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Really Good, Unknown Guitarists
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Subject: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Murray MacLeod Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:36 PM Reading a post from Dave Oesterreich on another thread I felt that it might be beneficial to open a thread in which one could sing the praises of one's favorite obscure guitarist (or banjo-player or fiddler for that matter). You know what I mean, some guy who works down at the breaker's yard but can play "Orange Blossom Special " 10 times faster than Vassar Clements, or maybe some guitarist who works in McDonalds but can play "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever" simultaneously. Or , seriously, some professional who is really good but just hasn't made the leap to stardom that he/she deserves. My nominations? Well, there is a Scottish guitarist called Tony McManus that nobody but me has ever heard of.(well, maybe a few other people ....) And there is an amazing guitar player from Florida called Doyle Dykes who is just mind-blowing. Note to M.Ted :I know you are going to nominate fifty session players from Philadelphia who can pick spots off anybody, but let's restrain the nominations to two at most Ted, OK ?....*G* Oh, and please include links to MP3's, websites, etc. if possible, but please don't let unfamiliarity with blue clickies deter you from posting.
Above links for my two are Murray |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Wesley S Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:42 PM Well wouldn't you know I've got CD's by both of those unknowns... Also unknown - or should I say "underknown" are Al Petteway and Pat Kirtley. Both have recorded celtic type CD's. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Sorcha Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:48 PM Hell, even I have heard of Tony; we have an "unknown" of our own right here--Justa Picker. I have a CD from him too. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: JBDrifter Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:50 PM I think all four mentioned already (Dykes, McManus, Kirtley and Petteway) are well-known players. Pat Kirtley and Tony McManus were both on the roster of teachers at this year's Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Guitar camps. Doyle Dykes already has a Taylor model named for him. Al Petteway's hair alone should disqualify him. How about Steve Kilby, who just moved from NC to Virginia, and Virginian retired postal worker, luthier, festival host and picker extraordinaire Wayne Henderson? Wally |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser) Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:58 PM Me. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Murray MacLeod Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:02 PM "Al Petteway's hair alone should disqualify him" Nice one JBDrifter ! But Petteway surely is a monster picker. Steve Kilby I do not know. Any relation to Cody Kilby the young guy who won the Winfield Flatpicking Championship? Wayne Henderson I would love to hear. I have read about him, and I think that independently we have both developed a similar technique (alternate thumb and index finger melody playing). He is obviously immeasurably better than me at it however ... Murray |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Justa Picker Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:03 PM Muriel Anderson and Chris Proctor (Thanks Sorch!) |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: GUEST Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:07 PM Scotty Anderson Triple Stop...fast fingers, pure, clean tone and technique Johnny A Sometime Tuesday Morning...just downright tasty, jazzy playing Eddie Pennington Just My Style...probably the world's leading thumbpicking stylist in the tradition of Merle Travis
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:08 PM Comer (Moon) Mullins of Mountain View, Arkansas, Eddie Pennington, somewhere in Kentucky, Mike Dowling, somewhere in Wyoming who played guitar in Jethro Burns band, and Thom Bresh, Nashville, TN, son of Merle Travis and an exceptional picker in his own right. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: dwditty Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:23 PM Derwin Hinson - Th ebest version of Man of Constant Sorrow I have ever heard. dw |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: dwditty Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:26 PM Oooops dw |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:35 PM Russell Donnellon. I recently met him at an art fair where I was attempting to sell my pottery. He travels the art show circuit hawking his CD's. He stands out in the hot sun all day long playing his ass off on mostly classical guitar. Self-taught,he has the licks of someone who has studied with a master. Truly an amazing musician. Unfortunately, the turnout for the art show stunk and he lost money on the show so he won't be back next year. Richard Gilewitz. A Kottke/Fahey disciple who used to live sorta nearby and played a lot of local shows. Has had some national exposure,but still relatively unknown. Definitely in Leo's league. Allen Shadd. I've known Allen since he was a pre-teen flatpicking prodigy. He placed in the top ten at Winfield when he was 12 or 13. Gave flatpicking up to play in a rock band at 16. Got married and gave music up altogether for years. Got divorced and got back into flatpicking and took the contest scene by storm a few years ago. Scored a grand slam in 1997 by taking first place at Merlefest, Steve Kaufman's and Winfield all in the same year. A picker. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: X Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:46 PM Gean Gilstrap. By the way, does anyone know where he is? |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: katlaughing Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:50 PM Sorcha, you beat me to it! Justa Picker and, I might also add, dwditty, Rex (in Colorado), and Musicman (though he is known regionally in Canada) plus Metchosin's brother, Russ...anyone else have his "Mandolirium" cd? Awesome! |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Don Firth Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:51 PM A fellow named George Austin. He lives in Kirkland, on the east side of Lake Washington, across from Seattle. He fingerpicks mostly. He uses a number of different tunings and he does some really outrageous stuff; not necessarily blazingly fast, just nice, clean, intricate, and melodically catchy. Flows right along. I've heard a lot of pros who don't play anywhere near as well as he does. He sings well, too. We've tried to talk him into doing a CD, but no luck yet. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Midchuck Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:52 PM Neither one is really unknown, but I would nominate Jack Lawrence and Chris Newman as two of the most amazing musicians I know, who haven't gotten anywhere near the recognition they deserve. Peter. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: GUEST,CraigS Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:58 PM David Qualey - lives and works mainly in Germany, although is American. Dave Evans - repairs guitars in Belgium. Both have recorded in the past, but without the recognition they deserve. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Murray MacLeod Date: 16 Aug 02 - 06:03 PM Oh please, Peter, next thing you'll be saying that Norman Blake hasn't had the recognition he deserves ! (And he hasn't) I love the response so far, I have read names with which I am totally unfamiliar, which is what I wanted the thread to be about. Some of the name's mentioned may well be , "underappreciated", but, if you have done a tuition video for Homespun or Stefan Grossman, you can hardly be described as "Unknown". Keep 'em coming (and how about some fiddlers and banjo players as well) Murray |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Murray MacLeod Date: 16 Aug 02 - 06:08 PM Craid S, I remember Dave Evans, tremendous fingerpicker, million notes a minute. Does he still perform live? Murray |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Steve-o Date: 16 Aug 02 - 06:18 PM Two brilliant guitarists who are not "unknown", but are not wildly famous (as they should be): John Girton- formerly of Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks (still playing up in Grass Valley, CA somewhere), and Raul Reynoso of the So. Calif. "cowboy" band New West (well-known in L.A. circles). Buy everything you can find by both of them (and go see them in live shows)!! |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: katlaughing Date: 16 Aug 02 - 06:29 PM Murray...Musicman plays one of everything very well or consumately:-), Rex plays the fiddle in the most natural and the beautiful way I've ever heard, and Russ plays several including mando. What is it about the Northwest? Lotta good pickers up thar! Just thought of another couple, Telynor, our own JohnP and his wife. I'll dig up some links in a bit. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Deckman Date: 16 Aug 02 - 06:52 PM Gosh darn it Don Firth ... you beat me to it! Yes ... absolutly GEORGE AUSTIN qualifies. Superb guitarist, he somehow manages to walk that thin line between strong driving guitar and understated guitar. That's not easy folks! And his singing, voice and choice of songs. There it is: match the following: superb guitarist, very fine voice, excellant taste in material, a good heart (most important), and a smile to die for. You are right Don, George Austin always makes me smile! CHEERS, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Bobert Date: 16 Aug 02 - 08:14 PM Well, until his untimely death a couple of years ago, Danny Gatton was the official "World's Best Unknown Guitar Player" but with his death there is this void that needs to be filled. Problem is, though there are a lot of fine musicans out there, no one has really stepped into his shoes. He was guy that big named musicans would come to hear, which does kind of seperate him from the rest of the pack. Bobert |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Paul G. Date: 16 Aug 02 - 08:22 PM Sam Pacetti from down here in St. Augustine Florida -- a protege of Gamble Rogers who turned out to be a much better picker than GR. Has one CD outon Waterbug Records. Then there's the not-so-unknown Jack Williams, who I am proud to call my friend -- www.jackwilliamsmusic.com pg |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: GUEST,mg Date: 16 Aug 02 - 08:52 PM my personal favorite is Gordon Quinton of Newfoundland..certainly well known there and throughout Canada but I don't know how much in the states. He is absolutely superb and plays beautiful songs and even used to play with me on the fiddle which is quite amazing for anyone to voluntarily do. mg |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Wincing Devil Date: 16 Aug 02 - 09:32 PM Craig Williams of the Pyrates Royale and formerly of Ironweed. He's on several CD's with Wash DC area artists, as part of The Pyrates Royale and doing back up for Darcy Nair (who's quite handy on the hammered dulcimer, herself). I love listening to him, and I wish he'd do a solo album. (not necessarily solo, but where he's the featured artist) |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 16 Aug 02 - 11:28 PM Hey Paul G I met Sam Pacetti 15 years ago in the little convenience store/bar a couple of miles North of Pacetti Fish Camp at the intersection of SR 13 and Jack Wright Island Road. He was sitting at the bar playing a cheapo electric that belonged to the owner. We picked for about an hour. Saw him again at this year's FFF. He is good. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Lonesome EJ Date: 17 Aug 02 - 12:19 AM Bobert, you beat me to it. Danny Gatton was an amazing talent. His tune Big Mo is a tour de force on guitar. I would also add his fellow Marylander Duke Robillard to the category. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Benjamin Date: 17 Aug 02 - 12:33 AM Murry, didn't you say you'd never mention Tony's name here again? I've heard critics say that Roland Dyens is not just one of the best guitarists, but one of the top 5 musicians in the world. I've had a chance to see him play and play for him. Both were incredible experiences. A great composer as well. Although my campaign for Ana Vidovic has fallen off, she's coming up in America on her own and she won't too unknown for very long. Craig, I actually use to play a piece by David Qualey called Santa Cruz. Nice little tune! Benjamin |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Steve Latimer Date: 17 Aug 02 - 12:49 AM I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Susan Latimer :-;. She is one cut away from releasing her first CD, it should be out by the fall. So what if she's my baby sister, she can flat out play. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Art Thieme Date: 17 Aug 02 - 12:57 AM Back in Chicago in the early '60s there was a fellow named Mark Dorinson who did a fine job o' picking. I've not heard of him since then. At that same time there was a fellow called Perry Letterman in Ann Arbor, Michigan and then in Berkeley, California who was just the best too. At the first University Of Chicago Folk Festival there was a fellow hanging out at the workshops on Saturday February 4th, 1961. His name was Marc Silber (maybe related to Erwin?) and he was sitting on a table and picking "San Francisco Bay Blues". It blew me away---pure and simple. After that I learned to fingerpick and never even looked back at flatpicking until I came up for air 40 years later. More recently, a fellow that our own Harpgirl turned me on to, Frank Lindamood of Florida does some really nice unorthodox fingerpicking. I had pretty much figured, at this late date, that I couldn't get hit over the head by a guitar style----but, like the proverbial mule, Frank's songs have me wanting to hear more. Abby, thanks again ! Art Thieme
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: GUEST Date: 17 Aug 02 - 03:57 AM Great Thread! I had great pleasure of listening to a few hours of Tony McManus and J.P. Cormier trade off tunes at the recent Stan Rogers festival in Canso. Both are awesome players and I see a link has been posted for Tony so here's one for JP. I wouldn't say theses guys are unknown but for those who've never heard them I think you should check them out. JP also plays eight other instruments and is something to see live. Great writer also.
Songsmith
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Genie Date: 17 Aug 02 - 04:12 AM I dunno. I was pretty impressed with our own Mousethief when I heard him at JenEllen's Mudcat gathering this summer. Here in Portland, OR, there's Steve Eichorn, who, with his wife Kate Power, owns Artichoke Music. A very fine "unknown" talent. For pickers who should be better known than they are, I'd nominate Pat Donohue, who plays on Prairie Home Companion, and Nina Gerber, who, among other things, backed up Kate Wolf. Genie |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: GUEST,spikepole Date: 17 Aug 02 - 05:56 AM I know a finger picker named Kenneth Ray Whitfield from around Avalon,Ms. His fingers do a ballet on the frets. He can play just like Mississippi John Hurt. His fingers are amazing and his sound is spellbinding. I've heard alot of people try this style and some get away with it but, Kenneth Ray has it mastered. There's nobody living that even comes close. Mr."khandu" writes into mudcat sometimes.I've read his stuff. Take my word on it. When most really good guitar pickers hear Kenneth Ray they're ready to pack it in and give up! |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: van lingle Date: 17 Aug 02 - 10:17 AM There was a fellow in Washington, DC that was pretty awesome named Tom Principato. He even recorded a duet album with Danny Gatton called "Blazing Telecasters". John Miller is also a guy who deserves a lot more attention. He recorded a couple of classic albums of standards back in the 80's for Rounder called "Safe, Sweet Home" (my favorite guitar album) and "Biding My Time" (all Gershwin tunes). Before that he made some country blues recordings for Blue Goose where he captured and put his own stamp on the styles of Bo Carter and Blind Blake among others. IMO he's one of the few players that really captured the swing of Blake's syncopated bass technique. More recently he's recorded and album of tunes from the 30's thru 60's with a great singer named Rebecca Kilgore where he acts as her sole accompanist. vl |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: harpgirl Date: 17 Aug 02 - 10:25 AM ...My nomination is Eric Glatz, who lives near Muskegon, Michigan. Don't miss a chance to see his amazing skills if you find yourself in western Michigan. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: FUNERAL (from Mac MacAnnally) From: Memphis Mud Date: 17 Aug 02 - 10:34 AM Try to listen to Mac MacAnnally, from Mississippi (I think). Not really unknown in certain circles. He has played on countless albums. He has several of his own. His are the first fingerpicking tunes I ever figured out. FUNERAL
We're having a Funeral.
Don't he look natural.
Break out the caskets.
