Buddy Emmons (and Red Rhodes) in Los Angeles

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 25 Jan 2016 12:35 pm

nice article about Big E here, and a great sampler of his L.A. session work... including several things I'd never heard before:

http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2015/12 ... 1968-1974/

there's an article devoted to Red Rhodes too. good stuff:

http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2015/06 ... e-tribute/

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 25 Jan 2016 1:40 pm

Great stuff. Thanks for posting.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 25 Jan 2016 2:21 pm

Jack Hanson wrote:Great stuff. Thanks for posting.

+1

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 25 Jan 2016 7:54 pm

In 2004 the Country Music Hall of Fame staged a panel discussion on Ray Charles in conjunction with their exhibit: "I Canâ€™t Stop Loving You: Ray Charles and Country Music." The participants included Joe Adams (RC's longtime manager), Gerald Wilson (arranger on "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music") Hank Crawford & Fathead Newman (Ray's longtime tenor sax men) and Mr. Buddy Emmons (steel guitarist on Ray's L.A. country sessions and most of Ray's Nashville recording sessions).

The panel discussion was held in the Hall of Fame's Ford theater and when everybody was seated - the event began with Ray's "Wichita Lineman" played over the PA. When it got to Mr. Emmons' solo the audience simultaneously broke out into applause and cheers. Most of the people there probably didn't listen to steel guitar everyday like we do - but everybody there that day "got it" at the same time.

"Wichita Lineman" is one of the prime examples steel guitar sound Emmons' was getting during his California years. To many steel players - it's their favorite Emmons' tone from all his recordings.

What was it about this phase of Emmons career that touched and influenced so many young steel players? Was it the guitar - the amp - the LA studios - the times? I don't know the answer. I do know we'll be talking about Buddy Emmons for a long, long time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NtJS-x4Ols

Fish · Post by **Fish** » 25 Jan 2016 9:27 pm

I want to echo what Mr. Kramer has said above. The LA phase of Buddy's career is one of my favorite periods in steel guitar history. He was thrown into so many challenging situations, yet he rose to the occasion each and every time.

Hats off to Aquarium Drunkard for assembling this moving mashup. "Biggy" would have dug it.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 26 Jan 2016 12:04 am

Hey, Bob! The answer to your "What was it?" question is Buddy Emmons.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 26 Jan 2016 5:07 am

There is some great stuff on the Red Rhodes mixtape.
Thanks, Scott, enjoying it immensely.

I'm listening to the Emmons mix now.
These two links are a real treasure.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 26 Jan 2016 5:20 am

Ernie - I went back and edited my post to try and make a little more sense. You know me - I'm always doing 5 things at once.

I've been digging the YouTube clips of your steel playing. I had no idea you could bring it like that. Wow, man!

Charlie - When I was first trying to learn to play steel guitar - I would buy any LP that had steel on it. I found and bought 2 Red Rhodes solo LP's. They're still some of my favorite steel records. They sounded like California.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 26 Jan 2016 6:47 am

Yes, it takes me back to that time, one that I spent some of it in California.
It was a great time, and great players breaking into the popular scene. I had just started playing in bars.
Now I know who played the part on Seven Bridges Road. Inspiring.

Glad to hear my favorite Wichita Lineman doing it with Ray Charles. Greatest tone he got, to me.

And yes, I agree with you about Ernie (the 'obscure master' steeler who's secret is out).

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 5 Feb 2016 11:05 pm

Yes, Steve
The Emmons' California years were truly groundbreaking in steel history.
Hope you're doing great, my friend....

Fish · Post by **Fish** » 6 Feb 2016 12:18 pm

Hey Olli,

Thanks a lot my friend...right back at you! I hope our paths cross again soon.
Next time we'll get together and try out all those fine steels & amps of yours.

take care!

S

Ben Greene · Post by **Ben Greene** » 6 Feb 2016 1:30 pm

This is great! Thanks for posting!

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 4 Apr 2016 2:49 am

Here's that Jim Pulte song again. Did Buddy use a sitar bar on this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T-u70bL5Rk

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 4 Apr 2016 1:13 pm

Joachim Kettner wrote:Here's that Jim Pulte song again. Did Buddy use a sitar bar on this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T-u70bL5Rk

Yes!

Jim Park · Post by **Jim Park** » 5 Apr 2016 6:44 pm

Does anyone know what guitar Buddy used on the Ray Charles sessions? Could it have been the Blade??

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 5 Apr 2016 11:00 pm

I'm pretty sure it was the Blade on Volcanic Action, Jim.

Marty Broussard · Post by **Marty Broussard** » 6 Apr 2016 2:30 pm

Wow, could ya'll please list some more recordings of Buddy's L.A. days? I want to add them to my collection.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 7 Apr 2016 6:10 am

deleted

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 7 Apr 2016 7:59 am

Thanks for posting these articles Scott.

Weird - the mix tapes would not play on the browser I mostly use on my Mac Mini which is Safari, so I switched to Firefox and they play just fine.

Wow - according to Michael Nesmith Red smoked more dope than anyone he knew. Now that had to be a lot of dope, particularly when we're talking Los Angeles area musicians from that era.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 7 Apr 2016 9:24 am

Marty Broussard wrote:Wow, could ya'll please list some more recordings of Buddy's L.A. days? I want to add them to my collection.

f\the link to the compilation of scott's should lead you to much of it.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 20 Oct 2020 8:58 pm

I'm bringing this back to ad another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUqS4fZ1EK0
A very nice duet with Buddy on steel and Jerry Burnham on flute.
Peter Gallway wrote it and it was later covered by Kenny Rogers.

The 5th Avenue Band

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 21 Oct 2020 3:20 pm

Here is a very unusual album From 1967 by Jimmy and Red as Norvel and Ivy called â€œWingin Itâ€.
https://www.mixcloud.com/atsushiyoshida ... orval-ivy/

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Buddy Emmons (and Red Rhodes) in Los Angeles

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