FRANK RECKARD of Emmylou's Hot Band - Ask Zac 82

[@markmcclellan8421]

I grew up with the Reckards in Claremont Ca. Frank was all our guitar hero when we were teens! He is a true master.

[@donny_doyle]

That's very cool

[@stevejesus6525]

So pleased that you recognized Frank R

[@johnnyquest3707]

I don’t play guitar but I saw ELHarris on Austin City Limits in the 80s and was knocked out by her guitarist but didn’t know who he was. I knew he played a Gibson. Finally in modern times I see it was Frank Reckard. he takes no backseat to his predecessors in the band and deserves recognition like you gave him here. And Albert Lee is beyond great, of course.

[@fiddlix]

Frank is so highly underrated.

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

“Underrated” and “overlooked” do not have the same meaning. He is very highly rated by those who’ve heard him.

[@larryholland7192]

Frank is one of my favorites!!

[@scottrgood]

Frank Reckard playing that Les Paul TV yellow Junior is so freaking cool. Such a great country and rock n roll guitar.

[@Bigdaddylobo1]

I’ve seen the Hot Band in many of its incarnations thru the years. With Rodney, and with Ricky Skaggs, and Hank DeVito and Barry Tashian, Albert Lee, and with Frank. Frank was badass. Never failed to amaze.

[@normandauphin1066]

The first time I heard Frank on Luxury Liner, I think I played it at least 20 times. Emmy had to be one of the luckiest musicians to have some of the greatest guitar players out there. Albert and Frank play different versions of Luxury Liner and I love them both. Whenever I listen to Luxury Liner, I always listen to both versions at least a half a dozen times each. I just can't seem to get enough of those solos and the volume has to go to the max! Thank God for U Tube! I also love Ooh Las Vegas, only problem is is that the solo is about 5 minutes too short. I need to hear blistering notes for an extended time.

[@dennisflock3958]

I'm not, and never have been a country music fan, I'm blues and rock and roll down to my soul. However, my parents were. So a lot of your great videos are great guitar players that I heard when I was growing up in the 70s. I didn't realize how great they were then, I just didn't like the style of music. But now that I play, I can really appreciate their talent and style. Thanks for helping me broaden my horizons.

[@SeanAllocca]

I feel the exact same way, thanks Dennis for articulating it so well. I am a 53 y.o who just took up guitar 7 months ago and it has transformed my life.

[@AskZac]

Thank you, Dennis!

[@LUCKYB.]

You say blues. Well. Country. Is. White. Blues. Wi was borrowed. From. What. They called black music. Or. Race. Music. .

[@jeffreypaulross9767]

Frank is actually a great Blues guitarist too!

[@jeffreypaulross9767]

@@AskZac Frank And I have known each other since we were 16 in high school. I first heard Frank play in Claremont Ca. at Taylor Hall, with his Blues band called Fast Farmer And His Fabulous Nighthawks. He was the first guy I ever heard that could play Clapton’s version of Hideaway, note for note! This was in 1968.

[@michaelmontiel6693]

Hello Zac! I was happily surprised to find your vid on Frank Reckard. I grew up , and still live in Santa Fe, NM and met Frank at a dance hall just north of Santa Fe called the line camp in the early 90's. I imagine he had just left the "Hot Band". I was playing with a country band called Whiskey River, and Frank asked to sit in. Of course he blew us all away, sounded amazing on his les paul junior. He later recommended me to a band looking for a guitar player, as he was leaving. That band eventually became The Jakes and we are still playing around SF. Great stuff from you, ALWAYS! This one really hit home! Thanks so Much!

[@AskZac]

Welcome!

[@bbrown93647]

Was the Whiskey River band from San Diego perchance? I recorded A Whiskey River band in Poway, CA around '77. They played at an old Butterfield Stage stop stone house. When they left the leader was heading for Nashville. The lead guitarist named Billy something, had a female Bass player and R&R drummer. I still have the tapes....Bob

[@michaelmontiel6693]

@@bbrown93647 No, Albuquerque and Santa Fe New Mexico. Mainly played around the south west, Texas, NM, southern Colorado.

