Vault Sessions: Junior Brown plays Don Rich’s Guitar (Season 2: Episode 4)

In this episode, Junior Brown talks Don Rich, Hank Garland, Buck Owens and more. Also, Junior plays Buck Owens & His Buckaroos’, “Love's Gonna Live Here” on Don Rich’s 1964 Silver Sparkle Telecaster and Merle Haggard’s classic, “If I Had Left It Up to You”.
These sessions help keep the music alive by helping the Songbirds Foundation raise money to buy guitars for kids…check out our website to find out more- songbirdsfoundation.org.
The guitars featured in this video are a 1953 Aztec Gold Telecaster (dubbed “D. Dunson”), a 1950 Stromberg Master 400 once owned by Hank Garland, and a 1964 Silver Sparkle Telecaster once owned by Don Rich. All of these guitars are on display at the Songbirds Guitar Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Come visit them soon. Thanks to our sponsors- The Riverview Foundation, Schillhahn-Huskey Foundation, GHS Strings, GoGo Tuners, and Todd Sharp Amplifiers. Special thanks to John Dooley for the great video work.
WE HAVE SOME BIG SESSIONS COMING SOON: Lee Roy Parnell, Gangstagrass, Parker Millsap, Amanda Shires, and more Moon River Sessions. Subscribe for more!

[@flamencoprof]

Junior deserves to be heard by more people. I discovered this guy in the late 90's when I wouldn't be seen dead listening to country music. He was part of my conversion, along with Lucinda Williams and Iris Dement.

[@utubewillyman]

Love this guy. Great musician with family values. He and his wife play on stage, while his daughter sits in the wings and does her homework.

[@t4texastom587]

Don't know what to say......cept what a great guitarist Junior is.🎸

[@packrat2473655]

Guy is just amazing .. he ranks right up there with Hendrix .. just amazing.

[@altonwilliams7117]

I was fortunate enough to see Junior Brown perform in downtown Texarkana a while back.

[@davidgo8874]

This man is amazing!

[@benindavisca]

More Junior Brown. MORE JUINIOR BROWN! MORE JUNIOR BROWN! MORE JUNIOR BROWN MORE JUNIOR BROWN!!!!!!!

[@markcrawford8876]

What a outstanding Musician, Individual, and History. Love you Jr.

[@hairlab_dc4417]

One of the great KZbin vids ever. A should-be country legend playing guitars heard on the songs that inspired him. Love the way Jr. gets lost in playing that awsome sounding '53 Tele. Thank god they made that in Aztec Gold which is probably why Songbirds bought it. Otherwise someone would have one of the greatest old Teles made and we wouldn't get to hear it.

[@SFolkes97]

Thing about Junior Brown is, even when he's in such a casual setting, you can see how much he just loves music and playing the guitar. I like that level of authenticity as much as I like his skills.

[@mandymine4963]

Well said.

[@GrimpleGromble]

Yes, when you see him live he is authentic as one can get.

[@n0-one0]

Junior Brown is a living legend.

[@cousinsondrums6927]

I saw him play live, twice, amazing player and a must see if he comes to your town!

[@selrod55]

Man I love Jr, I wish he got more recognition because they don't get any better.

[@joeshmoe7967]

You saved me from typing!! Agree 1000%.

[@larrydicus7822]

selrod55 I live close to Nashville. So I do a lot in music there and have seen so many amazing guitarists and Jr. is far and above in talent.

[@CardsharkMr]

Yeah I don't know why more People don't dig Him. Great voice also.

[@MrThedoors28]

They really do

[@rickwebb1000]

junior brown is the shiznit

[@randysimmons9838]

Love the lost art of country music

[@thomaswild9044]

Absolute Master

[@2na-phish]

i wish i could LIKE this more than once. Junior is my hero, inspiration and the epitome of class.

[@auntjenifer7774]

Well knowing KZbin these days you could probably come back and watch the video again and your initial thumbs up will be gone so technically you could like it more than once, try it and see what happens, Betsy to heavens I bet it works !?😉

[@manonbassguitar]

Jr Brown is one of the all time greats

[@theiceman6941]

Absolutely. Totally underrated, one of the greatest guitarists ever!

[@nicktrierweiler3690]

Monster player

[@bcummings2187]

He really is....incredible guitar player.

