land with me
And walk this lovely land with me
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With the help of God, I know I can be strong

Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With the help of God, I know I can be strong
To make this land our home
If I must fight, I'll fight to make this land our own
Until I die, this land is mine.

Bob Knight is right it was 1973.

There is another picture similar floating around and it was taken 1977-78. Those were my first two years to attend and I remember when they lined them up and took it. I believe it was 1977. The year Buddy cut the double LP Live at The Convention with Bucky Barrett and Buddy Spiker.

Keith your right too. It's sad that so many younger players will never get to hear these guys. I miss those super players like Speedy West, Julian Tharpe, Curly Chalker,Jimmy Day, Zane Beck, Bob White, Jimmy Crawford, Hal Rugg and the list just goes on etc., etc. and the guys who are still living but no longer play anymore. Thank GOD we were there!

Terry Wood

Don't know the time frame for the above photo, but I think the one and only Holiday Inn convention was in 1974. That was the first convention I attended.... what an eye opener. I'd never even seen a steel guitar up close till then. I still have programs from the '74 to '79 shows as well as buttons.

Was there an audio recording made of the exodus theme played by Buddy Emmons in 1973? , i would love to here that!

Jan

I have/had a recording of it, but it's buried in a box of hundreds of cassettes and my cassette player is not here at the moment. It would be a chore to find, but I might be up to it.

But I recall it was a flawed performance in spite of Buddy's incredible playing because the flutist accompanying Buddy didn't really know the changes and his solo on the A section was a train wreck. Buddy did come back and finish it perfectly, of course.

Hi Herb,

I believe I know the reason for the flawed performance by the flute player. Buddy had asked him to play the flute on the tune just before going on stage. The guy ran out to the band bus to find it locked, but found an open wind & climbed in & then climbed out the same window. By the time he returned to the stage he was out of breath, & was unable to play his flute very well.
Scotty explained the circumstances when Buddy finished playing.

Roger

Were collars that big in the early '70's or was that a later, disco era development? Whatever year it was, it doesn't appear that he has left knee levers for C6. Were they folded up, or did they come later?

HERB! FIND THAT CASSETTE!