[@joepalooka2145]

Great video. I had the great pleasure of seeing Frank Reckard with Emmy Lou back in the '80s. I got a seat right up close to the stage. It was an outdoor show on a warm summer day, and the band was in top form. It was one of the best concerts I've ever seen in my life, and Frank Reckard was truly outstanding. He's one of the best guitar players I've ever seen or heard, bar none.

[@AskZac]

Cool!

[@lloydwoodward4415]

Same situation for me Joe. I saw Emmylou in 83. I went without a ticket and bought one in the parking lot for $15.00. Got front row right in front of Frank and just to the left of a stack of main speakers. A road crew guy went by me before the show and said you are going to be blown away by the speaker volume. Finally got to see Emmylou live and to learn of Frank Reckard. I love lead guitar in that style and I absorbed every note he played. My hearing is still fine and I have never forgotten that night. I even became a facebook friend of Frank.Thanks Zac for this information. I gotta go learn the Restless lick before I go to bed.

[@bbrown93647]

Hi I saw him in San Diego at Humphreys by the Bay, 2 shows (4PM and 7PM) in the 2nd and 3rd rows. This was for the Luxury Liner tour. I still remember the cigarette in his right hand sticking out from between his fingers. Fabulous. Love Emmylou and her choice of supporting bands was unmatched. Didn't realize he'd been with her for so long. Bob

[@VictorRochaGaming]

I met Frank through Chris Darrow in the early-90s. Good guy. Monster musician. Thanks for shining a light on him. He deserves it.

[@AskZac]

Cool!

[@fredskolnick1183]

You forgot...super smart....He is now a Lawyer for The State of New Mexico. If He is as good at Law as He is at Guitar, don't mess with him. He's a Monster!

[@martyforrer9146]

Frank is my favourite lead player from the Hot Band. Saw them in Auckland, New Zealand.

[@Maltloaflegrande]

Saw him with Emmylou at the Apollo Victoria in '81. Played some brill guitar and also did the third harmonies between Emmy and Barry Tashain. Great band.

[@tomrutledge5621]

Great episode Zac. Loved Frank’s playing, and only ever saw him on Austin City Limits with Emmylou. As always, you are informative; thoughtful and entertaining. Thanks!!!

[@tomrutledge5621]

Upon further review, I saw Frank with Emmylou on “SoundStage”…. NOT Auston City Limits. Haha

[@christopherkahn6522]

Last Date has always been one of my favorite albums. The moment I heard it, the guitars jumped out at me and I had to have it. Maybe it was the Phase 90 that just sounded so great.

[@wcray3684]

I love this broadcast!! After 20 years I just purchased a Danny Gatton Custom Shop and boy am I jazzed!!

[@JBGuitarInstruction]

Thanks for the informative lesson. Frank Reckard was and still is a monster player.

[@AskZac]

You bet!

[@colinbradley1366]

And again, a fab video-treatise on one of my all time favorite (and much overlooked) guitar players. Thanks for this Zac, and nice to hear my dear friend Steve Fishell's name referenced prominently throughout too!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure, Colin!

[@cowtowncustoms2110]

Thanks Zac, always someone or something interesting that I did not know!

[@Billywagner22]

I really appreciate you making the Spotify Playlist. Great job!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@anthonyz7000]

Whoa! Thank you for pointing that out! Wonderful

[@anthonyz7000]

Hi Zac! It continually blows me away that you are able to do these in one take! The majority of KZbin videos now are so heavily edited that it kind of has become a style - a jump-cut jumble if you will. The fact that you can give all of this fabulous information AND include a little guitar lesson in one continuous take makes me think it must be from your live music performance background. It's refreshing and kind of astounding.

[@cowieson]

I completely agree, it's one of my favourite things about this show! I think it adds to Zac's natural way of making it feel like we're all just hanging out with him, it's great!

[@AskZac]

It's a fun challenge. I do have to redo the entire episode if I mess up though.

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

Thanks for this, Zac. I've long wondered about Frank. Wonderful player.

[@paulj.ingram2839]

Probably ‘79 or so went to see Emmy and the hot band at the Circle Star Theatre near San Francisco. Was expecting to see Albert Lee but there was this short blond guy playing the Les Paul Jr. I remember him with a cigarette trailing off his pick hand. I was really impressed with his picking on Les Paul and Mary Ford’s “How High The Moon”. He wasn’t even breaking a sweat. So smooth.