[@jameswallin9723]

Oh yeah, I'll be the 5th person in a year to honor the master junior brown

[@hannibalheyes339]

My wife and I met him back stage at the Continental club in Austin TX

[@VLLaw]

Heck I remember Junior played for The Billy Spears Band around Boulder Co. In the 80s. So many bands were making their mark in those days, Hot Rize, Timothy P & Rural Route 3 even Stevie Ray. But Nobody could hold their own playin Fiddle like Billy Spears and all his band were fine musicians. Andy Curry bass fiddle, Bob Case pedal steel, Junior Brown, Bud Pettit and Jimmy Ray Law had a beautiful voice. Oh the days of not gettin older in Boulder are fond memories. We all Love and miss you Billy.

[@scoutrifle6827]

Junior is on the short list of truly 'killer' guitar players. Just incredible.

[@celticfury7328]

Junior Brown is true country personified...there ain't one single modern picker or singer from Nashville (or anywhere else for that matter) that comes anywhere close to his plane of artistry or technical wizardry. This installment was a true joy to behold!

[@Big_John_C]

Not true, Vince Gill

[@celticfury7328]

@roguesquatcher Vince Gill is definitely a world class picker, but he's a product of the late 90s/00s class of country acts. Brad Paisley fits neatly into that category too, and also has some extremely respectable chops to offer. At this stage in both of their careers though, they're not really considered part of the new wave of country...they're well seasoned veteran talents, both of which have my respect and admiration. When I say "modern pickers", I'm thinking about the recent crop of country pop "artists" that have severely watered down the essense of c&w music over the last decade or so, in favor of following Sony Nashville's barf inducing formula for instant sucess with zero substance. Case in point: from where I sit, Taylor Swift didn't do anything drastic when she chose to abandon her country career...she just lost the canned fiddle & steel guitar backing tracks in exchange for synths and drum machines. She went from making derivative country pop to derivative pop...same repetitive dreck, different wardrobe and make-up. Junior, on the other hand, is a more modern iteration of the raw, pure, rough hewn outlaw country that came from Bakersfield in the late 60s/early 70s, with a large slice of Hank Sr., Eddy Arnold, Roy Clark, Hank Snow, Chet Atkins, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash's mojo and wizardry mixed in, and just a touch of Hendrix-esque hard rock attitude and chops to give it all an edge. He's on a completely different level than all of them!

[@buckhorncortez]

​@@celticfury7328 You mean Vince Gill...the guy who was playing with Pure Prairie League in the 1970's and became a solo artist in 1983 is a "product of the 90's / 00s"? How in the hell do you figure that? Oh, I know, that's when YOU became aware of him...got it. You'd probably demonstrate the same level of ignorance about Marty Stuart who started playing with Nashville Grass (Roland White) in 1972 at age 14. He then worked with Lester Flatt as part of his band until 1978 - and then became part of Johnny Cash's band. Yeah, your a real country expert I can tell. BTW - both Vince Gill and Marty Stuart are every bit the musician as Junior Brown - and I like Junior and have seen Junior, Vince, and Marty live on multiple occasions - they're all great musicians.

[@celticfury7328]

@Buckhorn Cortez Well, never claimed to be an expert in much of anything...only know what I know, and I always appreciate it when someone can teach me something new (or old, for that matter). In that light, I appreciate you educating me as to Vince's history, and yes..I was introduced to Vince's music in the 90s and wasn't aware of his work with Pure Prairie League (looks like I have a back catalog to explore, doesn't it?), so your smartass guess is correct. I'm also quite aware of Marty's lengthy career and astounding skills, and couldn't agree with you more...all three are amazing musicians. Pretty sure I already said as much about Vince, and I gushed a bit overboard about my appreciation for Junior, but what the hell...it warrants repeating. What I don't appreciate is the insulting manner in which you addressed my goof. You could have easily answered me with a simple "not quite bucko, Vince's career was actually blah blah blah..." and still set me straight, instead of making the rude assed comments you chose to throw at me. Now, I'm man enough to admit that I was wrong...no hesitation, I humbly stand corrected. The question is, did belittling me like that make YOU feel like more of a man now?

[@coleyounger3701]

Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason...would both eat mr. Brown alive.....easily.

[@curtiseverett1671]

Jr Brown is so cool......

[@merlynschutterle7242]

A great voice too.

[@teleman65]

Love Junior and he is true to his history of Country Music.

[@lightfoot413]

love you like a brother Junior..you are a national American treasure..Thanks for sharing stories and your talents....

[@josephleister9198]

One of the best guitar players there is.....imho

[@JT-py9lv]

Pure talent, and a pure pleasure to listen too.

