Very cool! He and Leon Rhodes were two of my earliest influences, and I wound up years later playing guitar behind the Everly Brothers. Billy NEVER lost sight of the song. That is to say the 'melody.'
wow! you are country music legacy! love his guitar work, my main influence s Chet , butbilly has a special place in my heart cos of my dads love for his/their music . carltonjohnsonguitar on yt. x
cmsw72 Wow......neat sharing comments with Billy Byrd's kin. I have many guitar heroes........ and the legendary Billy Byrd is near or right at the top of my list.🎸
The "Byrd" in that gorgeous Gibson Byrdland guitar. Studio players Billy Byrd and Hank Garland designed it's 23.5 inch string scale length with Gibson. The shorter scale enabled them to play more piano voiced chords. Bravo Billy Byrd!
I knew Billy, and he was a wonderful kind and gentle soul. He knew so much guitar. He played all the pop and jazz standards. I went to him at times I was wondering about certain chord changes for certain jazz standards. He was such an underrated musician. He drove a taxi cab to make a living in his elder years. I loved Billy Byrd. ❤️👍
Back in the 60's, when other kids were listening to rock, I was playing scratchy old records of this stuff. I didn't have many friends, but the ones I had then are still friends today. If you want to find out who your friends are, take an unpopular step off the beaten path and see who follows.
This is hilarious. He always takes the same solo. I love this kind of music, but when you put all the solos back to back it sets up a funny space. Thanks for posting. Great stuff.
Ernest Tubb basically used 6 lead guitarists for recording and touring bands from 1940 to 1982. Faye "Smitty" Smith Leon Short Tommy "Butterball" Paige Billy Byrd Leon Rhodes Pete Mitchell THANKS FOR POSTING THIS VIDEO🎸
I was lucky enough to hear the Texas Troubadours at the E.T. Record Shop on lower Broadway in Nashville way back when I was a kid. It was after my usual bed time but I was wide awake and way up front with my dad and older brother. Leon Rhodes was the lead guitar at that time, about 1965. Thanks for the post. I regret never seeing Billy Byrd in person.
Hey Zach thanks for posting this series of clips. My Pappy was a big fan of Ernie Tubbs and Billy Bird was my first "ideal" and exposure to the idea of a lead guitar player. This all 60+ yrs ago. I stole that little lick he always used and still use it all these years later. Peace out brother!
Just insane amounts of cool with these fellas. They show more talent and cool in a half of a measure of music than every top 10 radio songs combined on any given week. LOL HAHAHAHA!!!
I never thought of him as Joe Guitar or anything, but he was the first guitarist I ever heard who had a signature lick at the end of almost every solo. Guess he must have been a Count Basie fan.
@@harryw9598 Well, the flower pot has been on Byrdlands all along, and if you look at the first Gibson ads for the Byrdland (featuring Billy Byrd and Hank Garland), they had that different tailpiece.
At the beginning of the video, is that the mysterious Paul Bixby solid body guitar that Billy is playing?? Lots talk and conjecture about it being the "First" solid body electric predating Fender. There is a similar one in the hands of Hank Garland in a 50's photo. It has been said that the headstock was copied as well. Great History!! Thanks
These are so similar, strung together. Maybe Billy played it "safe" for these particular shows? I certainly will use his signature "ending", but not for every solo.
Billy Bird and Hank Garland are so over rated. Their only claim to fame is really the fact that Gibson made a modal (Birdland) after them. The guitar is an all around classic. But Bird and Garland were just mediocre players.
Hank Garland was by no means a “mediocre” guitar player! He was very technically accomplished, not only in the the country guitar styles of his day, but also was a serious Bebop player. Also, it happens to be Christmas season as I’m writing this comment, and “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” are everywhere, and did you know Hank Garland created the widely imitated signature guitar licks for both those perennial favorites? He also played outstanding guitar on Elvis Presley’s “Little Sister”. Garland’s career was tragically cut short in 1961 by a car accident.
michael anzelino lol.... your comments about Byrd and Garland are simply ridiculous. Everyone that knows anything about music and that likes music knows and acknowledges that those two guitarist were at the top of their game. Your comments also acknowledge that you obviously know nothing about guitar picking. Why don't you go find something more suitable for you to leave comments on UTUBE, like sewing, or maybe cooking.
