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Billy Mize ..Western Swing LP/CD
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The Steel Guitar Forum
Bar Chatter Archive
Billy Mize ..Western Swing LP/CD
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This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: Billy Mize ..Western Swing LP/CD |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 02 August 2000 09:50 AM
Has anyone heard of Billy Mize recording a Western Swing LP or it being reissued on Cd in the last few years. Billy of course was a picker in Bakersfield from the 1940's onwards and played steel for people like Gordon Terry, Skeets McDonald and Little Joe Carson, although he tended to leave that to others when his singing career took off more in the early 1960's and he had the LA and Bakersfield TV shows. I have heard that he did a steel LP of Western Swing material, that he cut a CD of Tommy Duncan songs in true swing style, supposedly delayed until 1999. Now all these stories sound a little 'samey', so i guess there was a project where Billy might have sung and played steel in a Western Swing style..but there seems to be nothing on the market. ------------------ |
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Joe Casey Member Posts: 3402 |
posted 02 August 2000 01:38 PM
Jason I can't help but marvel at all the true facts you obtain about people from my era and from down under.Billy Mize is one of a kind. And a very friendly and helpful person to a skinny private on his way to Viet Nam,that would remember the lessons. Joe |
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Mitch Drumm Member Posts: 299 |
posted 02 August 2000 04:21 PM
The lp is: "Salute to Swing: a Tribute to Tommy Duncan". Released on GM Records 101. Executive producer is one Glen McDaniel, so i am guessing it is his label and he financed it. Produced by Tommy Allsup. Personnel includes Jim Belken, Johnny Gimble, Tommy Perkins, Tiny Moore, Curly Hollingworth, Teddy Adams, Eldon Shamblin, Billy Briggs, Herb Remington, and 3 others. 24 Bob Wills sides, released as a double lp with a foldout cover. Recorded at Sumet-Bernet in Dallas. Mid 80s, I would guess, not long before Tiny passed away. I don't know if it was ever on CD. [This message was edited by Mitch Drumm on 02 August 2000 at 04:23 PM.] |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 02 August 2000 05:35 PM
Hi guys thanks for the info, Joe you took lessons off Billy, now that is very cool. Mitch, I do believe you are a West coast fanatic, I'm sure you have mentioned other rare West Coast related releases before. |
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Jerry Hayes Member Posts: 3306 |
posted 03 August 2000 02:17 PM
Hey Jason, I'd like to find out about this too! I had the pleasure of playing steel for Billy at Bonnie Price's Foothill Club for a couple of years. He was (is) one of the nicest guys in country music. Also he did a long stint as the steel guitarist for the Town Hall Party staff band on KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles. Joe Maphis was the band leader. Billy played a Fender steel with pedals standing up! He also played steel on the Joe Carson record called "Helpless" which was a fair sized hit. He showed me how to play the steel break on that song one night at intermission. A real super guy. When I went with him Jim Bob Sedgwick of the Forum was on bass and later went to lead guitar. I used to come to work and Jim Bob would be practicing on my steel. I fixed him one night though, I put a bicycle lock around the guitar so he couldn't get the cover off. Do you remember that, Jim Bob? ------------------ [This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 03 August 2000 at 02:19 PM.] |
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Mylos Sonka Member Posts: 212 |
posted 03 August 2000 02:34 PM
Jason, When Johnny Cuviello and I went down to Bill Woods' funeral in Bakersfield a couple of months ago, Billy Mize gave us a copy of that double CD album. There are a total of 26 numbers on it. It was remastered from the original tapes, with Merle Haggard adding Bob Wills-like exclamations, comments and ah-haas, perfectly mimicking Wills' voice. Normally I wouldn't sanction overdubbing, but this case I must say is an exception, because Haggard is so respectful and right on you'd swear the old man was there himself. I have the earlier vinyl version and frankly I like the CDs better. Can't believe I'm saying this. Oh by the way, Mitch, I want you to duly note that finally, after all these years, I finally have a WS recording that you don't already have! Can't believe I'm saying this either. I don't think this album is available commercially. I think I will ask the Sacramento Western Swing Society get some copies to sell for Billy. Everybody that hears it loves it and wants to know how to get it. Billy Mize has had a stroke, but seems to be recovering well. His speech is a tiny bit slurred yet, but there is spring in his step and a sparkle in his eye and an attractive and obviously devoted young woman at his side. He is one of those people with personal magnetism, just so comfortable with everything you feel good being around him. On the CD jacket there is a great snapshot of Billy at about twenty years old, arm-in-arm with Tommy Duncan. Mylos |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 03 August 2000 05:29 PM