[@alexloweh1]

Excellent!

[@thomaswild9044]

The guy is a Master

[@gurleyz]

Simply the BEST!

[@timallbritton7329]

How cool is it when a guy like him can spend some time like this... for us. Really nice playing and singing, and seems like a truly nice guy. And a great musician.

[@brianfromoregon2244]

Dangerous Don Rich. Simply the best

[@Ellenslife851]

Jr brown is one of my favorites

[@joe6096]

Junior is such an underrated and underappreciated guitar player. He belongs in discussion with the greats in history: Hendrix, Page, Kath, Vaughan. Maybe one day both the country music and rock n roll halls of fame will understand and recognize this. He belongs in both halls of fame, it doesn't matter if he's never had a #1 album or single. His talent is off the charts. And he created his own design of guitar for his own signature sound. Time is long past due to take him seriously folks.

[@cnilecnile6748]

He was a big influence on the 90's shred metal/fusion guitar players-fans of Satriani, Vai, Holdsworth, , Shawn Lane, Paul Gilbert. Those are the ones that were buying his records.

[@jonkelley2781]

Underrated my ass. Junior is a virtuoso

[@markrodgers2976]

My brother and I saw Junior twice in Atlanta at the Variety Playhouse (great venue!). The first time, we saw Junior standing in the door of his tour bus talking to a couple fans after the show, so i walked up and said hello, and he autographed my ticket stub for me. He was very approachable and conversational, left me with a great impression, as did the show itself !!

[@unclebob6728]

Junior Rules!

[@marcydenville1756]

Rockabilly That Stromberg! Thanks.

[@t.jonnson7306]

Such great talent.

[@HMJohnsonGuitar]

Very cool!

[@jonkomatsu8192]

Truly one of the best. Who knows? Perhaps one day, his "guit-steel" amongst the Songbirds' collection? That would be coolness achieved. Great post, mahalo!

[@AB-bg1or]

Saw him with the Blasters, Horton Heat and Big Sandy back in December in DC. What a show! Junior was on fire that night.

[@written12]

D B Wow, what a line-up.

[@AB-bg1or]

@@written12 It was "Horton's Holiday Hay Ride" Hope they do it again this year.

[@funstuff2006]

sonovagun, that's a lineup . . Only time I could catch RHH in my neck of the woods I had to put up with Nashville P***y, Grady, and an uncomfortable number of bikers - who thankfully all cleared out by the time Grady was done.

[@Forevertrue]

Mr. Brown is likely one of the finest classical country guitarists of our time. He can play any thing any body ever wrote. A truly talented man.

[@rickwebb1000]

truth

[@789again8]

Love Jr Browns playing!

[@JT-gd7he]

God bless Junior.

[@OpiateTaylor78]

This dude is a brilliant guitarist and musician.

[@christopherlangdon2892]

Sunday nights at the Continental in Austin all those years ago...what a pleasure, JR.

[@jimhall6441]

I love Jr. I have seen him 4 times at the Ark in AnnArbor Mi. Great little venue, not a bad seat in the whole house, keep up the great music Jr... look forward to your next return , I love to watch you rock the house down ...

[@mearkitek3773]

Don Rich was from Olympia WA near my home there. He was the perfect complement to Buck and was gone way too early. Love Jr. Brown too!

[@jeffclark7888]

Tumwater - Puyallup to be precise, right?

[@billybio6840]

He really sounds like Waylon when he’s playing Loves gonna live here

[@markinthemix6055]

Absolutely MUST think about the guitsteel when you see Junior Brown. HE made the Hank Garland classic sound great! Beautiful chordal playing.

[@leeforster1610]

Gotta love Don and Buck. True pioneers of the chicken picken sound. Thanks Junior for playin some.

[@stevefaure415]

Junior is such a dude! He's plays sweet jazz passages and cuts into chickin' pickin' for a few bars and then right back to the pretty chords.

[@jeremydavia6006]

Junior Brown is the shit!!!!

[@shanetankey3340]

Gee, I love these clips. Learn more in ten minutes ,than ten years of 'book learn'in'. Jr. Is cool as.👍

[@thetreblerebel]

Don Rich is one of my all time favorites. Sad end but a wonderful legacy the dude is a Telecaster king

[@Mike-rp8ev]

Love Jr brown 💙🎸

[@srhintz]

Saw JB at The Grenada in Dallas. Great show. If you get a chance don't pass! Wish I had got him to sign a shirt but the line was long.

