Guitarist Jimmy Bryant interview: Jimmy Spills the Beans

[@allanharris970]

Found this by accident and loved it. I met Jimmy Bryant when I was about 10 or 11 yrs old, 1966 or 67. I was learning guitar and a flyer came to our house that The Fastest Guitar In The Country was coming to our local music store to demo a guitar. My Dad and Uncle and I were late and missed the demo. I was really disappointed. Jimmy apparently heard this young kid really upset that he missed the show. I heard a man say get the guitar back in here. Jimmy sits down and starts to play for me. No one else in the store but us and the owner. I don't remember everything he played but he was playing me some cartoon jingles and such. I asked him if he could play the Wild Wood Flower, I had learned it. He played it and I was confused and said that's now how I learned it haha. He handed me the guitar and said play it for me. I played it and he just praised me and said wow he finally heard it done right. I had no idea that a true guitar genius had taken time to set up and play for me. I later learned how truly great he was. I have talked about Jimmy Bryant all of these years to many of my peers who had no idea who he was but all were astounded when I led them to his recordings. I think it's nice to show his kindness in this thread. A kid he didn't know, no one to see him do it, no sales of the demo (Mosrite), just being a really nice guy to take the time to set back up and play for a kid who was late to the demo. That has always stuck with me. And I tell folks I showed Jimmy Bryant the right way to play Wild Wood Flower when I was a little kid haha. He was so kind and encouraging. I've never put the guitar down in all of these years.

[@syn707]

A beautiful story. Shows not all celebrities are snobs. There is a similar story about guitar great, Peter White on YT. Thank you sharing this. You’ll never forget that moment.

[@annemccaslin1138]

WOW Thanks for the kind words about my dad - he loved to play and would pick the guitar while we watched cartoons and just pick on it (not when Amplifier was on) we didn't mind - he just would not let it out of his hands - he talked or watched tv -while he was pickin' ---- just mindlessly letting his hands do their thing!

[@allanharris970]

@@annemccaslin1138 Wow it's so nice to meet Jimmy's daughter. I still play today. Part of the story I didn't tell was your dad asked me how I liked the guitar he was demoing. A Mosrite he was endorsing at the time. I remember saying the necks a little fat but I like it. My dad and my uncle heard your dad tell his helper to give me the guitar. I did not hear it. But they said the helper waited until your dad was out of the building then he took it with him. Look up my family on youtube. The Harris Family Band. We are the ones with 5 brothers and one sister. We live in Springfield IL where your dad came to do a showcase of those guitars and amps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/foqloKapZa2jjK8 I'd enjoy staying in touch. I have the book written by Lorene. I was recently trying to decipher his recording of Sugar Foot Rag. I still to this day show his playing to the younger guys and they are blown away. I hope you enjoy some of our videos. Please feel free to keep in touch as it's special to meet the daughter of a legion that was so terrific the the 10 yr old kid I was. [e-mail] Either way it was special to log on and see your reply. Take care, Allan

[@allanharris970]

@@stringbender57 Dude that is crazy. I will check your channel and give you my info.

[@gazicj]

@@annemccaslin1138 that is so amazing to know. as a lifelong picker/woodshedder, i'm always interested in the "behind the scenes" so to speak. so i am so grateful you share with us--thank you ma'am, and godspeed to you and yours:))) question, if you don't mind: are you and/or other members of the family "musical"??? obviously you are a great great fan---do y'all play as well? it's cool either way, lol. i'm just curious...

[@zuppedepeche]

This is GOLD! The incredible Jimmy Bryant! Way ahead of his time.

