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Most of you probably know him. Especially you guitar players. He's that mysterious incredible mind blowing killer lead guitarist who shows up once in a while somewhere and then disappears. Maybe it's at a jam session. Maybe it's briefly as a second guitarist in a band. You wonder why this guy isn't in a top band in your city, if not world famous. You would give anything to play half as good as him. None of your musical contacts seem to know where he is. Then he reappears, briefly, only to disappear. He's a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Yep, there's one in every town....

Yup

Been there before. Once a friend of mine who was a bass player brought a guitar picker into a club where I was playing and asked if he could sit in. I said sure, I would be happy to take a break. His name was Odell Martin, the lead guitar for Kitty Wells. Kitty always wanted everyone to know that she was the star, and she didn't let Odell pick anything but those cheese ball guitar licks. He had to keep a low profile.

When Odell started picking all I could see were fingers all over the place. He was like a caged dog let loose for the first time. He was everywhere. I guess he had to get it out of his system after playing for Kitty. I never heard so much music coming from one guitar in a local bar before or since.

When he was through he called me back up and handed me the guitar. All I could think was what the hell am I supposed to to with that? I never felt so inept in my whole life. Needless to say, I finished the night feeling that every note I played was grossly inadequate.

Years later I went to the Chet Atkins guitar site. There were pictures of all of Chets picking buddies posted on that site. Yup. There was Odell Martin right in the middle of several of them. For those that are unaware, Chet Atkins was a monster finger picker, and evidently the guys Chet hung out with were too. Most of them were legends in their own right, like Tommy Emmanuel, Jerry Reed, Odell Martin, and tons of other studio pickers.

Anyway, that was one picker who lived up to your description.

Thanks Bob, Yep in my town Im that guy!


I sat in with some guys a few weeks ago and they have been calling me! LOL, we need you man, Im sorry Im kinda taken at the moment!

My drummer, singer and I have been playing so long in our area that we have a sort of mystique to us these days, cause none of us gets out and plays as much as maybe we should, but I just have to have something to bite into. Sadly most of the guys I show up and jam with dont interest me enough to show up much, I am getting a couple fo calls for some album projects that might be interesting if they will let me go wild.

We are not in it for the fame or glory but for the free beer and chicks.

with an attitude like that Mike9699
you will go far, a man has to have his priorities

Slacker G wrote:Yup

Been there before. Once a friend of mine who was a bass player brought a guitar picker into a club where I was playing and asked if he could sit in. I said sure, I would be happy to take a break. His name was Odell Martin, the lead guitar for Kitty Wells. Kitty always wanted everyone to know that she was the star, and she didn't let Odell pick anything but those cheese ball guitar licks. He had to keep a low profile.

When Odell started picking all I could see were fingers all over the place. He was like a caged dog let loose for the first time. He was everywhere. I guess he had to get it out of his system after playing for Kitty. I never heard so much music coming from one guitar in a local bar before or since.

When he was through he called me back up and handed me the guitar. All I could think was what the hell am I supposed to to with that? I never felt so inept in my whole life. Needless to say, I finished the night feeling that every note I played was grossly inadequate.

Years later I went to the Chet Atkins guitar site. There were pictures of all of Chets picking buddies posted on that site. Yup. There was Odell Martin right in the middle of several of them. For those that are unaware, Chet Atkins was a monster finger picker, and evidently the guys Chet hung out with were too. Most of them were legends in their own right, like Tommy Emmanuel, Jerry Reed, Odell Martin, and tons of other studio pickers.

Anyway, that was one picker who lived up to your description.

I know that feeling. What I always try to remember is that there is always going to be someone who humbles you musically, but you are always better than somebody else too. There is someone out there that wishes they had your chops. Then again when it happens at your gig with your guitar... well that's not so easy to shake off

Sad thing is the guy in KC I'm referring to has a CD he made that's mind boggling and he won't put it on any website. He came over and jammed with us and gave me a copy of his CD and I about crapped in my pants. I wanted to post it on here for you to listen to but he wouldn't let me do it. Every once in a while I hear from him but he never plays with anybody. Unbelievable frustration knowing somebody like that exists.

fisherman bob wrote:Most of you probably know him. Especially you guitar players. He's that mysterious incredible mind blowing killer lead guitarist who shows up once in a while somewhere and then disappears. Maybe it's at a jam session. Maybe it's briefly as a second guitarist in a band. You wonder why this guy isn't in a top band in your city, if not world famous. You would give anything to play half as good as him. None of your musical contacts seem to know where he is. Then he reappears, briefly, only to disappear. He's a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Yep, there's one in every town....

Knew a kid like that in high school... Trouble with guys like that is that some of them can become prima-donnas... I'm guessing the last thing any band really needs is a zepplin effigy floating on the guitarist's neck...
And for what that kind of guy is worth, He's a good player to be sure... But there's a reason why he aint 'world famous' , like we think he ought to be. That reason is: There is somebody out there that was/is better than him...

Well the truth is its not about chops being rich and famous playing music, its all about moving thru it with a professional manner and being in the right place at the right time.

If a guy doesnt want to promote himself and doesnt want to get out of the basement then thats his business.

Maybe he doesnt want to committ to it, maybe like most of us life got in the way and you have to make a living, some folks just play out or record cause there is something in them that drives them.

When I was younger my main issue was I was like Mikey it was all about the party the titties and beer, not really about the music at all, music in some ways was an afterthought.

I think if I knew then what I know now and had applyed myself toward it in a business like manner, like i have toward business, then I would be a working professional musician, not saying I would be a globe trotting rock star, but I would be out there making my presence known. As it is, Im happy just being a cover hack, who does write and record his own stuff here and there just to get it out of my system.

Well, it sounded good JW. The truth is I don't drink (much) and I've had the same girlfriend for a couple of years. It's all about being on stage and playing for me. I've been playing steadily since I was 16 in one band or another and also doing my one man shows that I still do sometimes. My new band has been super busy gigging and recording this year. We just got back from doing some shows in Canada and we are hitting the road again in a couple of weeks for a mini tour of the western states. I'll probably never be famous but as long as I'm on stage playing I'm happy.

Mike thats cool, good luck on your tour, you have some great chops and should do well if you take care of the business side of things.

I wish I had had a steady girlfriend and didnt drink when I was your age, LOL!

yeah, they're probably the extra gifted type, just too busy with other stuff in life to give music a full go..
there's probably more of em that folks realize
I know even way up here in Maine, we're loaded with talent, yet most folks
know ya don't make a livin in Maine w/music