GUEST ARTIST, BYRON WALKER, ORIGINAL, lonnie barksdale

[byronleewalker]

Okay I'm slow. My guitar has "LB," the date 4/24/1991 and #11. Equally impressive is the violin Mr. Barksdale made for me. It has great bass and sustain. He also put the top on a violin that I've had for over 40 years, and gave it a new lease on life. Mr. Barksdale's achievements were great, but he was greater than the sum of his parts.

[byronleewalker]

I'm glad you like it, but the song really doesn't do justice to him. He was a much bigger man than that.

[GBarks219]

Mr. Walker,

Lonnie Barksdale was my grandpa. As a kid, I watched him turn rough chunks of wood and old metal pots into instruments. Mostly with hand tools. Everything I ever saw him make and definitely all of the instruments that he built for me have the L.B. and the # at the top of the neck. My papa was a treasure and I miss him. I just wanted to say thank you for thinking enough of him to take the time to write that song.

[chuxtrux]

hello there GBarks219. i just e mailed your comment to byron walker. i'm sure he will be pleased to hear from you. at one point when byron was writing this song he asked me if i thought he should change the name in case family would not like the song. i'm so happy now that he did not change the name. so nice to hear from you, hope you are doing real fine, chuck picklesimer.

[GBarks219]

I thought it was great. I'm glad he didn't change the name. I called my dad about it late last night and he said that Mr. Walker had sent a copy to him and my Aunt. The family really appreciates it. You guys have all of our thanks.

[oldfolkiepad]

While I was in the States I read a fascinating book called "Guitar - An American Life" by Tim Brookes. It deals with its subject from all sorts of angles, including the process by which the author had a guitar made for him by a professional luthier, Rick Davis. This song reminded me of the book and it was great to hear someone writing and singing about this remarkable craft.

Best regards,

Paddy

[chuxtrux]

hi paddy. my friend don milhoan buit me many guitars over the years, and each one was special in it's own way. my wife once asked why i needed so many guitars and i jokingly said that i need variety in my life. marriage is my not variety and guitars provide the variety. someone did not laugh. be well, chuck.

[CurtisMateer]

The voice got to me immediately. He's the real deal for sure. Brilliant stuff.

[chuxtrux]

hi pete. i agree. byron is one of my very favorite writers. be well, chuck.

[byronleewalker]

I appreciate putting the song up. He also made me a violin and a mandolin.

[chuxtrux]

hi byron. i did not know about the other instruments. like to see the mandolin sometime if you still have it, chuck.

[cadwalladee]

Mighty fine song & singing! - has a real authentic feel to it. I take it that the singing has evolved a bit since the lyrics were written...

Is LB a real person?

[chuxtrux]

hi scott. i like this version because it was recorded in a studio of a fellow member of the club. LB is a real person, he made a cool guitar for byron and etched into the wood an american eagle (not exactly as described in the song, but that's craft). he gave me this cd at the monthly meeting last night. i'll probably upload a couple more of my favorites. be well, chuck.

[nidgetucker]

Excellent Playing Sir and Excellent song.

[chuxtrux]

hi nidge thanks for taking a listen to my friend byron. we appreciate it, chuck.