That is definitely Danny Alguire. I worked with him several times, and also heard him many times with the Firehouse Five Plus Two between 1962 and 1969.
Amazing music but just look at Merle's boots! And those two ladies sat in the corner knitting .... ha ha! That sure is some mean country pickin' at 1:55 and Judy Hayden is ABSOLUTELY fascinated by it! Who wouldn't !!!
Great old video. I did at least one show with Harold Hensley. His death was unusual. He pulled into his driveway at his new home in Paradise and died. He went to Paradise.
After doing some research, I may have finally solved the mystery of the horn player backing Merle Travis on the "Too Much Sugar for a Dime" video. I'm going to say it's Danny Alguire, because the confusion between he and Alex Brashear possibly came from the fact that both of them had worked for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (at different times). In fact while a member of the Firehouse Five plus Two, led by Disney animator Ward Kimball, Alguire would occasionly sing "San Antonio Rose."
The words are funny, the playing is perfect, All those fancy jazz singers mentioned in this song, could not play the guitar and Mel could, I bet he got too much sugar for a dime.
This truly is classical American music. The intro with the trumpet really brings to mind the era this was created. Merle is a very special artist and my dad worshiped his music
Merle's Bigsby was a hollow body built for him in 1951. It was later acquired by Jack Parsons, a bandmate of P A Bigsby. (Yes, Bigsby had a band.) Bigsby then inlaid Parsons' name in it and added a vibrato. I've often wondered what Travis' 1948 solid body sounded like.
I was Merle Travis in a previous life. He died the day I was born and I've been playing guitar to his songs, Chet Atkins, up to Stones, Byrds, CCR, Petty, nearly my entire life
Eventually Merle was married to both those women. The black haired one was Dorothy Thompson (Hanks ex). He was married to her when he died in Oklahoma in 1983.
Billy, your father was such a wonderful musician... I consider myself lucky to have gotten one of the very first sets of his CD boxed set, signed by him. I even spoke with him on the phone briefly. I cherish that memory. His loss to that car wreck was a giant one to not only country music, but jazz.
This vid has "Showmanship " just oozing out of it all over the place .. The tune , the presentation , Eddie Kirk and the boys backing Merle ( and his wife ? at the time ) . The coolest Bigsby guitar you can ever lay your eyes on .. The whole video drips with professionalism .... ....say Merle .. what a you know bout boats ??? he say ..... "They float !! " What a guy .. this is priceless .. thanks for posting .
Yes, I was looking at that guitar - Very nice piece of kit.. Nicely shaped body - and avoiding fret buzz on those older types designed for plucking was a task. no matter he only made one, lol.
Love it. Love it!!! Just recently saw this clip at LACMA part of the Jazz series. I would definitely consider this Western Swing and it reminds me of music recently recorded by Will Ryan the official unoffical Sheriff of Hollywood's historic Gower Gulch where he's performed at the Hollywood Studio.
I just read in the book "Story of Paul Bigsby, father of the solid body', that this guitar on this song is the ONE AND ONLY hollowbody guitar Bigsby ever made. It was later owned by Jack Parsons. Bet it's worth a fortune. Buy the book!!!
I'm a Tex Ritter man myself...
Lea99Jones 3 months ago
That is definitely Danny Alguire. I worked with him several times, and also heard him many times with the Firehouse Five Plus Two between 1962 and 1969.
HalSmithMusic 8 months ago
Amazing music but just look at Merle's boots! And those two ladies sat in the corner knitting .... ha ha! That sure is some mean country pickin' at 1:55 and Judy Hayden is ABSOLUTELY fascinated by it! Who wouldn't !!!
lowgrowl5 10 months ago
eddie kirk is sick in this
bigtoozly 11 months ago
@bigtoozly - I hear ya. After watching this thing dozens of times, now I can only fixate on Eddie's crack rhythm work.
pappyredux 5 months ago
This is the first solid body guitar made by P.Bigsby
hillbillyboy77 1 year ago
@hillbillyboy77 Actually, no. This guitar was built in 1951 and it is hollow. Merle's solidbody was made in 1948.
Sounds pretty damn good though, doesn't it?
penn4644 9 months ago 5
Awsome!
Beachcrib 1 year ago
An early country music video.
nanlisa 1 year ago
Bigby guitar and great boots
callasexperience 1 year ago
well done, newlomaridge- thanks for going to the effort of finding out- -this vid is just wonderful- merle at his charming best.
wibble7773 1 year ago
Time to say a big "Hey" to Thom Bresh! Love your version of "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)
USRoute66Kingman 1 year ago
Great old video. I did at least one show with Harold Hensley. His death was unusual. He pulled into his driveway at his new home in Paradise and died. He went to Paradise.