[@darrtetzy]

I love Junior. He's the personification of country music circa 1968, and that's no bad thing.

[@nancychace8619]

Wow!

[@XLBiker13]

I've seen Junior Brown a few times and he's always incredible - a great performer and an exceptional musician.

[@gearmeister]

Jr. is definitely a master, I totally enjoyed seeing him live and was the loudest endorser of his show!

[@AgentJayZ]

@@gearmeister Saw him in Austin. He is the master of the telecaster... well, the top half of his git-steel... and the bottom too. Incredible player. And he's a real nice guy. Meets with all the fans after the show. He's a rock star, but doesn't act like one.

[@dommirra5429]

My man juinor!!! One of thee absolute best guitarists around!! Fantastic!! Love Junior Brown see him in concert for a real jaw dropping experience & his wife Tanya is also awesomely talented!! I love the Brown's!!!!!! Rock on!!!!!!! Please come back to Pennsylvania soon!!!!!!!

[@cliffdykes1171]

That was great !!! Loved that song at the end

[@davidsmith-hb1jx]

The guitars are a given, but I the only one that wants Junior's suit? Haha. I love watching Junior doing interviews. A true country gentleman

[@cmacdhon]

SpongeBob brought me here. That's right: Junior (briefly) lends his voice to a SpongeBob episode.

[@2028end]

LoL

[@TheRockin1953]

I thought I saw every SpungeBob but I don’t remember Junior Brown doing a voiceover in any of them and I would love to seeit

[@3DThrills]

Love those huge Strombergs.

[@johnadams8975]

Loves me some Junior!

[@buffalopatriot]

Watching 'Hee Haw' every week I couldn't wait for Buck Owens to say those famous words, "Now here's Don...". Don would launch into his solo - sometimes only 2 bars, but boy did it ever swing. Don, this New York City boy really misses you.

[@kevdean9967]

You can find a whole bunch of episodes of the Buck Owens show on KZbin. Fantastic stuff!!

[@artheriford]

I think Marty Stuart owned Don's Tele at one time. I saw that on a TV show once. I wish I could find it. Junior is the shit!

[@oklahoman8222]

Soooooooooooo envious of you for playin' Don's guitar. Me: drinkin' Schlitz beer and playing my tele on a deluxe-silver face- reverb....Buck, Waylon and Johnny Paycheck

[@oklahoman8222]

"playin' on"....Don's guitar. Just a little to much Jim beam Distillers Cut. Gotta pull the Broadcaster down and play Only Daddy that'll Walk the Line

[@lapidarydave]

I got to play junior browns exellente epiphone guitar yesterday in a Santa Fe music store :) what a blast!

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Junior is a National Treasue🇺🇸 one of few that can make a Tele sound like a Lap/Pedal steel. Humble likable guy too!!!! Great Vid

[@Vinylsearch]

The man knows his guitars and his way around the fretboard.

[@Steely_Fran]

I'll never forget the first time I saw Junior Brown. Before that day, I had never heard of him. My introduction to his music was when he walked out on stage at Tipitina's, and fired up his guilt-steel. I was absolutely floored. Not only by the almost 2 non-stop hours of guilt-steel wizardry I witnessed. But also by the fact that there was this genuine, country/Americana artist/guitar virtuoso, who wasn't (and still isn't), a household name.

[@bretthamilton7308]

I saw him at the House of blues in NOLA. He tore it up, man. I can't believe I missed the show at Tips.

[@Steely_Fran]

@@bretthamilton7308Do you remember what year it was?

[@bretthamilton7308]

@@Steely_Fran I don't man. Late 90s I believe. My buddy's dad said when we walked out, "Man I feel I've been on roller coaster for 2 hours." Perfect description.

[@Methodius93]

And his wife who plays with him is great too & beautiful.

[@wickedhenderson4497]

My wife thinks you’re deaaaaaad!!!

[@gearmeister]

Venom wearing denim... 😁

[@packingten]

I got star on my car and one on my chest.

[@gearmeister]

@@packingten A gun 🔫 on my hip and the right to arrest.. 😁

[@lancesurgeon7614]

Greatest country song ever written!!!!

[@gregcashman479]

Great seeing you Junior! Looking forward to you coming back to Wisconsin!

[@noname-jr1vo]

I play heavy metal and hardcore. That trick Junior does where he hammer on and pull offs all the way down and then comes back and drags his pick all the way down again palm muted and tapping on the pickgaurd and or pickups. And a few other little tricky tricks. Yeah I straight ripped those off from Junior Brown. So thank you sir. None of the other knuckleheads that play metal and hardcore can figure out where I get that soloing style from.