[@gazicj]

facts

[@GuitarlosCarlos]

JIMMY BRYANT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE GUITARISTS I OPENED UP FOR HIM IN LAKE HAVASU BACK IN 1972 I SAT RIGHT UP FRONT WHEN HE PLAYED HIS GREAT SET HE WAS ON FIRE THAT NIGHT HE PLAYED HIS TELECASTER I CAN STILL SEE HIM GOING THANK YOU FOR THIS POST CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042

[@Pimp-Master]

Yep, I know who you are too. The 80s was a good time still for us young ones to catch the actual musicians. For example I got to hang with Roy Brown down at the White House in Laguna Beach in the company of Art Fine and Phil of the Blasters. Rosie Flores hung out with Wanda Jackson... Thankfully some of the original rockabilly cats were still alive.

[@gazicj]

nice! you a lucky mofo---good for you, though, I typically am happy for other people and their successes and experiences---right on brother. love your handle too, pimp master, that gave me a quiet subtle chuckle!!! the book "pimp" by mr iceberg slim is super dope, imho. ice was a pimp in the 1940s I believe... and he wrote about it---mighty well and insightful. peace brotha @@Pimp-Master

[@jakelee7639]

His playing still stands up today as some of the best...he really pioneered the Western swing (country jazz) guitar style,...enough cannot be said about how great he was and the influence he’s had....thanks for this interview

[@Pimp-Master]

The 50's in the US was such a fantastic time for jazz and guitar music in general.

[@Jonathan-L]

Jimmy Bryant was a guitar god's guitar god. He still is. And a musician's musician.

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Them Country Boys we’re always the best pickers. Years back I had bunch of those 1949’/1950’ Green vinyl RCA 45’s of Speedy and Bryant. Sold em. Wished I had em now!!!There’s a reason John Sebastian’/Lovin spoonful’ fame wrote Nashville Cats’. Another Great was Hank Garland’ ! RIP Jimmy B-heavens likely got a Jam goin on

[@guppybill]

The influence! The seed! The prototype! So many greats following Jimmy's lead.

[@bluenosemassmedia2996]

My only regret is I wasn't hip to him until well after he passed. What a talented southern country boy who played jazz. One of a kind.

[@RedGibsonsRock]

Thanks so much for putting this up! Jimmy was one of a kind -- and too good to be forgotten. Now I have to go listen to the Speedy West interview...

[@jimcampilongo6469]

Thank you Mike!

[@bconigliaro]

Cary's Country Store & Mike Neer should win a Peabody or a Polk for contributing this to the culture.

[@alldowntheline]

Thank you very much, Mike!

[@BertrandLaurenceMusic]

thank you, what a gem ! a true original.

[@boblstclair4023]

Jimmy Bryant was an incredible player. His work with Speedy can be compared to Johnny Weis/Joaquin Murphy. I wish more footage of him playing would be posted.

[@James523001]

Yes, one of the greats! Wonderful to hear him reminisce.

[@fueledbylove]

I never heard of West and Bryant until the late 90's when I found their first 10" record in a Louisville record shop. They had a couple of boxes of old Long Playing 10" discs and I was flipping through them and found black gold. After that I would snag anything else by them, old 78's and West's solo LPs - but Country Cabin Jazz was best and paid about .50 for that one. and then came e-Bey and what had been hard to find music wasn't "rare" anymore. Also discovered Thumbs Carillie and Billy Strange about the same time. Fun stuff!

[@threetorches100]

fantastic! an audio compendium giving much desired insight pertaining to his acumen.

[@syn707]

I’ve heard his name for decades, yet, never pursued finding his recordings. I’m reading a book about Leo Fender, Les Paul and Paul Bigsby titled, “The Birth of Loud.” Bryant is mentioned and finally, I had to learn more about him. Funny that Glen Campbell, another ‘country picker’ would cite Django as a major influence. Thank you for posting this wonderful interview.

[@boblstclair4023]

Jimmy was such a great player, one of my favorites. And as a duo with Speedy West, they were great together... maybe up there with Johnny Weis and Joaquin Murphey.

[@johnnymercury]

Based on Jimmy mentioning the Harold Hensley recording was a couple of years ago would date this interview around 1975

[@gbuffaloe1]

Great player and a great guy.

