The two sides of Curly Chalker

[Donny Hinson]

One of my favorite steel players has always been Curly Chalker. Most people know him for his knocked-out "jazz styled" C6th playing, which often featured a rather damp and bassy tone. I believe that was his favorite sound, but he also played on some sessions with more of a "standard tone of the day" on C6th, as is featured on these songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKYSKF0iTwU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55ijp-nNYXg


But fewer know "Ol' Curls" for his E9th playing, as featured on these recordings, and they were equally fine:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtyQrDNSVbM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4wLuCsogXw

[Marco Schouten]

Here's another song with Curly Chalker on E9th

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_mSFf7hdNc

[Rick Campbell]

One of my favorite steel players has always been Curly Chalker. Most people know him for his knocked-out "jazz styled" C6th playing, which often featured a rather damp and bassy tone. I believe that was his favorite sound, but he also played on some sessions with more of a "standard tone of the day" on C6th, as is featured on these songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKYSKF0iTwU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55ijp-nNYXg


But fewer know "Ol' Curls" for his E9th playing, as featured on these recordings, and they were equally fine:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtyQrDNSVbM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4wLuCsogXw

That is certainly good stuff. The E9 I mean. Such tasteful licks. They seem to just roll out in the right places. Sometimes, I hear players doing those kind of licks, but it sounds like they're trying to hard to fit them in. I don't really know how to explain it. Kind of like the technique is there, but it's more mechanical in nature.

RC

RC

[Per Berner]

His album "Nashville Sundown" is as good as E9th gets. I especially like "Second Cup of Coffee" and "Alberta Bound".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM_LzY3 ... fwuWnjpwAK

[Tommy Auldridge]

Donny: This is all great stuff. One thing I noticed, He obviously was using an eccoplex on":Out behind the barn" Thanks, Tommy.....

[Andrew Roblin]

Thanks for starting this discussion, Donny!

[Taylor Kropp]

Would love hear more of Curly's E9th stuff... love the Gordon Lightfoot Tribute record

[Darrell Criswell]

Didn't his personality also have two sides. Many relate stories about him being hard to get along with but others say he was quite nice.

[Ron Hogan]

His album "Nashville Sundown" is as good as E9th gets. I especially like "Second Cup of Coffee" and "Alberta Bound".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM_LzY3 ... fwuWnjpwAK

When I first heard that album, I thought it sounded so much like Lloyd Green in his playing

[Roger Crawford]

His personality depended on the circumstances. I met him at the ISGC in St. Louis one year. We talked a bit, and he was quite personable. But when it was his time on stage, he got on a mic and addressed the sound engineer, telling him “don’t mess with my F’n tone”. The entire audience was a little shook.

[Rick Campbell]

I think a lot of entertainers have two sided personalities, some even more. If I could play like you and Curley, I probably wouldn't want anyone messing with my tone either. Maybe be a little more diplomatic about it.

RC

[Dave Mudgett]

Curly's E9 playing was totally sublime. He was a complete player. 'Nuff said.

I think a lot of entertainers have two sided personalities, some even more. If I could play like you and Curley, I probably wouldn't want anyone messing with my tone either. Maybe be a little more diplomatic about it.

RC

I'm not Curly, for sure, LOL. But let's just say, I can relate. Not just for steel, but guitar too. I try to be nice, but sometimes the shortest distance between two points is to be very pointed. Like, "Please don't screw with my tone, thank you very much, bless your heart."