Do you think that Gibson would design a guitar from a couple of mediocre guitar players? I suggest to listen to country players from the late 40s to the 50s. There was no twang at the time. It was Swing and jazz inspired. They were among the best in the business. You ever hear of that mediocre player Chet Atkins?
Thanks for sharing these videos... Billy Byrd is my granddad. Always enjoy seeing him play. Again thanks. Shawn David Wright
Very cool! He and Leon Rhodes were two of my earliest influences, and I wound up years later playing guitar behind the Everly Brothers.
Billy NEVER lost sight of the song. That is to say the 'melody.'
wow! you are country music legacy! love his guitar work, my main influence s Chet , butbilly has a special place in my heart cos of my dads love for his/their music . carltonjohnsonguitar on yt. x
That's cool. I was looking through some old photos and found a picture he had signed for a friend of his.
I was at West End High School with Billie, Charlotte and Beverly
cmsw72
Wow......neat sharing comments with Billy Byrd's kin. I have many guitar heroes........ and the legendary Billy Byrd
is near or right at the top of my list.🎸
The "Byrd" in that gorgeous Gibson Byrdland guitar. Studio players Billy Byrd and Hank Garland designed it's 23.5 inch string scale length with Gibson. The shorter scale enabled them to play more piano voiced chords. Bravo Billy Byrd!
I knew Billy, and he was a wonderful kind and gentle soul. He knew so much guitar. He played all the pop and jazz standards. I went to him at times I was wondering about certain chord changes for certain jazz standards. He was such an underrated musician. He drove a taxi cab to make a living in his elder years. I loved Billy Byrd. ❤️👍
Back in the 60's, when other kids were listening to rock, I was playing scratchy old records of this stuff. I didn't have many friends, but the ones I had then are still friends today. If you want to find out who your friends are, take an unpopular step off the beaten path and see who follows.
Amen!!
This is hilarious. He always takes the same solo. I love this kind of music, but when you put all the solos back to back it sets up a funny space. Thanks for posting. Great stuff.
Ernest Tubb basically used 6 lead guitarists for recording and touring bands from 1940 to 1982.
Faye "Smitty" Smith
Leon Short
Tommy "Butterball" Paige
Billy Byrd
Leon Rhodes
Pete Mitchell
THANKS FOR POSTING THIS VIDEO🎸
He also used Steve Chapman. Don't forget him!
@@eugenebeasley1094
Yes, you are absolutely correct Eugene.
My apologies for leaving the great guitarist Steve Chapman off the list.
I was lucky enough to hear the Texas Troubadours at the E.T. Record Shop on lower Broadway in Nashville way back when I was a kid. It was after my usual bed time but I was wide awake and way up front with my dad and older brother. Leon Rhodes was the lead guitar at that time, about 1965. Thanks for the post. I regret never seeing Billy Byrd in person.
Billy Byrd was strictly the best. He was a very handsome man. I listened to him when I was a young girl. Never forgot him. God bless him.
I enjoyed this very much. Loved Hearing ET call out aw Billy Byrd. Will be looking for more of your videos. Thank you.
Billy Byrd was a good, no-nonsense, down-to-earth guitar player who suited the times and musical requirements of Ernest Tubb's band.
Hey Zach thanks for posting this series of clips. My Pappy was a big fan of Ernie Tubbs and Billy Bird was my first "ideal" and exposure to the idea of a lead guitar player. This all 60+ yrs ago. I stole that little lick he always used and still use it all these years later. Peace out brother!
thanks man
John Bruno Which lick?
GREAT STUFF thank you so much.
