Jimmy Bryant

[tommy harkenrider]

Good Morning friends, I was driving through anaheim going to criss n' pitts (the bbq will be for another post) and was complaining about the traffic and the strip malls and poor air quality. I was trying to think that fifty years ago the city must have been quite a different place. During the fifties movies were recorded out here as well as country variety shows. The most popular being the tennessee Ernie Ford broadcasts. The house band consisted of speedy west on steel and Jimmy Bryant on guitar. Jimmy is considered to be one of the best west coast country and swing guitar players. In his biography he could get from capital redcords in LA to the movie studio in anaheim in twenty minutes. So imagine my frustration when I live off of lincoln in orange and it takes me a half hour to get to criss n' pitts off of euclid. Leo Fender designed the telecaster and gave one to jimmy. Jimmy did to the tele as Les Paul did to his gibson. Without Jimmy Bryant the telecaster would not be the standard for country guitarists. Their will be more to come on him as well as a lick or two. I've included a little you tube. let me know what you think. thanks tommy. YouTube - Jimmy Bryant & Speedy West in the Band

[Mark Wein]

I had no idea that they did anything like that in Anaheim..I always thought it was pretty rural until Disney came in during the 1950's...

[Mark Wein]

Just got done checking out the video...he really was pretty fast....playing scale sequences like that would be right at home in an 80's metal band :p

I dig how there are elements of jazz and what we eventually understood as country music and rockabilly in his playing...

[Denverdave]

Nice!

I did really like what he was playing - definitely jazz elements that aren't really found much in modern country (it's more rock/blues scales now).

However, Ernie Ford's mustache drives me nuts. I know it was 'fashionable' at the time...but :freak:

[platypus]

Nice!

I did really like what he was playing - definitely jazz elements that aren't really found much in modern country (it's more rock/blues scales now).

However, Ernie Ford's mustache drives me nuts. I know it was 'fashionable' at the time...but :freak:

it still is! :aok:

[tgk03]

Really enjoyed this! I eat this stuff up: the history, the stories...
Please keep 'em coming!

Also, glad to know there is stilla Chris n' Pitts! The one I used to frequent in Santa Ana closed some time ago...

[Mark Wein]

I have to say that I love the historical part of it too...I've never had Chris and Pitts...we've been going to the Beach Pit BBQ in Tustin (they're opening one in Orange at the circle) but I'm not totally in love...

[Mark Wein]

As usual I've degenerated into talking about food :facepalm:

[jayhitz]

Very cool!