A Guitar Player's Story

Through the years I've had a great deal of experiences which I want to share with you. Like the time I was invited to get on the display with Jim Reeves, Ernest Tubb, Willie Nelson, and Bennie Barnes. I had this unique report out and I had never been about a level with spotlights. Whenever they announced me I went in within the side, the spotlight hit me, I looked at it knowning that was a big mistake. I couldn't see anything but a big red spot. I knew I was strolling toward the mic, nevertheless I didn't know how far it was from me. So I slowed down hoping I may get my sight back. But no it didn't happen. I hit the mic and it prepared a big boom.

Everyone laughed, they thought I was drunk. So I mentioned to me, "we greater play good", and I did, I brought my house down. I went out to Ernest's bus and we were talking, he told me to not fear about which, everyone did it.

That was the 1st time I met Willie Nelson. Got to know him by the years. I already knew Bennie, he was about RCA records and was from Beaumont. I was living in Port Arthur. I had married a Port Arthur girl when I was 20. She and I have been married for 51 years today. Her name was Mary Grace Brown till I changed the surname to Bridges. Grace became a remarkable bass player as well as a very good track author. A friend of ours told us about Jack Rhodes, a author and promoter. So we visited Wood county to see Jack. He wished to listen me play thus I sang. He mentioned I had remarkable possible and he might function with me. Then he found out Grace was a author and he really liked us then. Jack wrote: Satisfied notice, silver threads and gold needles, waltz of the angels, female love, beautiful lies, as well as a bunch more. Actually we worked about unique material for months and then a man came down from Nashville and sought me to sign a Capitol Record deal, a road dealtraveling with Ray Price 273 days a season, as well as a handle deal with him. I was really about fire, then Jack mentioned "we'll allow you know something tomorrow Al". I didn't know what was happening. So following Al left Jack sat me down and discussed to me till 4 the.m. telling me why I didn't desire to do that. He mentioned I might shed my family and kids. Then I might destroy me. He mentioned following using me, he learned to really like me and he didn't won't which to occur. So he offered Grace and I a job doing studio function and writing. He mentioned this way I didn't have to travel. I didn't know what to think at that time, luckily I'm glad he discussed me from it.

When Jack passed away I visited function with Bennie Barnes playing guitar and fronting the band. And I had a band for many years playing local and saving upwards stars which came by. On these stories I'm composing about, the dates are not in purchase as they happened. Mostly they'll be in the purchase which comes to mind as I write.

One such background, Grace and I were playing and George Jones employ to come where we played. He was sitting in and somebody sought him to play "walk by this world with me." He sang 1 line and turned to Grace and mentioned, "have you figured out the words to the ***** track. Grace looked at him and mentioned, "I've never heard which track in every of my lifetime." Needless to say it was number 1 at that time. But George didn't know what to mention following which. Grace is smart and rapid, and truthful, don't ask in the event you have tender feelings.

Another 1 with George. I was playing with Eddy Stevens and Pearl. George came and sat in with us. He had only revealed, "blue is the type of the blue". On the rear side of the report was Eskimo pie. Two girls came upwards and sought George to play the Eskimo Pie track. He turned to me and mentioned, "I've never liked which **** track, I'm not going to play it. The 2 females looked at every other and strolled off. Really the truth was which George didn't know the words with it.

ok, Here's a funny 1. I was playing with Murphy McDowell. I was singing a track, persons were dancing. All of a unexpected Murphy only doubled over laughing. I may listen Johnny and Bugs laughing too. I thought I had completed something wrong. I looked over at Murphy, he point out to the dance floor, I looked and there were a few persons dancing, the lady's trousers had fallen down about her feet. Neither 1 with them knew it. Everyone about them were laughing and looking, then the man realized what was happening. Then the girl grabbed her trousers and pulled them upwards and ran out the rear door with all the man right behind her. Needless to say a few wise cracks were prepared.

Another one: Troy Passmore and I were like siblings. Grace and I had been understanding Troy for several years. To say a little about Troy's skill. Troy had the quickest choosing hand of anybody in the USA and probablythe world. Anyone which knew him will tell we which. He was a musical Genius, He was playing found on the road with a band as he was 12. When he was 16 he was playing Guitar for the best dance band in the USA. He had played in 50 states and 5 countries.

