I've got a couple of new guitar heros...

[Tele-Whacker]

I have been listening to more music than usual lately, and have come across a couple of new heros:
The first time I ever heard Greg Galbreath, I saw him in Reno Nv. (1980/81) with Slim Whitman, and I don't remember him knockin' my socks off, but he was solid. (Harrold Bradley was on the gig too, as was the late great Steel Guitar Icon, Jimmy Crawford.)

I briefly met Greg, but I met a lot of folks durring that time in my life, But I remember HIM.
Well, I was listening to some of the "Swing Shift Band"
stuff, and the guitar playing laid me smooth out!!!
He is such an awesome player, So clean, and precise!
His touch, tone, and his Ideas are GREAT!! give this stuff a listen if you have a chance.

Another one I was VERRY impressed with is Jimmy Bryant.. No body should be able to play that fast!!
I have to leave now, so i'll try to elabrate later...

 

[Tele-Whacker]

Galbraith ..

I mis-spelled his name in the previous post.. This guy does some INCREDIBLE things on a guitar.
If you've never heard him, or some of the recordings I'm talking about, you need to try to find them.

Ray Pennington and Buddy Emmons, released four albums of Swing, and they are AWESOME. I'm not computer literate enough to post the adresses where you can order them, but if you go to www.steelguitarforum.com and look around I know you can find out how to order them. They are available in cassette, or c d form I believe.

I was talking about Jimmy Bryant, and I'm convinced that Roy Nichols studied his style, because I can hear a lot of influence in Roys playing. I even heard from a friend of mine that Jimmy Bryant lived in Southern California for a time. I have a recording of him, and Speedy West together, and It is incredible.. the stuff that I have were released on "Step One Records" a few years ago. The Bryant/West project could have been recorded quite a few years ago, but some of the Pennington/Emmons stuff have vocals (on certain songs)
by Clinton Gregory, so it can't be real old stuff.

Another guitar player I heard at the Texas Steel guitar show, a couple weeks ago, that blew me away is Steve Patico. This guy STOLE the show, at a STEEL show!!
Every time he took a ride (solo) he got a standing ovation! and cooler than that was ..He played an older Telecaster! Fantastic player from Canada.

I've got a lot of Guitar heros, and altho the list starts with Brent Mason, there are others that make me want to make a lamp out of mine sometimes..

 

[blue water girl]

Greg Galbraith also happens to be the brother in law of steel player Paul Franklin. He has been married to Paul's sister Theresa for many many years. And he is responsible for helping Brent Mason get his first job in Nashville playing with the Don Kelley Band at the Stagecoach Lounge, in l981. He also gave Brent some of the most useful advice about playing guitar in recording sessions that Brent ever received, and that he now passes on to those that ask him for advice to this day!

 

[blue water girl]

oops - double posted by accident.

 

[blue water girl]

Oh sorry - best advice he ever got----

If you want your phone to ring for session work, besides being a great player, a chameleon of styles, you have to remember that you were hired to enhance the artist and their song, not to make yourself sound or look good - it is all about the artist. Never overplay, never grandstand or hot dog. And for pete's sake - never overpower the artist or get in the way of the vocal. Less is always more. If they want more - they will ask you for it. Do not shift focus from the singer to yourself. The only time it is okay to hotdog is if it is your own song and you are the singer OR if they tell you to cut loose. There was also some more technical advice like making sure your scales match the chord progressions in the song and aren't coming from way out in left field someplace. (I am not sure if I explained that one correctly...)

Oh, and also that a deep and profound jazz solo and very distracting jazz fills are not needed for something like "The Green Green Grass of Home." (Which is something Brent did when he first got to Nashville and started playing at the Stagecoach!!!!) Obviously all this was darn good advice, since his phone hasn't stopped ringing for over twenty years.

 

[cowboytwang]

I was talking about Jimmy Bryant, and I'm convinced that Roy Nichols studied his style, because I can hear a lot of influence in Roys playing.

They both started their recording careers at the same time(I think Roy actually recorded before Jimmy did) and had their own styles from the start. Both have a heavy influence of Django, with a dash of Charlie Christen, Junior Barnard(my favorite), Cameron Hill, Jimmy Wyble, Eddie Lang, George Barnes, Eldon Shamblin and many other swing, jazz and country pickers of the time.

 

[Tele-Whacker]

What????...How?...

It's the only thing I can say when I hear Greg Galbraith's
part of the ride (after the steel part) on "Home In San Antone" on the Ray Pennington/Buddy Emmons recording! (In the Mood for Swingin")

I can't immagine how he is getting that sound. It is awesome!

Pay particular attention to the song, "Curtain Call" on the same tape. My friend, Buddie Hrabal said the song came from Ferlin Huskeys band, and that Terry Bethel was the steel player on the origional. I have heard it on Joe Belinskys Sunday Country show (95.9 The Ranch - Ft. Wth. Tx.) from 12 noon to 4:00 every sunday afternoon. It is the theme song, and a great tune.

Ain't nobody out there into this kind of stuff? I like it as much as talkin' American!

Thanks for the info as far as R. N. and Jimmy Bryant, and thank you too Blue Water girl..You're Sweet!!
(What's Brent doin' with the ole Broadcaster?)