[@StephenSpelman]

Nice story, and well-done lesson - thanks again for a great episode, as always!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@edwarddidisse5039]

I had the pleasure of playing with him. I was known as a back-up guitar and bass player in Santa Fe in the early 90's and played bass while he filled in on a purple Tele(?) with a bender. What a treat. I still use my 67' Tele that I bought new. I modded it to copy Steve Morse but ended up with the same pick-ups as Brett Rowan. Small world. Thanks, I really enjoy your videos and the Vintage Guitar column.

[@edwarddidisse5039]

I meant Brett Mason's 67' Tele.

[@thestereoclub6735]

I had to jump over to Luxury Liner to see Frank in action- ohhh that guy,,, I cannot believe I never looked up his name in the credits. Blistering runs, smooth as silk, with a marvelous touch. Thanks for sharing Frank's story.

[@AskZac]

Right?!

[@saltwatersaddletramp7229]

Love when you break out the Paisley!

[@guitarmagic]

Great video. Interesting how he changed careers (but still kept up his chops).

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

He was perceptive enough to see the future after the Hot Band, went to law school instead, and was clever enough to make a great career for himself after being a professional musician at the top of the game.

[@c.p.1589]

Maybe someone can clear this up. I always thought Hank's TV was a 3/4. The double cut 3/4s usually had that weird geometry where the neck, bridge and pickup were way back in the body, but the earliest catalogues had the 3/4 pictured as a scaled down version of the full size models. On the live clips Hank is obviously a small guy but that TV doesn't look big. Anyone know the story?

[@jdguitarmusic]

Another great episode Zac - Frank brought the goods for many years with the Hot Band. Thanks for the lesson as well - you always break down the parts in a way I can understand and learn. And thanks for the photo shout-out!

[@AskZac]

Thanks for the support!

[@Slovy_]

I just bought a double cut jr about 2 weeks ago and I’ve been playing it non stop

[@renatonunes9770]

Listened to him playing first time on an Emmylou show in a Chicago Radio. The album is called Radio Live. His solos in Luxury Liner and Living Long Like This are one of the best I’ve heard in my life. He just killed the guitar.

[@mairianncullen8753]

Really well put together episode. Filled in some info gaps for me. Loved the lesson, too. Thanks!

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardriesser6332]

Don't forget that Frank was the main guitar player in the middle 70's for the Fabulous Shelter Records recording artist/Great Songwriter Mr. Larry Hosford . They mostly worked out of Santa Cruz Ca. Frank shared lead fills with Ernie Hagar [ Pedal Steel ] from Aptos . He also sometimes sat in with " Fly By Night " band , with Ms. Annie Hughes , Pat Hubbard , Duane "Beans" Sousa , Jim Norris & Multi-Instrumentalist Gary Roda who later married Pheobe Snow.

[@jfinester]

Frank Reckard is another one of my favorite players. I saw him play with Emmylou and the Hot Band in maybe 1990. I always wondered what happened to him.

[@iamgcase]

Well, that was a lot of new info for me… thank you!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@davemassie3726]

NICE ZAC! THANKS FOR SHARING.

[@AskZac]

You bet!

[@martyforrer195]

Frank is my favourite Hot Band guitarist.

[@glenkepic3208]

Forgotten ? for me, yes but do recall a GP interview with Frank and the TV Jr after seeing this. May have had KSAN Country on the stereo at work then and heard some Emmy Lou with him. Man did quite well, it seems. Not a casualty but prospered and could still deliver on stage. Thanks, Zac !

[@TheSkaggs54]

I actually talked about Frank on my Twitter page earlier this year!! Believe me Frank is not forgotten with me!

[@AskZac]

Nice!!

[@Teleman76]

Great, great episode!

[@THEItchybruddah]

Saw you’d featured Frank this morning and I’ve been grinning ever since! As ALWAYS… Masterful analysis and historical context. “Mangler-desh” about got coffee in m’schnozz! (Highly recommend the Otis Gibbs two part interview if you haven’t heard it. VERY well worth your time.)

