Buddy Emmons 9/30/63 Hotel Jam Session Tape now online

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 19 Jun 2019 3:26 pm

Steve Fishell, in the course of researching his forthcoming Buddy Emmons biography, has made a major discovery. Through steel player Dale Thomas, Steve tracked down a hitherto unknown tape of Buddy Emmons jamming in a Cedar Rapids Holiday Inn while on tour with Ray Price in September 1963. Dale had recorded the jam session, still had the tape and, with Steve’s help, donated the tape to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, TN. The CMHOF restored and digitally transferred the tape and posted it online here on the CMHOF&M Digital Archive. The complete audio, a description of the tape, songlist and Dale Thomas’ typed letter are included here:

[ Please note: this link works on Firefox / Safari / Internet Explorer – it does not work on Google Chrome]

https://digi.countrymusichalloffame.org ... 093/rec/27

Buddy’s music speaks for itself. However, I will say this is some of the best Emmons I've ever heard. The insights into his practicing methods, a complete version of his Bach chorale plus Buddy talking and burning in 1963 are all here and life changing for any steel player. This recording answers many questions but asks a few more.

More than anything, all of us here on the Forum and all who hear and learn from this remarkable tape should tip their hats to Dale Thomas and Steve Fishell for generously making this tape available to all. Museums recover and archive important artifacts all the time. The “Buddy Emmons 9/30/63 Hotel Jam Session Tape” is no different. In this day and age, the recovery of this tape as a musical artifact is an important event in the history of the steel guitar - life affirming to the beauty, legitimacy and flat out coolness of our musical instrument.

Jim Fogarty · Post by **Jim Fogarty** » 19 Jun 2019 3:53 pm

Thanks!

Firefox (on my Mac) didn't work either. Safari was fine.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 19 Jun 2019 4:03 pm

Done a couple of months after the "Steel Guitar Jazz" LP. I guess he's still got it in his head as he is noodling on "There Will Never Be Another You" at 19'25.

Thanks for that, Robert.

Fish · Post by **Fish** » 19 Jun 2019 4:05 pm

Hello Bob Kramer,

Hey, you give me far too much credit here. I am merely the middleman between The Hall and a very, very kind and generous guy named Dale Thomas in Iowa.

Dale has unselfishly donated this extraordinary moment in history to the world for all the right reasons, with no interest in profiting on this very rare and unique recording. To be able to hear Buddy at a jam session in 1963 the day after his famed leap from the Holiday Inn balcony - and mere weeks before the release of Steel Guitar Jazz - is a gift beyond words for all of those who love Buddy's playing and music.

Thank you many times over Dale Thomas. Wow!!

And a heartfelt thank you to EVERYONE at the Country Music Hall of Fame - especially Alan Stoker, Peter Cooper and you Robert Kramer for taking such great care of this one-of-a-kind recording.

Steve Fishell

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 19 Jun 2019 4:33 pm

This is indeed monumental! Many thanks to Dale Thomas, as well as Steve and Bob, two guys wholeheartedly devoted to promoting and preserving Buddy Emmons' legacy. Kudos!

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 19 Jun 2019 5:21 pm

see, there's still great music being released in this day and age!

what an absolute treasure. thanks to everyone involved in getting this tape donated and heard! it's quite a ride

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 19 Jun 2019 5:53 pm

I gotta start jumping off more balconies. Playing in bed must help too.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 19 Jun 2019 5:56 pm

Sweet Georgia Brown 11:55 how in the world!?!?!

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 19 Jun 2019 6:10 pm

WOW, Thanks so much Bob for posting

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 19 Jun 2019 8:00 pm

Amazing!

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 19 Jun 2019 8:00 pm

anyone know the name of the Bach piece?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 19 Jun 2019 8:59 pm

Could someone please upload a copy of this or provide a link that works with Chrome? I'm on a PC so I don't have Safari, but I've tried Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Chrome and can't get any of them to work.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 19 Jun 2019 9:11 pm

I've always argued that the Steel Guitar Jazz Lp never got close to capturing Buddy Emmons. Glad this is available to help make my point. However I must admit I heard him do things here that I had no idea he could play till much later in his career. The Bach thing comes to mind.

A true treasure. A big thank you to all who made this possible.

b.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 20 Jun 2019 1:50 am

That's a gem !

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 20 Jun 2019 2:37 am

Great stuff. Thanks robert for posting this.

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't know, but I gotta ask....why did Buddy jump off the 2nd floor balcony?

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 20 Jun 2019 4:12 am

Would like to know what steel his was using
And amp. I hear reverb on his amp?? Possible
Fender reverb unit. Any one know
Thanks fo this great fine

P.w

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 20 Jun 2019 4:33 am

Pete Wade on guitar?

Too early for Charlie Harris?

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 20 Jun 2019 5:23 am

Jim Smith wrote:Could someone please upload a copy of this or provide a link that works with Chrome? I'm on a PC so I don't have Safari, but I've tried Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Chrome and can't get any of them to work.

check your inbox Jim

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 20 Jun 2019 5:29 am

Paul Wade wrote:Would like to know what steel his was using
And amp. I hear reverb on his amp?? Possible
Fender reverb unit. Any one know
Thanks fo this great fine

P.w

most likely the Sho-Bud and a Standel

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 20 Jun 2019 5:57 am

I can't get it to work either.

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 20 Jun 2019 6:24 am

I'm listening to it on my PC, Firefox browser.

1) I didn't hear about that upcoming bio, but I'll certainly be on the lookout for it.

2) Like everyone else, I didn't know about this recording. Lo-fi, but I'd buy a CD of it.

3) I also did not know about Buddy jumping from a 2d floor balcony - anyone know what that was all about?

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 20 Jun 2019 6:25 am

Works with Safari on my MacBook. Also works with Edge and Explorer on my PC. Does not work with Chrome.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 20 Jun 2019 6:50 am

Daniel Morris wrote:
3) I also did not know about Buddy jumping from a 2d floor balcony - anyone know what that was all about?

"Just to see if he could do it". I guess he wasn't too sure about that gravity thing.

Read it here, from Johnny Bush's mouth.

I'd post the text right here, but it seems Bush uses The Word That Won The Second World War and some others of lesser renown, so I'll refrain.

Bush says Charlie Harris was there, so maybe it is him on guitar on the recording.

https://books.google.com/books?id=DYElD ... 22&f=false

Joe Krumel · Post by **Joe Krumel** » 20 Jun 2019 7:07 am

what a find, thanks for sharing it.

Gary Spaeth · Post by **Gary Spaeth** » 20 Jun 2019 8:16 am

somewhere buddy says "sit around and dream up this sht and cant't use it on nothin' jus novelty" around 19:00.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Buddy Emmons 9/30/63 Hotel Jam Session Tape now online

Buddy Emmons 9/30/63 Hotel Jam Session Tape now online

Buddy Emmons

Re: Buddy Emmons