The Texas Troubadours - Leon Rhodes, Buddy Charleton - Honey Fingers

[billtaylor1931]

sound like some of the Speedy and Jimmy stuff.

[jaymebaer1]

Speedy West(Pedal Steel) and Jimmy Bryant (Guitar) are the ones that have have similar style and their playing is mighty hot as well. Country and Jazz a great combo.



[bobdeeguitar]

So many Clapton comments--why is he being mentioned in the same breath as these guys--there seems to be little reason in my mind. The musical styles don't compare and EC, with all due respect to his long career and success as a pop icon, wouldn't last more than 30 sec. before he'd crash and burn in a session like this. He's not this kind of guitarist and I doubt it was anything he ever aspired to. I'm sure he would agree, too. Doesn't mean I don't like EC--just can't see any connection.

[steelgreenhorn]

One person must have clicked the dislike button on accident! Excellent playing right there.

[HuffJamie]

@steelgreenhorn I agree! I love this. If you LOVE steel playin check out the "Playboy"-version by Eric Huff Clean Cut Country--5 steel players in one song along with special guest Leon Rhodes (original band member of the Texas Troubadours)



[bobdeeguitar]

These guys are off the hook. From an era gone by. Too bad players like this aren't lauded more for their talent. There's still musicians out there that can play really well like this, but it's getting harder and harder to survive in a musically dumbed-down world.

[eightstring]

10 on 10 It doesn't get better than this. Two masters. I'm flabbergasted.

Many thanks for posting this video

RC aka Eightstring

[johnbisaac93]

Buddy C. You need to come back to west texas and go deer hunting with again. All you have to do is get in touch and we'll pick you up, if your no farther away than Dallas or San Antonio.

[Worldmusicrevolution]

This is beebop Texas style. That was hot.

[motreby]

WOW....!!! these cats can play....

[MIKECNW]

Sounds so jazzy for some reason.

[fuzzprobe]

I found this song on the Legends of Guitar - Country CD that came in 1991. These CDs are incredible and I encourage you to track them down.

[WillyJay3461]

These two pickers were the tightest pickers ever in Nashville. Even Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West were never this tight in all the stuff they did, they were good and listenable but not as musically tight as Buddy and Leon

[cuntrytrash]

The fact that Leon can play that great like it's a natural act numbs my brain.

[ryti92391]

I met Leon last night at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop....Probably one of the nicest guys ever and an awesome guitar player.

[SpeedyNeutrino43]

Those who post should feel sorry for me. My Dad was a virtuoso guitar player for most of his life and taught advanced guitar to others. I have his Stratocaster and his Guild...and can't play a note on either of them. I play the saxophone but I don't have his talent...... :(

[obdami]

Leon Rhodes is like.............1,000 times better than Clapton.

[jamesabilly]

Leon & Buddy were nothing short of amazing & Leon Rhodes is by far & away worlds past Clapton as a player but than again Clapton is about as over rated as a guitar hero can be ;-)

[obdami]

Jesus H. Christ!!!!!!! I finally found someone who believes as I do that Clapton is WILDLY overrated. So pleased to meet you....

[TomvetteCO]

you're comparing Clapton to Leon is like comparing John Elway to Magic Johnson. both ball players, different genres

[thedanned]

@obdami  agreed! his sound is too sterile for me.

[soin2top]

@jamesabilly What an entirely thoughtless comment. It must irk you that people like different music than you. Life's like that. It could be the hats.

[jamesabilly]

@soin2top I enjoy artists from most any musical style you can think of including Clapton with his earlier work (Yardbirds/Cream). He has done very little past that era that I find worth while though. Is this is a slam on him or a thoughtless judgment on his character? Not in the slightest so I suggest you read & contemplate your own words before posting them. The "hats" reference was kinda' funny though I don't allow image to play too large a roll in what determines my taste of music...

[soin2top]

@jamesabilly Clapton seems to be the guy every other guitar player eventually gets compared to. Too often it seems - to those who never got to be so prominent, These guys have almost nothing in common with the style of music, playing, or audience. About the only thing can be said is they are both competent guitar players. Thus my point sticks. Clapton plays to a huge audience and these guys to a small audience, the rest is ... gravity.

[jamesabilly]

@soin2top As far as contemporary blues players go Clapton is competent but when it comes to country-jazz players Rhodes is more than that. If we were hanging out I'd show you on my guitar how true this is by blazing through any Clapton lick you wanna' hear with ease & then pushing myself to keep up with Rhodes. That being said we're all entitled to our opinions & I have better things to do than get into a Youtube war so I'm gonna' be done with this & wish you a good night :-)

[kencc4791]

obdami, A professional musician gets paid to entertain. It's the ability to entertain that determines his success more than anything. Brilliant technique may help but it's not necessarily the determining factor. Leon is a hot guitar player that I respect but as a world class entertainer he can't be compared with Eric. It's hard to argue with success. :-)

[mikeault]

I fell into a top 40 country gig outside of DC about 20+ years ago and stood next to Buddy Charlton three nights a week for 2 or three months. I couldn't believe the sound i heard coming from the steel, and tried to pickup whatever I could as a guitar player. Was the most musical scary fun I can remember.

