remembering jimmy day

Obituaries and remembrances
of steel guitarists, their friends and families

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bruce fischer
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Joined: 2 Feb 1999 1:01 am
Location: florissant, mo. 63031 USA

remembering jimmy day

Post by bruce fischer »

remembering my friend jimmy on his birthday.
1-9-1934 to 1-22-1999.
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Archie Nicol R.I.P.
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Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Post by Archie Nicol R.I.P. »

An inspiration to us all.

Arch.
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Craig A Davidson
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Location: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA

Post by Craig A Davidson »

To me Jimmy played with more soul than any other player I ever heard. There have been many greats but Jimmy is right at the top.
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Jerry Overstreet
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Location: Louisville Ky

Post by Jerry Overstreet »

Jimmy Day's All Those Years was probably the first instrumental steel album I bought. I got to see him first time in 1979 at the convention in St. Louis.

The masses loved him and would give him standing o's after every set that year and all subsequent years after 'til he passed. I can see him now standing up, gesturing his heartfelt gratitude to the audiences and loving them right back. No telling the number of musicians and would be steel players he influenced over the years.

He was a master at playing simple sounding melody lines with heart and soul, but he could play some nice blues stuff too. I miss getting to see him perform and hearing his latest efforts. I can only imagine how great a loss is still felt by his closest friends and family. RIP JD.
Paul King
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Location: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Post by Paul King »

The first time I saw Jimmy Day was at the ISGC in 1981. He did play with soul and had some very unusual moves he made which was great. I have seen him play several times down through the years but his sense of humor was top notch.
Larry Self
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Location: Spring City, Tn. Bledsoe * R.I.P.

Post by Larry Self »

One of a kind. Jimmy was a great person, and a good friend.didn't pick bad either. Loved him,& still miss him badly. remembering you. R.I.P. Jimmy Day. Larry Self
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Herb Steiner
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Post by Herb Steiner »

Jimmy had one of the best funerals ever, and I know he was spiritually there and loving it. The funeral home was packed to the rafters, overflowing into the hallway, must have been over 400 people. Rev. Dave Rich, with whom Jimmy recorded in the 1950's, preached a beautiful sermon directed with love, redemption, and consolation to all the musicians he knew were in the congregation. And the procession to the gravesite, with busses and dozens and dozens of cars, caused a massive traffic jam on Congress Avenue in Austin.

JD would have wanted it that way, I'm totally positive of that! ;)

That year, 1999, was a rough one. Besides Jimmy, we lost Bobby Garrett, Joaquin Murphey, Pedro DePaul, Ron Lashley Sr., and Lord knows who all else.

Please Lord, let's not have too many of those for awhile.
Evelyn Whitney
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Post by Evelyn Whitney »

We loved him and we miss him, always.
L T Zinn and Evelyn Whitney
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Lefty Schrage
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Location: West Union, Iowa, USA

Post by Lefty Schrage »

Jimmy was such an inspiration to many of us. I'll never forget the first time I heard Jimmy in person was at the 1981 ISGC in the Chase-Park Plaza. As usual, the showroom was packed with a couple thousand people, many of them chatting and having lively conversations. As Jimmy began his set, he played very softly and it was amazing to experience the hush that gradually came over the entire auditorium. It became almost a religious experience allowing us to feel Jimmy's emotions and dynamics as he played his heart out. ...lefty
Paul King
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Post by Paul King »

I have to agree with Lefty. My first time to the ISGC was in 1981 and the first time I saw Jimmy Day. Louie Hallford took me along since I was just 21 years young. I remember Louie telling me Jimmy had the most amazing style while we were listening to Jimmy play. Great steel player and a fantastic personality as well.
Adam Goodale
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Post by Adam Goodale »

My Granddad play with Jimmy often in the early and mid 90's when he was playing for Don Walser in Austin. my parents have a video of me sitting on jimmy's lap as a 3 year old (1992) while he played mary had a little lamb on steel. talk about a showman! he was one of the greatest players to ever touch the instrument imho... and a great person to boot.
Emmons P/P's into the loudest amp I can get ahold of. No effects other than reverb. EVER!. Come catch a show and be sure and say hi!
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Chris LeDrew
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Post by Chris LeDrew »

