The Steel Guitar Forum

There was part of a video interview with Buddy up here a few days ago, posted by Mathew Jut I believe. It vanished for whatever reason but it was very interesting. It reminded me just how much of a giant Buddy was. He's a hard guy to get over. He was a show-off, but in the most inoffensive, engaging way imaginable. And who in the world had a better right to show off a bit? The pure pleasure he took in playing was always visible... the frequent smiling to himself and bursting out in laughter if he made a rare misstep. The sense of humor was so much a part of his style. Of the many players I've admired he will always be at the top of my list.

He was a class act for sure!
Erv

I found the video in question. I wondered if there was some copyright issue or something but this has been up for awhile, I just never came across before. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTowUMBmvew

the same vid on Vimeo, posted by the person who made it, Mike Ihde: https://vimeo.com/user94714927/review/3 ... 5e5f8c4a01. There is a download button (the downward arrow in the lower right) so I don't think sharing or saving it is a problem

Bill, I'd never characterize Buddy as being a show off. I know you don't mean it in a negative way, but I always thought of him as being very humble. There are stories of him pranking guys a little in his earlier days, but he was understated with perfect taste in his playing and demeanor the few times I encountered him at shows, etc. from the '70s on.

Joe

Bill,

I actually burned that to DVD and added it to my collection.

I also did a lesson on it with TAB and rhythm.

Lesson click here

Ron

Joe, no I most certainly don't mean it in a negative way. He was nothing short of a hero to me. But he was a showman if not a show-off. He was always coming up with these mind blowing licks and you only have to watch his face to tell he thoroughly enjoyed pulling them off in front of an appreciative audience.
Here's one illustration :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55W8kMDm6_w
and this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKPdszNyXco
And my favorite is no longer up but it was a young Buddy doing a bit of Four Wheel Drive on the Bobby Lord Show in '65 where he was really tearing it up for kicks and pulled off this next to impossible wind up that had everyone worked up.
Charisma.

Good player, Great hats.

https://youtu.be/r8iV1azxSDE?t=223

Show Off ? I don't think I would use that term at all. I always found Buddy to be very humble and a SHOWMAN. Yes he dove into his phrases and smiled, even yelled sometimes. His body and mind were part of his playing.

Ever watch Roy Clark and Buck Trent play off each other ? They were locked into each other with the faces and smiles, you knew they were tearing it up !

When we go see premier players such as Buddy, Marty Stuart etc, we expect to see them play beyond the top of their game. They are giving it everything they got.

Thanks for reposting. For those of us who never saw him play live or went to one of his seminars, this is 13 minutes of pure gold.

Check out this video of Buddy. I guess one could say he was "showing off". I say, if you got it, show it. Starting at a little over 3 minutes into the song, Buddy starts playing by tapping the tip of his bar on the strings, twirling the bar around on the strings while not missing a beat. Pretty entertaining if you ask me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55W8kMDm6_w

Buddy is one of the very few steel players who look like they're having fun.
Most steel players look like they've just dropped a log in their BVDs!
Erv

Haha! That’s true Erv. I’m guilty of that myself but part of it is because it takes every ounce of my concentration to play. Buddy had so much ability he could do it all and horse around at the same time. A real entertainer. Like I said, charisma.

There was the video that Buddy Played in England, that was incredible but disappeared except of "Raising the Dickens" which is a takeaway from that video.

Good one Erv

He wasn't so much a show off, (but he certainly could), he was a showman.

Ernie,
Yes, you put the right slant on that!
Erv

Erv
I'm practicing daily. If I drop a log in my BDV's, will I play better? Happy to give it a try

Alan,
I'd advise against it, there's a shortage of toilet paper, you know!
Erv

It's a great video. Who is doing the interview?

A one, two, three, four, one ...

Bruce Bouton wrote:It's a great video. Who is doing the interview?

Mike Ihde

The video of Buddy came on a DVD that in turn came with a book by Mike Ihde. The book is primarily full of content on 6 string guitarists. However, Mike chose Buddy and Doug Jernigan to represent the pedal steel. He made a very good choice IMHO.

I like the Minnie Pearl tag on the Peavey amp!

I actually burned a dvd of just buddy's part to keep in my collection.