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

Great story yet again, very enjoyable 😎🎙🎸✅

[@AskZac]

Thanks for listening

[@TonyBee63]

I went to Silk cut festival of Country music in Wembley, London in April 1987 to see Jerry Lee Lewis and Emmylou Harris heading the Saturday and Sunday night so being a massive James Burton fan and knew he had played with Jerrt Lee there in 1985 plus Albert Lee had played there with Emmylou in 1984 I thought they'd both be there and I was in for a treat!!....The shows were great but I was so disappointed when James wasn't with Jerry Lee but had Kenny Lovelace who played great and it was a Great Show Rocknroll the way... so I was looking forward to Emmylou the next night but alas no Albert Lee but in his place was Frank Reckard on guitar and I again was initially disappointed until they did some early Emmylou tunes and he paid homage to James Burton on solos like " If I could only win your love " and Frank played JB solo almost note for note plus he had that sound aswell and he also played an amazing solo on Luxury Liner ( See Emmylou live at Red Rocks 1984 and see Frank's incredible solos )...Also she introduced him as on Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin and Lead cigarette!!. due to his habit of smoking on stage....Lol..I came away sti a fan of James Burton and Albert Lee but also I was now a Frank Reckard fan aswell and straight away I bought her 13 album which is still a big favourite of mine...I'm glad you did this spotlight on him as he was not only in the Hot band longer than James & Albert but he is a very versatile player and I count myself lucky to have been in the audience that night....Tony B...😁😁🎸🎸👍👍

[@AskZac]

I understand wanting to see James and Albert. You are right though, Frank and Kenny are great!

[@johnwhite2855]

You forgot to mention that Frank also played a Danelectro.

[@KevinSmith-lt4qf]

Thanks for this Zak, I've never forgotten how great Frank played. l saw him with the Hot band and l think he was very underrated very inspiring and innovative. Thanks great you featured him.

[@stevejesus6525]

EmmyLou introduced him as "Frank Rekard on lead gyutai and cigarette" because he would put his butt between the strings and fret board while he played

[@philbrown6787]

i saw emmylou maybe in ‘79 and always wondered who the guitar player was. now i know and great he was. chicken pickin’, jazz comping. guy blew me away

[@redlandsaxman]

Zac very interesting. Great Tele licks and as always I enjoy your lessons.

[@AskZac]

Thank you, Lonnie.

[@buddylobos5277]

Ok. So we live north of Santa Fe & Emmy Lou was playing in Albuquerque. 100 miles one way. So we left early 'cuz you never can tell. Well, we're way too early. This guy comes over and we start talking. He's alone and I asked was he a fan? Well, It's Frank. He says Oh yeah I'm a fan I used to play with her. Wow. what do you play I ask. Hey, I'd never seen him before. He played some that nite. Great seats, We're in the front row. Great show. It's like everybody knew him but me.

[@SeanAllocca]

Return value for value and give Zac a tip for a great episode and lesson. Or better yet, become a Friend of Ask Zac, I am glad I am. Another excellent episode Zac!

[@AskZac]

Thank you, Sean

[@ianbatkin9632]

In a recorded interview, Emmylou stated her recording company paid for the original Hot Band on tour as she would not been able to afford it.

[@vayabroder729]

P-90’s are like a Tele pickup on steroids. If you turn the volume down they sound similar.

[@sesa2984]

Heck, I’da been happy to be the waterboy for the hotband let alone an unsung third-best guitar player.

[@edsterling5258]

You are an invaluable historian. Thank you for exposing so many of us to players that many of us "have heard of" (but don't really know very much about).

[@ianmcculloch8531]

Pretty certain I saw Frank play with The Hot Band in Adelaide South Australia c1982.

[@larryholland7192]

Frank Recard was awesome X 10 ! Just my opinion!

[@MichaelBethke-ni6zb]

how can I buy Ask Zac guitar picks?

[@AskZac]

send me an email zac(at)askzac.com

[@LuisSilva-yu6ty]

And Amos Garrett, Redd Volkaert and Bill Kirchen, man??

[@RobertMiller-sr9iq]

Why