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"Let's go STEEL something"
If it feels good, do it. If it feels COUNTRY, do it twice
jpp

I hummed something I had heard Jimmy play and Ferlin said back to us: Damm, another steel player who can't carry a tune in a bucket !

Maybe I better get some of these songs mentioned here and listen for myself.

That record at Tootsie's might have been "I Just Lost My Favorite Girl", which Jimmy wrote (?) and recorded. Ronnie Dale had an excellent cut on it, too.

C#

[This message was edited by Cal Sharp on 09 January 2002 at 10:17 AM.]

He also wrote a fantastic song called "My eyes are jealous" which Gene Watson recorded on his first album before he ever had a hit--probably around 1970. Dickens did the song as well.

I sent your post and all the rest of the folks' comments who are on that topic with you , over to Joe Day this morning not knowing it would have been Jimmy's birthday . Joe e-mailed me back to tell me that Jimmy did indeed sing that song along with many others . Jimmy and Willie Nelson sang together also and Joe has that
tape . Joe has a massive collection of Jimmy's works through the years . Joe also said that most of the comments made by others on your post, was pretty much on target . Joe then told me that it would have been Jimmy's 68th birthday today .

b0b was nice enough to dedicate a permanant page on the forum to an article that Joe wrote about his brother Jimmy's life , gave me a copy , and authorized me to send it on to b0b for the forum's information about Jimmy . If you have not read it , you can look it up on one of the links on the forum or ask b0b to advise you how to get to the page . It is very interesting and shows how Joe ( the brother that is left with us ) paid such a high tribute to Jimmy both before and after Jimmy passed away .

Regards ,

Here is the link to Joe Day's article . It is an article that has a copy write --note bottom of the page at the end of the article .

Here is the link : http://b0b.com/jimmyday.htm

Jimmy worked with a drummer and a Bass player that fronted the band…and just played his butt off!! I seem to remember Jimmy telling the other two players that he would do the first two or three songs by him self, so sit down and have a drink! I thought he would get up and play steel, but he grabbed a 6-string guitar, sat on a stool…and blew me away. He sang several tunes, and “If Not For Jennifer” was one of them. I don’t have that record, but I wish I did!! It is a classic. If you have it…LUCKY you!! It is very rare. I remember David Zettner singing it for me some years later.

Oh yea, after Jimmy sang a few tunes, he sat down behind my Sho_Bud, and played one of the best versions of “Greensleves” that I think I have ever heard (Sorry Buddy, but that was just one of those rare moments in my life. I don’t think have ever heard anything quite THAT good) ! It was really a FUN night.

http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/jimmyday.html

Done in mono and I cleaned them up as best I could.

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Rebel™
ICQ 614585

http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html

I never really knew anyone named Jennifer, but for some reason, my wife and I named our daughter Jennifer. hmmmm. . . Amazing the effect a song can have on your life. Gives me goose bumps to this day. He had so much soul, it came out of every pore in the man's body.

You know, you bring up an interesting point. From time to time a song comes along that just, for whatever reasons, sticks in your mind! Yea, yea…I know this is a steel guitar forum, and Jimmy Day was certainly one of those players! But he was also a very talented musician. He played steel as well as it can be played, but he also played guitar and sang.

“If Not For Jennifer” is just one of those “haunting” melody’s that comes along from time to time. It just is so unique, it sticks in your mind. It is a rare combination of a chord progression, words, and a vocalist…that makes the whole thing come together!

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"Let's go STEEL something"
If it feels good, do it. If it feels COUNTRY, do it twice
jpp

Let me paint a little bit of a picture for y'all that Joe's article only hinted at. The large chapel of the funeral home was packed, and I'm sure there were over 500 people there, it was standing room only. Everyone was quietly talking with folks they'd seen just yesterday or folks they hadn't seen in decades, so there was a conversation buzz in the room. Jimmy's instrumental music was playing in the background.

But the "I Love You And I Know You Love Me" came on the PA system, and the sheer beauty of it, and its message, caused the entire room to drop the conversation and just listen. Then Dave Rich got up, waited a loooonnnggg pause, and quietly said "how about a hand for Jimmy Day." The room completely exploded with applause.

Honestly, I'm crying as I write these words.

I was given the honor of carrying Blue Darlin' behind Jimmy's casket from the viewing room to the chapel, and then out to the bus. I recalled that when Jimmy and I used to play together, I'd tell him I wasn't worthy enough to "carry his case," and he'd always make some joke. Now I was carrying Blue Darlin' for the last time, and she was so heavy.

I rode with Joe and Jimmy's sisters in Lynn Owsley's bus on the way to the cemetery. The family knew that Jim was "kind of famous," and had played with Elvis, etc. But they really had no idea of his significance in the lives of so many musicians, how he and his playing had altered our existences. I think... at least I hope... that what I told them in that half-hour ride to the graveyard opened their eyes further about the greatness their "black sheep " brother brought to the world.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

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"Let's go STEEL something"
If it feels good, do it. If it feels COUNTRY, do it twice
jpp

[This message was edited by John P.Phillips on 12 January 2002 at 01:49 PM.]

Thank you for the recollection. I did not have the opportunity to attend Jimmy’s funeral, but I also enjoyed reading your words. From time to time the word “Mentor” comes up here on the forum, and while I may have had one (but if I did I don’t remember who it was! Hell, it might have been you!), he was probably one of them. I never really knew Jimmy that well, but I had the opportunity to see Jimmy play many times in the early 1960’s and ‘70’s. He taught me a LOT!! No, he never showed me anything because that was not Jimmy’s way, but it was one of those “learn by watching what this guy is doing” type of deals.

He was a truly marvelous musician, who just sat behind the instrument and did his “thing”. There was a funny thing about Jimmy Day. He was the guy that taught me how to have the attitude “Sit behind this thing and have a good time. That’s what I am doing!!!”

I am not sure how I knew that because I was very young at the time. I have always respected that, and remembered the feeling I got watching him play (that is one of the cold chills run up and down your spine things!!). This guy just had a GREAT time playing steel guitar! I guess maybe that is just where the “soul” came from.