Buddy Emmons

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 20 Nov 2019 8:06 am

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.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 Nov 2019 8:35 am

He was a class act for sure!

Erv

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 21 Nov 2019 10:54 am

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

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 21 Nov 2019 11:57 am

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

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 21 Nov 2019 3:04 pm

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

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 21 Nov 2019 3:41 pm

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

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 21 Nov 2019 4:22 pm

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.

Tim Sheinman · Post by **Tim Sheinman** » 22 Nov 2019 12:18 am

Good player, Great hats.

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

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 22 Nov 2019 1:10 am

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.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 22 Nov 2019 9:48 am

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.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 22 Nov 2019 11:26 am

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

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 22 Nov 2019 11:53 am

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

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 22 Nov 2019 2:10 pm

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.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 24 Nov 2019 4:11 pm

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.

David Weisenthal · Post by **David Weisenthal** » 25 Nov 2019 6:32 pm

Good one Erv

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 17 Apr 2020 1:52 am

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

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Apr 2020 4:55 am

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

Erv

Alan Bidmade · Post by **Alan Bidmade** » 17 Apr 2020 7:28 am

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

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Apr 2020 7:31 am

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

Erv

Bruce Bouton · Post by **Bruce Bouton** » 23 Apr 2020 10:44 am

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

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 23 Apr 2020 10:46 am

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

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 23 Apr 2020 9:06 pm

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

Mike Ihde

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 24 Apr 2020 12:50 am

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.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 24 Apr 2020 4:23 am

I like the Minnie Pearl tag on the Peavey amp!

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 24 Apr 2020 5:20 am

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