We're having a Funeral. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: khandu Date: 17 Aug 02 - 12:51 PM Thanks, Guest spikepole, for the kind, yet overstated words! Nobody does MJH like MJH! Mac MacAnnally is from Belmont, MS., Memphis Mud. I do enjoy hearing him. khandu |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: mooman Date: 17 Aug 02 - 01:08 PM Hille will kill me if I don't nominate England's Lee Collinson who's a friend also! Lee's own site is under reconstruction at the moment so here is a review from another site: I second many of the above also, particularly David Qualey (plays a Lakewood like me so can't be bad!!!) and Dave Evans who I used to see regularly when living in London some years back. Didn't know he was in Belgium now which is where I also live. Could anyone PM me his contact details? Peace mooman |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: van lingle Date: 17 Aug 02 - 01:12 PM ...and in San Antonio there was a lefthanded player named Jackie King who used to play and teach there. I mostly heard him play jazz and would classify him as scary good. He now plays with Willie Nelson, last I heard. vl |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: X Date: 17 Aug 02 - 02:04 PM Do your self a favor and go to... www.stellarshowcase.durham.on.ca/susanlatimer.html and give Susan a ear. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Murray MacLeod Date: 18 Aug 02 - 04:30 AM Thanks for all the input so far. I have heard most of the musicians mentioned, and for sure they are all great. I am not so sure that they all qualify as unknown. Underappreciated maybe .... Looking forward to hearing all the others in due course. Benjamin, you are right, I did say I would never mention Tony McManus again on the Forum. Mea culpa .... Murray |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: GUEST,Gurney Date: 18 Aug 02 - 04:34 AM In Coventry 30 years ago there was a guy named Dave Bennett who was remarkably good. Is he still around? I can't find him on a database, and I'm half a world away. G. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Banjer Date: 18 Aug 02 - 06:01 AM My grandson is taking lessons from Elson Smith. Rather than list it again I'll just clickie you here |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Dave4Guild Date: 18 Aug 02 - 06:55 AM Hi, Gurney. I'm still in Coventry, and still playing, after having had a meteoric rise to obscurity. I was delighted to find my name mentioned alongside the other guitarists in this thread- they are all famous! There is still a lively music scene here with a session at 3pm at The Old Ball ( a pub, not a description of me!), and I'm hosting an open mic thingy at the Foleshill Ex-Servicemen's Club tonight (Sunday). I can mention two guitarists , Mick Stuart- brilliant blues and contemporary fingerstyle player, And Ron Priest, Jazz/Whatever, who seems to be able to do brilliant accompaniments to anyone, using chords nobody else knows, that I don't think are well enough appreciated. It is almost invidious to select just two, but I thought that would do from me. I have met so many brilliant guitarists over the years(and other instrumental players) But that is what is so great about this hobby/passion. And they are (usually) such nice people, too. Dave Bennett |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Venthony Date: 18 Aug 02 - 08:13 AM Here's to all those guys who taught me how to pick back in the 60s. Habitues of honkey-tonks and taverns -- Chet and Travis disciples each and every one. Wonderful and supremely gifted cover artists who made "Under the Double Eagle" and "Memphis" come alive, and who inspired countless couples to make babies simply by playing "Last Date" just before the 11:15 break. They could all play "House of the Rising Sun" with grace and integrity -- and, sometimes, even with a straight face. And each was capable of suffering through interminable versions of "Wooly Bully" three or four nights a week, before and after grueling and low-paid day jobs. The guys I came up with could blast through a nine-to-one gig like Clapton on a good night and make all the aging high school honeys cry and wail when they soloed. And then they would climb out of bed at 6 a.m. and punch in at the factory for the morning shift. So here's to Bubby Terry and Clydus Meeker and Tony Schafer. And, most of all, here's to my Pop, who upon watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show playing "All My Loving," remarked: "Shoot, that Harrison kid is just some British guy who likes Carl Perkins." And the next day, at third-grade recess, I was so proud that I had the only dad in town who could care less about their haircuts. So far as I know there wasn't a single record contract among the bunch of my teachers and mentors, but God bless them all. And if we don't think about those old 60s guys, who played back when a couple of Fender Twins was a "really good PA system," and cry a little bit every time "Memphis" gets broadcast on an oldies channel, we're not doing our job. Tony |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Memphis Mud Date: 18 Aug 02 - 12:52 PM What a great list this will be. I should try to jot them all down. But could the owner of this site set up a page containing all these entries? That would be nice. Then I'd never lose my little scrap of paper. |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: X Date: 18 Aug 02 - 03:44 PM If you like the blues...a good up and coming picker is Jake La Botz. His aunt gave me his CD "Used To Be" It's a wonderful solo afford. As I understand it Steve Buscemi is featuring Jake's music in his movies. You can find Jake at: www.jakelabotz.com |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Steve Latimer Date: 18 Aug 02 - 06:01 PM Venthony, Nice post. Here's to "Joe's Garage" |
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Subject: RE: Really Good, Unknown Guitarists From: Genie Date: 19 Aug 02 - 02:54 AM You said it, Venthony! |
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