Curly Chalker

Buddy Jennison · Post by **Buddy Jennison** » 23 Dec 2010 2:43 am

One of the best styliste, ever. Is hardly ever mentioned, any more. John Hughey used to slip a bunch of Chalker licks, all the time, even put one on an album, just for me. Course these JCL.s can't play his style anyway..LONG LIVE THE CURLY CHALKER STYLE !!!!!!!

!!!!!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 23 Dec 2010 9:34 am

Tom Harris · Post by **Tom Harris** » 23 Dec 2010 9:39 am

Your right Buddy,I been a Curly fan since I herd Him On "Hank Thompson" "Wild Side Of Life" and "Lobby Of Your Heart" cut from the fifties,,and loved him on the "Hee Haw" staff band,,,fo sho a second to none Steel Player....
Tom Harris

Stephen Gregory · Post by **Stephen Gregory** » 23 Dec 2010 10:26 am

Curly Chalker.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 23 Dec 2010 4:03 pm

I got turned on to Curly maybe 30 years ago or longer when I bought his More ways to play LP at a NAMN convention in Atlanta.Could'nt believe what I was hearing. Never been another like him,really DOUBT there ever will be [just my opinion]. If you don't have it,get the DVD of him from Mike P. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 23 Dec 2010 4:33 pm

Curly C, no doubt one of the greatest. I loved to watch him work the C neck, such grace and ease. In the early years he was very protective of his tunings and would go to some trouble to not make it available. Ask any of the old timers, but in later life he was a godsend to the younger players.

Many of today's players can do the Chalker licks and do them well. I can think of a few: Mike Sweeney, Randy Beavers, Bobby Bowman, Johnny Cox, Reece Anderson, and guitar builder Carson Wells.

My $.02 worth.

phred

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 23 Dec 2010 6:04 pm

Buddy I do my part to keep Curly's music alive. Still have his guitar and amps and play his music when I can get by with it. It ain't like it was in the 60s, 70s and 80s when folks wanted to hear you streach out. now they want to see how little you can play in four hours. Times have just changed.

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 23 Dec 2010 9:26 pm

During the jam at the Cavalcade Of Guitars in Dallas in 1976, I had placed the legendary jazz guitarist, Tal Farlow, right next to Curly on the stage. Tal, with his foot long fingers, was absolutely amazed at the chords Curly was playing. He even stuck his head under Curly's steel to try to figure out what was happening. Wish I had a picture of that. Henry Ade did have a picture. Tal agreed to do an album with Curly. It never happened for reasons I won't discuss again here.

Dave A. Burley

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 24 Dec 2010 1:21 am

Obviously I feel the same way about Curly as everybody else. That's why I put out the DVD. I felt it was necessary to preserve the footage, and not allow it to be lost.

I was privileged to be there at the California concert that comprises 2/3rds of the DVD. Unlike other steel guitar shows that feature several different players, this was just Curly, Johnny Davis on guitar, Jim Bob Sedgwick on bass and a drummer named John Mauceri, playing all afternoon. It was the best steel guitar show I've ever attended.

Doc Rickles · Post by **Doc Rickles** » 24 Dec 2010 6:28 pm

Mike is the DVD available. Sure would like to have it.
As many probably would.

Send info to send payment.

Thanks
Doc Rickles

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 24 Dec 2010 11:39 pm

The DVD is available from, b0b, Scotty, and myself (I still have hundreds of copies sitting in my garage.)

E-mail me for further details.

Ray Harrison · Post by **Ray Harrison** » 25 Dec 2010 9:05 am

Mike, I'm hoping you'll bring some to Feenix. I'd love to get one.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 Dec 2010 9:30 am

Ray, I'll have a display table at the show where I'll have the DVD, my CDs, and some other stuff.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 27 Dec 2010 6:12 am

Johnny Cox wrote:It ain't like it was in the 60s, 70s and 80s when folks wanted to hear you streach out. now they want to see how little you can play in four hours...

And I aim to show them, too!!

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 16 Jan 2011 9:36 pm

About 50 years ago, a younger Gene Breeden played the new "Travis" album with Curly playing his Fender 1000 and it changed my whole life. He still is the top of my list of favorites. I miss his stand alone playing. (Oh sure, I was also much younger)

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 17 Jan 2011 2:58 pm

Mike: You mentioned Johnny Davis playing Guitar at the Jam. Johnny was also a great Steel Player on a Fender 400 back in the 60's. I worked several gigs with him playing his Lead Guitar. Is Johnny still around and active ?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 17 Jan 2011 3:41 pm

Billy Tonnesen wrote:Mike: You mentioned Johnny Davis playing Guitar at the Jam. Johnny was also a great Steel Player on a Fender 400 back in the 60's. I worked several gigs with him playing his Lead Guitar. Is Johnny still around and active ?

Billy, 2 years ago he was the staff guitar player at the Phoenix show. I've heard nothing about him since then, but it's safe to assume that if he's still around, he will be at the show later this week.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 21 Jan 2011 5:42 am

Buddy Jennison · Post by **Buddy Jennison** » 23 Jan 2011 6:42 am

He IS NOT a "Limey", that's for sure !!!!! "Little" Buddy.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 23 Jan 2011 9:42 am

He was a superb American steel guitarist.
Of course that is presuming we're talking about Harold Lee Chalker (October 22, 1931–April 30, 1998), better known as Curly Chalker.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 23 Jan 2011 4:58 pm

Curly Chalker was such a super player!

Well, I only had the opportunity to see him play live once, and man what a thrill. The bass player was Buddy Emmons and it was live at Scotty's St. Louis Steel Convention.

Curly was so unique in his delivery whether it was C6th or E9th. His fabulous E9th playing is often over looked because he was such a Giant on C6th.

I had the opportunity to work with Gordie Tapp from Hee Haw one summer and I used to pick Gordie's brain about Curly. He told me, "Curly is one of the best and perhaps the greatest steel player around." He said, "It is just something to sit and watch and everyone would gather around on the Hee Haw set when Curly is tuning up his steel guitar, and running through chords, etc."

The DVD offered on Curly is just great. It should be recommended and well, required to watch the DVD and listen to Curly's Big Sounds on a Big Steel. and Curly could drive that Big Steel Brothers and Sisters like nobody else!

My thoughts on a Giant of the Steel Guitar!

Terry Wood

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 23 Jan 2011 5:59 pm

I have corrected the spelling out of respect for Curly Chalker.

Buddy Jennison · Post by **Buddy Jennison** » 24 Jan 2011 11:39 am

b)b, Thanks. I knew the correct spelling. my computer did'nt. "Little" Buddy.

Buddy Jennison · Post by **Buddy Jennison** » 24 Jan 2011 11:41 am

See. It doesn't know the difference between ) and 0. "Little" Buddy.

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