Just insane amounts of cool with these fellas. They show more talent and cool in a half of a measure of music than every top 10 radio songs combined on any given week. LOL HAHAHAHA!!!
Billy gave me some advice, said if you don't play very well, just play loud!☺
As a little boy I remember hearing Ernest Tubb songs and my Mom say" ah Billy Byrd" and grin.
"Awww play it Billy Byrd!" -Ernest Tubb
Very cool, keep it up man. Love the solo compilations!
I never thought of him as Joe Guitar or anything, but he was the first guitarist I ever heard who had a signature lick at the end of almost every solo. Guess he must have been a Count Basie fan.
You have excellent taste in guitarists my friend.
All billy byrd now
Thanks for doing this.
Along with Hank Garland, created the Gibson "Byrd-Land" guitar!
Yep, and that's Gibson Byrdland No. 1 he's playing. Hank Garland got No. 2.
@@xander9564 are you sure, i see the flower pot on the headstock, tailpiece is different still?
@@harryw9598 Well, the flower pot has been on Byrdlands all along, and if you look at the first Gibson ads for the Byrdland (featuring Billy Byrd and Hank Garland), they had that different tailpiece.
Ahhhh billy byrd now...
There's definitely a lot of Django in his playing!
I think his playing here is perfect for Ernest Tubb music.
Billy should have that
on his gravestone. "Ah, Billy Byrd now.. "
At the beginning of the video, is that the mysterious Paul Bixby solid body guitar that Billy is playing?? Lots talk and conjecture about it being the "First" solid body electric predating Fender. There is a similar one in the hands of Hank Garland in a 50's photo. It has been said that the headstock was copied as well. Great History!! Thanks
grady martin also had one of those ..'Bixby guitars...
Merle Travis had the first Bigsby solid body. 1948.
BB is the man
ah do it pretty Billy!
BILLY BYRD - Guitarist for The Texas 🇨🇱 Troubadour, ERNEST TUBB, and King of HonkyTonk Guitar.🎸
Aww, Billy Byrd now....
These are so similar, strung together. Maybe Billy played it "safe" for these particular shows? I certainly will use his signature "ending", but not for every solo.
About this time Ernest Tubb had A steel player named Dickie Harris, this was before the pedel revolution. Middle late fifetys.
Billy wanted to play jaz. One of his last jobs was driving a taxi.
Billy Bird and Hank Garland are so over rated. Their only claim to fame is really the fact that Gibson made a modal (Birdland) after them. The guitar is an all around classic. But Bird and Garland were just mediocre players.
For todays taste maybe, but in their day they all that and the bag of chips, session musicians and soloists in their own right.
Hank Garland was by no means a “mediocre” guitar player! He was very technically accomplished, not only in the the country guitar styles of his day, but also was a serious Bebop player. Also, it happens to be Christmas season as I’m writing this comment, and “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” are everywhere, and did you know Hank Garland created the widely imitated signature guitar licks for both those perennial favorites? He also played outstanding guitar on Elvis Presley’s “Little Sister”. Garland’s career was tragically cut short in 1961 by a car accident.
michael anzelino
lol.... your comments about Byrd and Garland are simply ridiculous.
Everyone that knows anything about music
and that likes music knows and acknowledges that those two guitarist were at the top of their game.
Your comments also acknowledge that you
obviously know nothing about guitar picking.
Why don't you go find
something more suitable for you to leave comments on
UTUBE, like sewing, or maybe cooking.
Suggest you go listen to Hank’s “Jazz Winds”.. there is also some crazy technical country jazz stuff he did.. try “Baby Guitar “
Do you think that Gibson would design a guitar from a couple of mediocre guitar players? I suggest to listen to country players from the late 40s to the 50s. There was no twang at the time. It was Swing and jazz inspired. They were among the best in the business. You ever hear of that mediocre player Chet Atkins?
“Come on, Ernest. Gimme more than 4 bars, damnit!”