Gentlemen, thank you so much. Billy had some great pickers in the group, Blackie Taylor even did a short stint at the Foothill in the very early 1960's, Jim Pierce, Roy Nichols, Gene Fields, Buddy Emmons, Cecil Bays, etc. and of course other forumites like Jim Bob, Gary Brandin and Robert Lee Crigger. Jerry, is there an instrument that Jim Bob didn't play for Billy at the Foothill and did everyone play at least two instruments! Mylos, |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick Member Posts: 1234 |
posted 03 August 2000 06:57 PM
Jerry: It's not my fault your old Sho-Bud would break the 3rd about every 15 licks. Back then those 11's must have cost $.25 or so. It could get expensive (Just Kidding). For Jason Odd: I would try just about anything instrument wise. I tried the fiddle for about a week until the neighbors called the cops reporting a woman being sexually assaulted. That's when I decided maybe the fiddle wasn't my thing. Talk about a stroke of luck for the music industry.  And, not to step on Jerry's toes with this answer. I do think that everyone who played the Foothill doubled on at least one other instrument. It was fun picking with so many talented musicians.[This message was edited by Jim Bob Sedgwick on 03 August 2000 at 07:00 PM.] |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 04 August 2000 12:14 AM
Jim bob, yeah you are right about that, like Jimmy Bevins-(Lead guitar & fiddle}Dee Ford (Bass & fiddle}Skeeter {bass & steel}, Cliff Crawford/Crofford rhythm guitar and trumpet. Hey that reminds me, I was swapping emails with a French writer and fan 'Paul Vidal' who has an awesome website up and we were chatting about your old boss, Danny Michaels. ------------------ |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick Member Posts: 1234 |
posted 04 August 2000 04:45 PM
Jason: Danny Michaels is alive and well, playing weekends in Palm Springs. I heard he has a day job working for Home Depot. (Every body in Southern California who is a musician has a day job. THERE'S VERY LITTLE WORK HERE ANYMORE, D###n IT. What do you call a musician with no girlfriend? HOMELESS! |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 04 August 2000 06:02 PM
Thanks Jim Bob, I'll have to remember that line... You know people like the Collins Kids spend more time in Europe, like Britain and France for gigs! Here's the site I mentioned by Paul, it's based in France, but this is the English version, you should all have a look, there's stuff on SoCal, Speedy West, Doye O'Dell, Sammy Masters and a lot more..cool pictures too. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rockin.paul/contents.htm ------------------ [This message was edited by Jason Odd on 04 August 2000 at 06:04 PM.] |
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Jerry Hayes Member Posts: 3306 |
posted 04 August 2000 09:19 PM
Hey Jason, It was a great time at the Foothill for sure! Like you said, everyone usually doubled on something else. I had an electric mandolin and guitar also which I played. Jim Bob not only played the guitar or bass but he was the lead vocalist most of the time before Billy or Cliff came up for their show. After Jim Bob left we had players like Dee Ford (who bought my electric mandolin), Jimmy Lee Morris, Jerry Cole and a couple of others. Also sometimes Billy would take some time off and we'd have someone like Ray Sanders or Mayf Nutter to sub for him. The bandstand was large and everyone had plenty of room. Every year we'd have a benefit for the Signal Hill Police Dept. where a lot of pickers and singers would show up. Tanya Tucker was there one year. I played 6 nights a week with the regular band and then played Mondays for a while with Garland Frady. Those were the days. I'd like to see Billy again as he was a cool guy. ------------------ |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 04 August 2000 09:56 PM
Jerry, I'll let you know when it's up, but soon there's going to be a web page for Garland Frady, it's coming very soon and I'm really looking forward to it. There's going to something pretty cool linked to it all, but I can't say until it's all there for all to see. Ace Tipton is setting it up, you've contacted Ace before for Garland's details right?. |
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