Emmett Chapman on What's My Line - two-handed tapping

Emmett went on this live nationally broadcast television show shortly after starting his company, Stick Enterprises, in October, 1974. It was the first national TV broadcast of his two-handed tapping method. At the time, there were only a few broadcast networks, and the audience for this program would have been in the millions. What's My Line is a Q and A format with celebrities trying to guess what the guest does. Interview and performance.

[@Andyjpro]

$550 in 1974 is equivalent to ~$2600 today (July 2013) The newest ones also have incredible technological improvements in components, adjustability, and manufacturing. Not to mention the new Railboard! So take your pick!

[@SoloGoodspeed]

Outstanding piece of music history! I remember seeing this by chance one night, and even though I was primarily a keyboardist, this instrument fascinated me instantly. I heard it in person soon afterwards when Emmett took it on a promotional tour; it was just him and a drummer, but it sounded like a full on band! I was blown away, and I must have caught the bug at that point. About 10 years later I was playing my own Stick in a band in L.A. These days I play the SB8 bass model... and yes, once in awhile I do a little keyboarding to stay in practice.

[@GroovingPict]

"do you plug it in?" - "yes" and then the other lady going "ooooh, good for you" lol

[@chochosmx]

it's more expressive than a piano, because you can bend the strings, you can do vibrato, you can pluck a string occasionally; some stickists even use a cello bow at times, and of course you can process the bass and melody parts separately (different effects, amps, eq etc).

[@YouzTube99]

08:13 "I'm just going to shut up and get out of the way." Well done Larry! Emmett really improved the design and sound quality over the decades. But "Yesterday_s_"?

[@pushon2342]

Very pioneering with that first generation stick. $550 is over $2,600 ins in today's cost adjustment.

[@brucejacquesStick]

I've never watched this , its great. As an owner of two STICKS and currently reading Jim Reilly's "Stickman" book ( which is also great ), its fills in some nice history.

[@don56texas]

The 40th anniversary of the Stick.

[@soulierinvestments]

Even in its last season, the all-star power of WML still amazes: Chapman, comic Soupy Sales, opera superstar Beverly Sills, Today Show host Gene Shalit, radio show host Arlene Francis, Broadway actor Larry Blyden. This is a good illustration not only of Chapman's talent, but of Blyden's interview talent. He draws Chapman out well. WML is always both educational and entertaining. I had never heard of the stick until this. Fascinating. Thanx for posting.

[@DianaLang]

I just watched this again. I remember just how I felt when you did it, and how I still feel now. I am so proud of you!!!!

[@donschiff]

I love this video, Emmett you look the same to me then as you do now. That timeless spirit just shines through the ages. I also had a pair of 'flair bottoms' pants just like that. Excellent!/Don

[@xtcpino]

"This stick does something. When this stick does something, do you have to do something to the stick to make it do something, or is it [a] self-doing stick?" Shalit. Hilarious.

[@TheFolksinger]

A really fine video to watch and listen to. Way back "then" it was already a fine instrument. I wish I had purchased mine at that time. But I didn't have Five Hundred Dollars! Emmet is always an inspiration. Five stars and more.

[@BrianBaggett306]

Very much enjoyed this. Thanks Emmett. ...and Gene Shalit.

[@asilpride6520]

Emmett floored them all then and now the music world.

[@gusletarist]

1974! Best Time of Rock music! This historical video about Genius of Strings! Glory to Emmett!

[@don56texas]

@sclogse1 I was living in las Vegas in the 1990s and met Soupy Sales there. Like you, I was raised with him. I was really in awe of him and called him Mr Sales. He said " my dad was Mr Sales...just call me Soupy'. What a beautiful man. He is just as nice as you imagine he would be.

[@chuckinator13]

This is what happens 9.9999 times out of 10 when you mention the Stick, even to musicians. I went through for years. Finally selling the instrument in 2001. As for the out of tuneness, a similar thing happened to mine when we fogged the stage with Dry Ice.....What a Nightmare!!!!!

[@Grozeil]

Great, I like this kind of vintage TV broadcast!!! lol

[@BuildYourOwnBass]

Ooo! @7:14 A stereo system! I wish he had made a production pedal like this one! I hear the obvious phasor during the verse/chorus, and also an octave-up octaver with a phasor on the melody strings during the bridge solo. Tasty analog tones!

