The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **6 Sep 2001 6:21 pm**

Boys, let me tell you. If you fellers, and girl ladies, don't have the Chalker Set, from Tom Bradshaw, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING!!!! I just got mine today, liked it so well, I went to town, and bought me a new 2002 Eldorado, so I could listen to ole' Curly, do his thing,on the BOSS BOSE audio, that comes with it. I don't know about anyone else, but when i'm starting to get a sinkinbg feeling, dragging around, or what ever it's called, I just crank up Curly. I guarantee you'll be wearing a big grin, in no time flat!!

"Little" Buddy.

Posted: **6 Sep 2001 6:42 pm**

OK, I'll bite. What's "the Chalker set"?

Jimmy Jimmy

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www.jimcohen.com

Posted: **6 Sep 2001 8:36 pm**

Hey, Jim. All five of Curlys' cassettes, but i'll bet you've already got 'em.

"Little" Buddy.

Posted: **7 Sep 2001 6:25 am**

5? I was only aware of 4. Counterpoint, Big Hits in Big Steel, More Ways to Play, and Nevada Breaks. What is the 5th?

Posted: **7 Sep 2001 6:44 am**

Is the 5th one "Nashville Sundown"? This is one of my favorite E9 albums. Curley was really good on that neck also.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Posted: **7 Sep 2001 7:22 am**

Yep, Nashville Sundown.That's the album that Curly was prepared to record on the C6th neck, but the producer decided he wanted a more country sound, so without hesitation Curly whooped it up on E9th. Did pretty darn good too.

Posted: **7 Sep 2001 11:11 am**

Isn't the "Nashville Sundown" album the one
with a load of Gordon Lightfoot numbers.
Dave.

Posted: **7 Sep 2001 11:46 am**

Chalker also plays steel on a great Swing Album named S'Wonderful with Eldon Shamblin on guitar, Joe Venuti on violin for sure but I can't remember who else maybe Johnny Gimble on Mandolin as well. Killer playing all the way around.

Posted: **7 Sep 2001 12:20 pm**

Dave, all the tunes on "Nashville Sundown" were written by Gordon Lightfoot.

Robert, the mandolin player on 'S Wonderful, was Jethro Burns. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think all four of these players are gone now.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Posted: **8 Sep 2001 3:20 am**

How can we get our copies?

Posted: **8 Sep 2001 4:36 am**

In My Dad's Attic in Pa, I have a Chalker album called Four Giants of Swing I think is the name...Joe Venudi,Jefro Burns and Curley..starts with Take the A train..very good album..Bill in Vegas

Posted: **8 Sep 2001 8:09 am**

I would like to see Curly's recordings released on CDs. It probably won't happen too soon.?

Roger

Posted: **10 Sep 2001 4:17 pm**

I have "The Chalker Set" too. There's nobody like him. You're right, B.B., it's a perfect remedy for "the blues".

Long live Curly!

Posted: **10 Sep 2001 5:11 pm**

Bill,
That album in your dad's attic is "'S Wonderful" -- the one referred to before. The fourth 'giant' was Eldon Shamblin. I am pretty sure they have all four been taken to that big swingfest in the sky.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

Posted: **10 Sep 2001 8:39 pm**

A fellow steeler sent me a cassette of Curly playing live in '64 in Henderson NV playing a Fender 2000 prior to his "Big Hits on Big Steel" and I am wearing the tape out because I can't get enough of this great man's playing. It's too bad that we don't have a ton of his playing on tape. He definately was one of a kind and the like we may never see again, thanks, Gary

Posted: **11 Sep 2001 8:43 pm**

Don't forget to read "Remembering Curly Chalker" on Jim Phelps' web site:
http://jimphelps.com or http://www.guitar-to-go.com

Maybe Jim will post some sound clips of the recording he mentions in the article soon. I sure hope so.

Very interesting reading, even if your not a Chalker fan.

Take Care,

Les

Posted: **12 Sep 2001 5:46 am**

I could be wrong about this, but it is my understanding that every so often the staff band at Hee Haw would play an instrumental, and there is video footage of about a dozen of these featureing Curly.

It sure would be nice if the producers would release a video of these, or at least allow Tom Bradshaw to do so. I understand Tom inquired about this and was told they want $100,000 for the rights to the material.

Posted: **12 Sep 2001 7:12 pm**

"Remembering Curly Chalker" is great on Jim's website. I had heard stories of his sharp side to those he didn't know and he did not have much time for me once but that's alright because when he played, the inner man came out from behind the facade and exposed his real feelings and that's what made him my hero, Gary[This message was edited by Gary Walker on 12 September 2001 at 08:14 PM.][This message was edited by Gary Walker on 13 September 2001 at 07:48 AM.]