[@Suite2100]

Junior is a great player I could watch him play the collection for hours

[@mikelord9860]

This is the first time I can recall Junior playing a regular guitar - always wondered if he played anything other than his guitsteel in concert. I think he played a resophonic on Mixed Bag.

[@richardcarew4708]

I have had several arch tops... that's the best I have heard... loud... beyond the amplifier... how'd they do that ?... beautiful guitar

[@richardcarew4708]

got any relatives in Oklahoma, Mr Brown?... my mom was from right across the border from Wichita...last name Brown.. and.. you know those sooners... sooner be in Texas, right?

[@macinfloydvolk]

As a man, I’m an envious of his deep voice. Love this dude been a fan for a looong time

[@williamrobinson7061]

I saw Junior Brown at the Continental Club in Austin, and he knocked me out! He is truly a genius. I read that Slash saw him in LA, and had the same effect on him!

[@williamrobinson7061]

I don't care for Slash particularly; this was more intended to demonstrate Junior Brown's effect on all guitarists, regardkless.

[@Mmoose74]

@Harry Browneigh over rated, extremely successful, and rich! I'm sure he's good with the title over rated.

[@Mission2Transition641]

Twang!! baby! Glad this popped up on my screen this morning. Made my day!! Im a huge Buck/Don fan. Always loved that sparkle champagne TELECASTER. Drooled over it on all the videos. Always wondered where it ended up. ,,,,and hear it IS!. played by another favorite of mine Junior Brown. Nice solo he throws in there.

[@michaelnachoescamilla6241]

Love it! Wow, what shop is that??! Nevermind, just read up.. Wow

[@swingset1969]

Oh man, that flaked gold tele.....

[@jeffdunlap2754]

The master

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

Like Rembrandt using Picasso's brushes, or.... Chris Kyle holding Audie Murphy's Thompson M-1.

[@jacobdehollander6465]

The band I was playing with at the time got the pleasure of opening for Junior Brown at the State Theater in Kalamazoo. Two of the guys in my band had known Junior years before he went out on his own. He’s such a humble guy and a great personality. It was so great to meet and talk with. He’s really a cool guy.

[@captainzeb1969]

Not a show off but a showman. Love his voice and playing.

[@barneygoodwin5260]

Junior is human after all...what a sweet guy

[@mr.wizard2974]

That guitar sounds terrible...not the musician..the guitar sucks

[@BillM1960]

This guy can play anything he wants to. Amazing talent.

[@MrSmasher05]

You guys should totally bring C.W Stoneking on the show

[@ericjam6346]

I love the story about the Sears Silvertone.

[@pamelapettit-holt1520]

He speaks of a silver tone. I have an old old one maybe from 1952 , guess what! Best guitar I've ever had. My wife paid15 bucks for it at the swap meet. I call it a Roy rogers guitar. I wouldn't take 1000 bucks for it.

[@davyjones2994]

Pamela Pettit-holt I got my silver tone out of an old house fire, it was completely black when I got it, cleaned it up to a pretty semi melted sunburst Only $17 in change

[@jessea1218]

I love how he’s just hitting the shit out of that.

[@randydogs61]

Jr Brown and Tanya Rae, there is no substitute and never will be, and now I have to drive to Brady to see the Guitar!!!

[@TexanFlag]

This guy is top 50 of all time, he's criminally underated and that's sad.

[@ashort8106]

I got you open for him one time.. he's one of the best....

[@mrfester42]

Well, those big old jazz guitars obviously aren't Juniors cup a tea... and you can hear it. He's havin' a bit of a hard time connecting with that big old thing BUT give that man his electric & steel guitar combo (which, BTW he invented) and he's off like a rocket and taking his whole dang audience with him and they always love the ride. Junior is one very unique American entertainer. There's really no one out there like him. He's one of a kind.

[@VidarLund-k5q]

Hybrid picking. Holding the pick between his thumb and first finger, while picking the melody with his third and fourth fingers. Great picker.

[@charlestimmons604]

I have to wonder about how well these guitars play and sound after sitting untouched for a while. I've got 7 or 8 guitars I've picked up for dirt cheap and spent some time setting up. They always sound stiff and dead even with new strings after sitting unloved and unplayed for long periods, but after a while of playing them they seem to loosen up and sing a little brighter.