[@BagpipeHustler]

WOW that is how you play a chapman stick!!!! great arrangements indeed....

[@stickplayers]

@abrahm714 The "Baliset" was actually a dressed-up Stick, and the music they used when the instrument was played in the director's cut version was Emmett playing his solo song "Backyard". And as was mentioned, on a live TV show, the instrument was just sitting there under lightswhile Emmett was being interviewed and then he had to go play it.

[@gvt76]

I wish that someday the Chapman Stick becomes a must be in a group as well the bass and the drums cause it's the invention of the millenium! Mr. Chapman is thousand years ahead of us! Cheers from Brazil!

[@kxx46]

Like the "chimes" as he is signing in.

[@JosephDillman]

Absolutely beautiful. I'm sure no one could have expected such a deep, emotive, and moving performance.

[@RayNDeere]

Soupy had a keen interest. Considering his sons Tony and Hunt are exceptional musicians, it's not surprising.

[@wbgo]

Very interesting! And notice 10 minutes of network TV, music TV even, without spam; those were the good old days. BTW, I've seen two instances of Emmett's of amazing memory. Seems that he remembers the name of just about anyone he's ever met. Well, at least in two instances.

[@latasha66]

A true ingenuitive musical genius.

[@MetalKen]

The sticks are actually cheaper now, adjusted for inflation. 550$ in 1974 is 2400$ in 2013 dollars.

[@wutzernutzer]

Wow! Found out about The Stick today and then I find this video. Thanks a bunch!

[@EDH1712]

I think we can all agree that the stick took on a whole different meaning through this questioning. LOL

[@Markusewitz]

Luv it! Gene and Soupy are so cool. Can't wait to get my new Stick in October :-) !!

[@DaronStorey]

amazing

[@maxauto44e]

OMG SO GOOD super talent

[@alonzogarbanzo]

Sounds like he was using a Mu-Tron phaser. Wish those things were still available. The BiPhaser was a wicked effectmaker.

[@stickplayers]

one of the hazards of live TV, I suppose. 10 minutes under stage lights with no opportunity to check the tuning. May I have a roadie please...?

[@deepintoblues]

Wow!

[@chochosmx]

2900 for a Grand Stick (12 strings)

[@soulierinvestments]

I like the subdued powder blue background with the powder blue ??? but what was the designer thinking with the Red and Yellow Stripes at the board. It makes me dizzy just to look at it.

[@naturalthing1]

is the stick made of wood? lol

[@Stckmand]

wonderful hairstyle in the 70' ;-) ha ha ha.....

[@gymnastix]

The early '70's were actually a rather dull period of rock music ("Afternoon Delight" & The Carpenters were topping the pop charts), when things were at their most corporate, albeit some good underground music being made in response to that--The Stooges, The New York Dolls, and the glam rock of David Bowie, T. Rex & Alice Cooper. I'll grant 1974 was the birth of punk rock with The Ramones, which really exploded by 1976 with Patti Smith, Blondie, The Dead Boys, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, etc.

[@lamecasuelas2]

@sclogse1 well,isn't in fact a lot like a piano?

[@pandanurse]

I actualy think that's a drop in price concidering inflation

[@SHAWNMCDUFFIE]

lol

[@KrOwAnsKi]

@abrahm714 Erm, this is just the beginning era of Chapman Stick.. I think that Emmet is not quite familiar with playing and tuning these instrument that he created. And yeah, he's the God Father who's a creator and pioneer that could create this thing like a person playing a guitar, bass and piano and it got all this elements (the concept of playing this instrument) mixed up. I don't think it was a shamefulness to him though it was out of tune.

[@giedosst]

Gene can go !@#$ himself!

[@soulierinvestments]

Gene could be an irritating wiseguy. Let's see him invent any type of musical instrument!

[@captcorajus]

too bad it was clearly out of tune.

[@sclogse1]

Soupy rules...don't like the phasing on this. This thing is about big rich tones...big bass, orchestral sounds..you can do weather report tunes on a chapman.... Remember Soupy asking kids to reach into mom's purse and send him money? My man soupy...dow dow!