Featureman 1 year ago
After doing some research, I may have finally solved the mystery of the horn player backing Merle Travis on the "Too Much Sugar for a Dime" video. I'm going to say it's Danny Alguire, because the confusion between he and Alex Brashear possibly came from the fact that both of them had worked for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (at different times). In fact while a member of the Firehouse Five plus Two, led by Disney animator Ward Kimball, Alguire would occasionly sing "San Antonio Rose."
newlomaridge 1 year ago 2
@newlomaridge - Thnks for posting the info about Danny Alguire!
USRoute66Kingman 1 year ago
The words are funny, the playing is perfect, All those fancy jazz singers mentioned in this song, could not play the guitar and Mel could, I bet he got too much sugar for a dime.
steveo27545 1 year ago
This truly is classical American music. The intro with the trumpet really brings to mind the era this was created. Merle is a very special artist and my dad worshiped his music
cosmo2631 1 year ago
Merle's Bigsby was a hollow body built for him in 1951. It was later acquired by Jack Parsons, a bandmate of P A Bigsby. (Yes, Bigsby had a band.) Bigsby then inlaid Parsons' name in it and added a vibrato. I've often wondered what Travis' 1948 solid body sounded like.
penn4644 1 year ago
in loveee with music..!
itsgabrielaaa 1 year ago 4
I was Merle Travis in a previous life. He died the day I was born and I've been playing guitar to his songs, Chet Atkins, up to Stones, Byrds, CCR, Petty, nearly my entire life
DhunamiCE 1 year ago
That's Speedy West on the pedal steel.
ausgang 1 year ago 2
Merle Travis. one of my guitar heros, and what a great bunch of musicians backing him up, especially the man on steel. Amazing!
MrHondaguy1 1 year ago
Comment removed
MrHondaguy1 1 year ago
I didn't know that guitar was so thick, it must way a ton!
crusherbmx 2 years ago
Eventually Merle was married to both those women. The black haired one was Dorothy Thompson (Hanks ex). He was married to her when he died in Oklahoma in 1983.
whitt702 2 years ago
Love this video ! Great music and Guitar playing by Hank Garland's dear friend Merle Travis !
The Legendry Guitarist Hank Garland Family
BillyGarland 2 years ago
@BillyGarland:
Billy, your father was such a wonderful musician... I consider myself lucky to have gotten one of the very first sets of his CD boxed set, signed by him. I even spoke with him on the phone briefly. I cherish that memory. His loss to that car wreck was a giant one to not only country music, but jazz.
GeorgiaBoy1961 1 year ago
This vid has "Showmanship " just oozing out of it all over the place .. The tune , the presentation , Eddie Kirk and the boys backing Merle ( and his wife ? at the time ) . The coolest Bigsby guitar you can ever lay your eyes on .. The whole video drips with professionalism .... ....say Merle .. what a you know bout boats ??? he say ..... "They float !! " What a guy .. this is priceless .. thanks for posting .
pwea1 2 years ago 2
Yes, I was looking at that guitar - Very nice piece of kit.. Nicely shaped body - and avoiding fret buzz on those older types designed for plucking was a task. no matter he only made one, lol.
DrKenUKUS 2 years ago
Bought the DVD, best 19 dolar deal one can find.
jvalentif 2 years ago
Great video! It used to be on here but they took it off before I could grab it. I won't make that mistake THIS time! Thanks a million!
drfligo 2 years ago
Vestapol 13012 is the DVD , Volumns 1 and 2 .
billga2007 2 years ago
I wonder if Nudie did that shirt , it's amazing.
billga2007 2 years ago
Nudie was a dude,I wondered that.
bongfodder 2 years ago
Love it. Love it!!! Just recently saw this clip at LACMA part of the Jazz series. I would definitely consider this Western Swing and it reminds me of music recently recorded by Will Ryan the official unoffical Sheriff of Hollywood's historic Gower Gulch where he's performed at the Hollywood Studio.
DoloresPetersen 2 years ago
jesus !!! it reminds me so many things ... just damn GREAT and nothing else
kia1944 2 years ago
I just read in the book "Story of Paul Bigsby, father of the solid body', that this guitar on this song is the ONE AND ONLY hollowbody guitar Bigsby ever made. It was later owned by Jack Parsons. Bet it's worth a fortune. Buy the book!!!
whitt702 2 years ago 2
Just great!!Thanks.
electros54 2 years ago