Troy showed upwards one time and we had a prolonged see, he had been out playing in and about Austin. He had tried to get a day job on the market. He was telling Grace and I about obtaining this job to switch the cash from the washer and dryer area about Austin. Troy said they gave him a lie detector make sure he answered everything honestly. He mentioned they didn't hire him and he didn't know why. Grace asked him what they had asked him. Troy mentioned " they asked my name, then many other details, perhaps you have smoked pot," Troy mentioned about this room whole. I almost fell from my seat laughing. Needless to say Troy didn't think it was which funny. Troy passed away in 1979. I'm proud to mention he had turned his lifetime over to Jesus a season before he died.

On another note, We were saving upwards Jimmy Newman. He had many first music at that time. He was going to play "a fallen star". He turn to me and mentioned play it in B all-natural. I had never played in B all-natural inside lifetime. He did another 1 in B all-natural, "alligator man". That was a first for me and I still remember it. I worked many times with Jimmy following which. He's a true great man. The first-time I met Johnny Gimble was when I was recording in Nashville. Pete Drake was the producer and Johnny was playing found on the session. Actually it was a 2 months before my session. Pete had invited me down to listen another session. Any way they took a break and Johnny arrived and introduced himself and mentioned, "I listen we are from Beaumont."

I told him I was. Then he asked if I had seen Cliff Brunner lately. I told him it had probably been a season because I'd seen Cliff. He told me Cliff was his idol, he loved his fiddle playing. Anyway I left Nashville which nite and went back down to the Beaumont, Port Arthur region. The very overnight Cliff dropped by to see me. I told him what Johnny had mentioned and tried to get him to return with me. I may see he really wished to nevertheless he didn't.

Troy Passmore had been playing in Columbus Georgia and the band had prepared a mp3 within the band stand. He and Johnny were neighbors and Troy sent him a copy. Johnny documented in his house found on the other side of the mp3 and sent it back. Troy came to my house and asked me if I had a mp3 player, I did. We played both sides and when Troy was leaving I mentioned " we forgot your mp3. No you can get it, I don't have a player. After Troy had passed away and years afterwards, I saw Jerry Gimble at a jam session. I told him about the mp3, he told Johnny and Johnny called me. And mentioned he sure sought a copy of it. So I mailed him 1.

Then there were a time when I was assisting a friend change the starter about his auto. The auto was in the garage and there wasn't any light in the garage. So we decided to drive the auto out. We ignored the hood was upwards and when it hit the the top of garage door it came crashing down about both my hands. I lost 6 fingernail from which little mistake. So all I did was play till my fingers healed. We were playing and I was singing, took a step back within the mic and somebody had nailed a 2 by 4 found on the floor to keep their drum from sliding. My drummer was setting further back. I hung my heal found on the 2 by 4 and fell back right into my drummers lap. No I was not drinking. Needless to say everyone laughed!

Playing songs is a fun and rewarding approach to make a living, nevertheless in the event you are just a sideman, we don't make much. Like one fellow mentioned, "I'm creating 52.50 a week"' Yep, 52 hamburgers and 50 cents. So, he was only joking of course. But we never got wealthy playing songs. Although you've good experiences which will live with you until we die. Also the songs starts a great deal of doorways for we and always determines unique friendships.

I was telling a friend of mine, I don't remember the music we played, nevertheless I remember the individuals and the items that went about when we were playing.

Now at age of 71, I only play the jam sessions with other players which have retired within the playing out at day. I was very fortunate to acquire certain ex-pros in this region.

I was raised found on the ranch I'm living about today. But I had left house at age of 18, and moved back at age of 45. This really is a fantastic area to live and enjoy lifetime. I have a ten acre lake in behind our home, with many bass and catfish in it. We raise Beef Cattle. The guitar products and the recordings are something I wished to do to assist persons know to play. I'm also assisting certain players in this region.

My good friend Veral Vance has moved to only from Dallas and we have to talk found on the telephone today. We use to get together and play. Veral is a remarkable guitar player. I really lose playing with him. Maybe we can get together again before too prolonged. Well I've got a lot more stories to tell. "later"

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