Perhaps the saddest thing for me as a steel player is not having witnessed the greatness of Jimmy Day in person. Thanks goodness for the fabulous recordings and stories.
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com
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Stan Paxton
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Location: 1/2 & 1/2 Florida and Tenn, USA (old Missouri boy gone South)

Post by Stan Paxton »

Chris, I know the feeling; there were so many I never got to see in person. ...I was blessed to have seen Jimmy in the local steel Jams here in Florida; and up close & personal when he would come into the local Music Store in DeBary, Fl, set up his stuff and sit & play by the hour just what he wanted how he wanted. Didn't matter whether anybody came in or not, just in his own world. We sure miss him. :(
Mullen Lacquer SD 10, 3 & 5; Mullen Mica S 10 1/2 pad, 3 & 5; BJS Bars; LTD400, Nashville 112, DD-3, RV-3, Hilton VP . -- Gold Tone PBS sq neck; Wechter Scheerhorn sq neck. -- "Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone." -anon.-
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Bill Ferguson
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Post by Bill Ferguson »

I just posted a video under "Steel On The Web" of Jimmy in 1997.

Take a look.

Bill
AUTHORIZED PEAVEY, George L's, Goodrich dealer. I have 2 steels and several amps. My current rig of choice is 1993 Emmons LeGrande w/ 108 pups (Jack Strayhorn built for me), Goodrich OMNI Volume Pedal, George L's cables and Peavey Nashville-Session 112 or 115.
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bruce fischer
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Post by bruce fischer »

thanx so much bill & scotty!
LJ Eiffert
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Post by LJ Eiffert »

I remember with Jack Lox,Jim Bob,Bobby Boydd & myself picking with Jimmy Day at The California Country Club in Ontario,California. Thanks Jimmy RIP. Brutal Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.
Buddy Jennison
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Location: Tennessee, USA

Remembering Jimmy Day.

Post by Buddy Jennison »

I first met Jimmy,of all places, at Tootsies, I strolled in there around 2 P.M., one week day, back in the very early 60's. He was alone, at the far back end of the bar. Only person, in there. I sat at the front stool. After about 4-5 minutes of conversation, he said i'll meat you, halfway, so we moved to the middle seats, more conversation. And it stayed that way, over fifty years!! He was the original "ONE OF A KIND" Better than a brother, all that time. "Little" Buddy.
"Little" Buddy
Bobby D. Jones
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Location: West Virginia, USA

Post by Bobby D. Jones »

I never got to hear Jimmy in person. I have a CD that came from Germany.GREAT. Sorry I never got to meet him.
Wayne Franco
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Location: silverdale, WA. USA

I was very lucky to get to hear Jimmy Day

Post by Wayne Franco »

It was at least half a dozen times at the shows. I remember looking down out of my window in St Louis and seeing Jimmy walking across the parking lot. It would be very hard not to recognize Jimmy!. As said above in several posts. When he played the whole band would quite down and it became almost an out of body experience. Sometimes I wonder why more steelers don't instruct their backup to do that so there is much more head room to use to your advantage. Next time I play a ballad I think I'll remember to ask them to do just that.

Wayne Franco
Buddy Jennison
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Joined: 14 Jul 2008 1:09 pm
Location: Tennessee, USA

Jimmy Day

Post by Buddy Jennison »

I keep a picture that I took of Jimmy, in his casket, at his funeral,in my pickin room. He is the official caretaker and BOSS!!!! We have a short conversation, now and then I think he introduced Bruce and I,, one time. somewhere.NO other cord picker, has EVER, EVEN come close to the PRETTY, softer than silk,cords, that he put down,I've seen ladies cry {and a few hardtails, to.Those 3-5, twenty-four days were a double gas. The Big "E" was in on many,many, as well as dear 'ol Speckle BirdsYUM YUM. Where's Dr. Snap when you need him? See 'ya Bruce. "Little" Buddy.
"Little" Buddy