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Shout out to Bill Johnson
Posted: 17 Aug 2020 5:17 pm
by Gary Hoetker
Isn’t it about time he’s placed right up there with the past greats. His tone and versatility are out of this world. Google The Marty Robbins Album “My Kind Of Country†Circa 1967 to see what I mean. RIP. You’re one of the very best.
Posted: 18 Aug 2020 4:16 am
by Tommy Detamore
I totally agree Gary! Bill was a fantastic player! Some of his stuff sounds easy, until you go to try it yourself. A lot of it is in his phrasing. Just great stuff.
My friend Bobby Flores has Bill’s ‘65 Emmons wraparound. Every time I’m around it I’m in awe!
Here’s a couple goodr’ns, and thankfully there are more:
https://youtu.be/mNQjGr5lCGM
https://youtu.be/ehO6TeIy3kA
Posted: 18 Aug 2020 1:01 pm
by Gary Hoetker
Thanks Tommy. Those are two fabulous clips. The break on "The Shoe Goes On The Other Foot Tonight" are indescribable and inimitable, IMO. I loved the way Marty interacted with his band too and vice versa.
I enjoy all your posts. Stay safe.
Posted: 18 Aug 2020 1:03 pm
by Gary Hoetker
Tommy-
I forgot to ask. Is the '65 Emmons wrap around the guitar Bill is playing in the videos?
Posted: 18 Aug 2020 5:20 pm
by Don R Brown
I've seen a lot of concerts in my life. Elvis, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, etc, etc. If I could go back and see ONE of them over again, without a doubt it would be Marty Robbins. His interaction with not only the band, but the crowd itself was incredible. The music was tremendous, but his personality was what made the night. He didn't give the impression he was "performing for us", he seemed to genuinely be enjoying the evening just as much as the audience was. Just a dinky theater in a dinky town, but he absolutely gave it 100% and then some.
PS - Trash day is tomorrow, and after seeing that break I just carried my steel out to the curb!
Posted: 18 Aug 2020 7:17 pm
by Tommy Detamore
Gary Hoetker wrote:Tommy-
I forgot to ask. Is the '65 Emmons wrap around the guitar Bill is playing in the videos?
Bobby and I have both wondered about that. It looks like the same guitar, but we can’t be certain.
Posted: 19 Aug 2020 2:53 pm
by Herb Steiner
Tommy Detamore wrote:Gary Hoetker wrote:Tommy-
I forgot to ask. Is the '65 Emmons wrap around the guitar Bill is playing in the videos?
Bobby and I have both wondered about that. It looks like the same guitar, but we can’t be certain.
It's the same guitar that was on "Shoe Goes...Tonight," as I was told by Ron Lashley when I bought it from the Emmons Co. That's how they were advertising it. Mike Cass restored it and put on my copedent. Bobby got the guitar from me in the early 2000's, when I was kinda "collecting" wraparounds and 1st Gen. Emmonses.
About 12 years ago, Bill Johnson's widow contacted me wanting to buy it, and I had to refer her to Bobby F. I don't know if she ever contacted him or not.
Posted: 19 Aug 2020 5:03 pm
by Tommy Detamore
Thanks Herbster! I was hoping you would see this and weigh in...
Posted: 19 Aug 2020 6:05 pm
by Herb Steiner
Here's another MR show with Bill Johnson, and Bill gets lots of camera time, more than he played actually. He takes the cool fuzz tone solo on Don't Worry About Me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNRbyYWPH1E
Marty Robbins was a consummate performer and artist. In the 80's my band opened for Marty and his show was a mindblower.
Katz Kobayashi was his steeler in those days.