The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been trying to find music/tab for Jerry Byrd.

I heard the song Paradise Waltz this morning and starting looking but not having much luck so far.

Can someone point me in the right direction to find this song and maybe other Jerry Byrd tab or sheet music?

Scotty's music carried Jerry's individual arrangements as well as his instruction book. After Scotty passed away, I'm not sure of the status of their store. You can try calling them at: 314-427-7794.

JB's arrangement of Stealin' the Chimes is in my B11th book and his arrangements of Estrellita and Sweet Corn are in my C6th Gold book.

Here are links to his version of Cold Cold Heart in his C diatonic tuning:

http://picturehost.net/av/003.jpg
http://picturehost.net/av/004.jpg
http://picturehost.net/av/005.jpg

Thanks Andy. I was able to leave a voicemail at that number. I looked at some old threads here on the forum and didn't find that particular song listed on the sheet music available from Scotty. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky and they'll have it.

A song called "Paradise Isle" is in his instruction book.

I was listening to steelradio.com today and they had the song playing listed as "Paradise Waltz" by Jerry Byrd. I had not heard it before and I just really liked it a lot. Not sure what record it might be on.

It was on the flip side of the "Sweet Corn" 45 rpm. I don't think it was on any of Jerry's albums.

"Paradise Isle" in the instruction book is in 4/4 so it's a different song. Good luck.

If you can't find it, the song is noted out in one of his pub's:

http://www.jerrybyrd-fanclub.com/ then click on "Jerry's Music"


"Ten modern arrangements written in both note and diagram in the C 6th tuning, for the Hawaiian Steel Guitar. This book was copyrighted in 1955 and contains 8 songs that were recorded on Mercury Records by Jerry Byrd.

Although long out of print, copies of this book frequently appear on eBay and run in the mid-$20.00 to $30.00 price range. A must have for any avid fan of Jerry Byrd.

C 6th Tuning:

Three String Swing
Gold Coast Blues
Honolulu March
La Paloma
Paradise Waltz
Kohala March
Blues in "E"
Steelin' Is His Business
D-9th Tuning:

Byrd's Expedition
Byrd's Nest"

The search is on....

Anyone have a copy they would like to sell?

That's what I love about this forum, thanks all!

I had that book a few years ago... sold it, unfortunately. It's very rare. I've only seen two of them on eBay over the years.

Greg, I just noticed that you have an mp3 of this rare JB tune on your web site --Paradise Waltz---> http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Samples/Jerr ... 0Waltz.mp3

I remember that Jerry Byrd book. I think years ago my steel guitar teacher loaned that book to me, and my Dad happened to have the 45 record with Paradise Waltz on it. So, I zeroed-in on that song, but found that the book did'nt follow the record exactly. However, that book is a definite aid to get you in the area of Jerry's playing, so you can improvise to play it like the record.

Also, here's a listing of the re-issue of Jerry Byrd's Hi Fi Guitar LP in cassette from Tom Bradshaw's newer 1996 Steel Guitar Products catalog, which followed the famous long running yellow catalog:


I always enjoyed Tom's "behind-the-scenes" info he'd insert that was not generally known.

Here's the version off my copy of the Hi-Fi Steel Guitar album. I didn't know mine was a "re-issue", but since it includes Sweet Corn and Paradise Waltz, I guess it is.

http://picosong.com/tkts/

Here's the book in question, published by Rickenbacker.



I have his 1960 book, also published by Rickenbacker.

Does anyone have this one from the '50s?:

I used to have that one. I think was published in 1953. His 1960 book expands on that one... the same material plus other tunings, more songs. It eventually evolved into his big course, 300+ pages, more tunings, charts, text, some of the same songs, but a lot of additional songs.

Here's my copy of the 1960 book. He's playing a Rickenbacker "Jerry Byrd model" on the cover!

Doug,
That old book of Jerry's was my 1st exposure to the C6th tuning and it opened up a whole new world for me.
BTW: I have one of those Rickenbacker Jerry Byrd models and I cherish it.

Wow, that's a nice one, Erv. Those were available in 6, 8, or 10 strings, I believe. You have the 8-string, which is what I would have chosen. Congrats!

I took it along to a steel show and Scotty was there.
He really looked it over as he was a big fan of Jerry Byrd.

I have a sunburst model of JB's guitar, like the one he first used on his Memories of Maria album.

I had the pleasure of playing it while visiting his home back in the early 1960's, when I was still but a youth.

......

Have you heard of copyright laws?

Well, one can try to figure that out:

https://www.google.fi/#q=copying+an+out ... s&start=10

A copyright can be renewed indefinitely, a patent is only good for a certain number of years and then it expires.

But who loses in this finance wise, sharing these would make many people happy. Law is not "das Ding an sich" I M H O.