[styleomatic]

mike, i saw you play back then.... a strat i believe.... at a club on Route 1 in northern virginia, you rocked. can't remember the name of the club but i think it was part of a shopping center. i used to work with the southern winds band with the handy brothers....

[greekflatpicker]

THANK YOU

So much for sharing this video with us.These guys are so talented.

Leon Rhodes is a guitar god,incredible player.

That's what i call cool picking!

[stratplayer12]

I played with Leon last night. What a talent and nice guy

[Souroush]

That's incredible. Who are you?

[Souroush]

Stratplayer12, I mean.

[smiley66goodvibes67]

what if chet atkins touched this and gave it his own touch?

[roundrocktx]

Chet Atkins probably would have left the steel guitar at home as he did when he created the Nashville sound.

It's a pity he did,cause I highly respect him as a human and musician.

[KittraKittra]

Chet didn't create the Nashville sound. Nashville A-Team musicians created the Nashville Sound under the guiding hand of Owen Bradley. When Chet got the job with RCA he hired Owen's musicians and they did the same for Chet. Often times Chet wasn't even in the studio when many of the RCA sessions took place including Elvis'. Furthermore, Leon Rhodes played circles around Chet Atkins. Ask anyone who knows.

[RockinGator]

thanks for the info, Kittra. I recently went on the Studio B tour in Nashville and all they talk about is Chet as the pioneer of the Nashville sound. Bob Moore of course is mentioned prominently.

[KittraKittra]

Nice they mention my husband's contribution. Bob Moore lived at RCA-B for 35 years. Prior to RCA being built, Bob spent many hours working with Chet (for free) helping to develop Chet's first 'solo' releases which were recorded in Chet's garage.

[jimihendrix1967]

lonnie johnson had a song called "hot fingers" from 1928

[Factnotfictionpeople]

I can't think that fast................:-(

[TurtleSwords]

these guys are so...... funny

[gadzooks63]

bob and jhonnie wills would love that!!!!

[styleomatic]

the time and dedication leon and bud put into this is admirable.... awesome stuff! and what a rhythm section!

my life felt a little more complete after getting a copy of all these instrumentals...

[swing42]

I agree, this is awesome stuff! Where/how did you get a copy of all these instrumentals? Are they just on various Ernest Tubb records or is there a CD with all of them? Thanks for your reply!!!

[styleomatic]

a friend of mine in maryland made me a copy of all of them... not sure where he got 'em from

[CadillacL]

Country Bebop..;;;playin air guitar;; let it swing boys!!!!

[shirleymurphey]

Great pickin' by Bud Charleton.

[stickhave]

Wow, country bebop at it's best...let's have more of this, please...Stick Man

[marctrainor]

Was that Buddy Charlton or Buddy Emmons on the steel?????? What's the catch here.????????? Give me a clue. I guess Ernsist said

buddy Charlton. but I'm wondering if he got it right.????

[toanuju]

Charleton.. ET got it right, he wasn't that drunk...

[Z0751]

Wow, amazing!

[luke101978]

there is a band in austin that can do this....

today

[WillyJames3461]

We want more of Leon and Buddy Charlton from the the ET Show.....Please find them and pass them on thru...Great Music by Great Musicians.....It don't get any better folks.....no sir......

[WillyJames3461]

It is sad there there is not music like this in today's country music theme. This was clear, cool, ever so fresh music whether it was on record or on the TV Shows. These guys are truly the most under-rated pair of guitarist Nashville ever seen.....I miss this music and I am sure the majority out there does too......

[philharveyjr]

Leon & Buddy were absolutely amazing, and Don Rich and Tom Brumley were right there with 'em. Sadly,nobody does anything like it anymore.

[gha714]

These Guys Rule!! It Just Doesen't Get Any Better Than This!!!

[arvo56]

I cant thank you enough for putting these things on,I'd given up on seeing the likes of leon,Buddy Charlton, Curly Chalker, Hal Rugg,Tom Brumley,Jimmy Bryant etc,& of course,- all the great country singers;-you cant even get CMT here[UK]

[kg4muc]

I believe Eddie Stubbs summed it up pretty well

" The Troubadors were what every country band wanted to be but wasn't"

[jmeintn]

Dang, that's good! Great to see and hear ET, too.

[tomcat333]

These guys where the pioneers of shreddin'

[barrylvr2]

2 country bands from the sixties that were almost as famous as their leaders....the troubadours....and the buckaroos....

[bossaroo]

Awesome clips of Leon And Buddy... two of my heroes. THANK YOU.

[cecilkisiah]

This Is My Kind Of Music. A Big "THANK YOU"

[hnksnw]

Too jazzy for my taste.

[Willy3461]

This band was the tightest and clearest tone of any country and western band ever. These two guys, Leon and Buddy Charlton picked the greatest instrumental tunes ever recorded. None finer anywhere in this world.

[Cobblestones]

This video is evidence that ole ET surrounded himself with only the very best musicians. Another great from his band was Billy Byrd. Super pickers all!

[heffy301]

Thanks for this . . . about as good as any Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West!

[LamenameRodriguez]

Funny and brilliant!