[@vintagetunes]

This is just wonderful! I can't believe that I've only just found this video. Thank you so much for posting this! Would there be any chance you might post the full recording?

[@DrHeartTheTruth789]

My uncle jimmy here tysm for posting all these wonderful videos!

[@cattleprods911]

Your uncle Jimmy was one of the best to ever touch a guitar, up there with Danny Gatton, Django...if Jesus forms a band, these 3 would be on his A-list for lead guitar

[@rnjprice]

Do you know Doug McGinnis?

[@boblstclair4023]

I think I hear some Johnny Weis, (great player with Joaquin Murphy-on steel) in some of Jimmy's playing

[@MrLemans67]

Are you related to Tootie?

[@gazicj]

ha nice! @@cattleprods911

[@KootenayGuitar]

Awesome, I love JB. Still trying to match his tempos (and great feel etc.) on many of his tracks. Thank You!

[@lamartin5042]

Just great!

[@ztahs]

Influenced so many people, yet so many people never heard of him.

[@paulgibby6932]

Great to hear him talk after hearing stories about him (e.g. at the Fender factory). What a great player and seemed like an honest guy. I wonder if the "mistake" he talks about in "Bryant's Boogie" was at 2:05. As he said he did it twice to cover it up (make it seem intentional). [edit: actually I think it's that note at 0:36] Thanks for the great post! p.s. 21:04 copyright problems?

[@syn707]

To the 6 thumbs down….what in the world could be dislikable about two people talking?

[@MattLeGroulx]

This is amazing, Mike!

[@rogersilcox524]

I believe he was Albert Lee’s favourite guitarist.

[@ronshalita]

What an exciting time for those guys huh?

[@michaelhancock937]

Moultrie, Ga. My hometown.

[@annemccaslin1138]

In know it well

[@danielsawyer4021]

Tony Mottola was in his unit!?

[@jimmybryantcity5023]

JIMMY BRYANT

[@edcherry9282]

In the service with Tony Mottola who got him playing guitar..interesting

[@MikeNeer]

I grew up in Tony Mottola’s town, Kearny, NJ. Tony was a great player since the 1930s, when he took the place of Dick McDonough in the duets with Carl Kress. Killer player.

[@edcherry9282]

@@MikeNeer I like tony Mottola's playing..I have a couple of his old Lps..

[@MikeNeer]

@@edcherry9282 I like your playing too. I saw you with Dizzy at the Blue Note with Sam Rivers. PS: check out the duets with Carl Kress, totally different from his later stuff.

[@edcherry9282]

@@MikeNeer thank you!

[@fueledbylove]

Tony did a string of Quadraphonic albums when 4 channel was a thing, I have a lot of those on reel to reel tapes, Good music!

[@ritchienegrea5779]

Wonder if any interest?? 2020

[@PetCemetaryDude]

2021

[@annemccaslin1138]

of course there is! HE WAS MY DAD - lol

[@jimmybusk]

What year is this from? ....great !

[@Noejjkkkj]

But Django did tour the US

[@sambac2053]

why did you delete the music portions?

[@MikeNeer]

+Samba C Copyright notifications

[@sambac2053]

too bad - they probably would get more sales , but gatekerper mentality over-rides sense

[@bluenosemassmedia2996]

Samba C fortunately, there is a lot of stuff with speedy while at Capitol records that are easy to find on YT

[@quasipseudo1]

Excellent! Thank you... what year was this interview?

[@TheKeenej]

Great interviews. However, the music speaks volumes. I would have included some music along with this. It would have been an awesome vlog. Not saying, just saying...

[@MikeNeer]

YT would not allow the music.

[@fueledbylove]

Man that sux, live recordings of this cat are super rare

[@kennewman2166]

a guitar genius and the bidness used him as fulcrum in those days. kenxqed♫

[@dstarbignut]

Thanks for posting this MIke. Super cool to listen to Jimmy talk about the early times.

[@no59do56]

Moultrie Ga. Hmmmm