Odell Martin with Faron Young

[gmoseley]

Bruce,,,you are EXACTLY right! I worried him to death showing me the way he played that. I STILL can't get it with "his" exact touch. He had that little "double clutch" feel that NOBODY seems to be able to duplicate, you can play the notes but they don't come out the same,,,,YOU of all people know what I am talking about because YOU have such a nice "Reed touch". O'Dell did that same thing on other tunes in places. Paul himself said, "nobody has O'Dell's hands"
I would give anything to have recordings of him and Paul playing together - - those two would knock 'ya dead - - you would think one had surpassed the other and then on the next "pass" you'd change your mind. . . . O'Dell was coming to "sit in" with our little country band, playing at the Moose Lodge In Hopkinsville, KY on a Saturday night (as he and Paul did from time to time when they weren't on the road) and he never showed up - - THAT was the night he died in that accident. I got the news about 7AM Sunday morning when Paul called.

Gayle

[gmoseley]

David, I remember that guitar very well. It was the most beautiful CG I have ever seen also. I have no idea what he ever did with it. Like all the rest of us, he probably traded it off for something he wanted more at the time. When he was killed he was playing a Telecaster,,,,an old Telecaster he gotten from Mose Rager; Mose had signed with a ball-point pen, on the back. O'Dell took an electric drill and went over Mose's signature very carefully so it would be embedded FOREVER into that guitar - he loved Mose very much. O'Dell could make that Tele sound a lot like a Gretsch (just his touch) on the "thumb stuff" but then he could turn around and get all the hot licks he wanted to play on the modern country tunes of that day.

I have O'Dell's 1966 Ramirez flamenco guitar that he bought at the Ramirez shop in Spain when he and Paul were there with Kitty Wells. It has the wooden pegs and is a beautiful instrument, great projection and tone, the finish is like a mirror, you could shave looking into it. He had a real D'Angelico (John D) but I don't know what ever happened to it either! Like you, I would love to have had that CG. I wish Gretsch would make that finish again!

Gayle

[keener]

Gayle,
I would have pestered him to death on that one too. I try not to envy anyone as I "mature," but I sure come close to envying the time you had with Paul and Odell. I'm sure glad for you that you have those precious memories.
Take care,
Bruce

[gmoseley]

Bruce, I only hope that I've not bored everyone to death with my "old" stories but as Micah or Marie can tell you, I WAS there on so many of those great times because I was very close to both Paul and O'Dell. Many wonderful days were spent with these guys,,,,Paul at my home or me at his, listening to him play for hours on end, never repeating himself. What the majority of the Chetboard guys have heard is just the "tip of the iceberg", even on Paul's CDs.

There is no comparing Paul to O'Dell because they were so different. O'Dell was the "wildman" sort of like Jerry was, figuring out 'his' licks was like trying to eat soup with a fork! Paul the consummate musician, it all had to "fit" properly or it didn't suit Paul. So they made a great team.

But through it all, only ONE THING mattered to both Paul and O'Dell. That one thing was that Chet Atkins was the greatest all-around guitar player of the 20th century - - you came away with that knowledge when you listened to either of them play or either of them talk. . . neither of them were self-promoters! They gave Chet 100% credit for any abilities they had....END OF STORY

Paul Yandell was probably the only man on the planet who could have backed Chet properly, with the tact and grace and reserve that the job required, and apparently Chet, being a genius himself, realized that. NOBODY could "put it in the pocket" like Paul, not even O'Dell, in all his greatness! Quite a legacy these two guitar icons left us, I am so fortunate to have been close to them both. I count their frinedship as wonderful blessings in my life.

Gayle

[keener]

You should write a book, Gayle. I'd sure read it!

You words about Paul are so spot-on, I don't think anybody could describe his legacy better. When I was in my early and late teens, and even into my 20's, if I'd play something like Chet, Dad would get onto me for copycatting (even though he loved it). But when he and mom would sing a Louvin Brothers gospel tune, Dad wanted me to play the breaks EXACTLY like Paul, note for note. Even in those days, Paul was unique in his ability to come up with just the right licks, the right sound, the right everything, and it was like it just flowed from him. You are right that nobody could have complimented Chet like Paul did. It was like they were made for each other.

Blessings to you,
Bruce

[John Trahan]

Gayle,

Far from boring! Your posts are the heart of what this ChetBoard is all about! Thanks so much for sharing these great memories with us. You're a blessed man to have been able to be an ear-witness to two of the greatest guitarists (and gentlemen) ever. Sure wish you could "play back" some of those tunes for us to hear, too.

[Norm]

Gayle, if you ever decide to give a book a go...

[rhudson]

Gayle, you have been blessed. Odell was a hoss on guitar, there's no doubt about that. And, I agree with you about his Rhythm Guitar. He played the heck out of that. My limited time with Paul was priceless and I always learned from him. He always called Odell his best friend growing up. Paul's gentle nature and his amazing guitar playing is something I have yet encountered anywhere else. Anyone that knew Paul Yandell knew greatness.

[gmoseley]

Fellows,,,I appreciate all your posts and your kind comments. I'm afraid any book I could write would end up selling like those pancakes at the restaurant - - .50 cents a stack! I think sometimes I live too far in the past but when people start talking about O'Dell or Paul, I get started and can't stop. Personally, I feel that they left us so much to be thankful for in the area of fingerstyle playing and I am one of the few, still alive, who knew BOTH of them so well that I like to share those past experiences by giving a little insight into the bond that they had for each other. That bond being fostered out of their great love for Chet, in whose honor this forum exists.

O'Dell was a close friend, Paul Yandell was like a brother and a mentor, all in one! I shall never forget either of them, they both meant so much to me and I miss them both very much.

I appreciate the opportunity this board provides for us to communicate and share our thoughts and experiences. In today's every changing world I hope we will never forget those who laid the foundation in "our style" of musical expression. To move forward is a good thing, but in doing so we should remember those who made it possible and inspired the new talent to step forward.

Thanks,
Gayle Moseley

[bill_h]

Thanks Gayle for all the words about Odell. As far as I'm concerned enough about Odell can never be said! I enjoyed reading every word about Odell and Paul.

I actually got to meet Paul a couple of times although I doubt he could have picked me out of a police line up. I'll never forget the first time I saw Paul play. That was in Muhlenberg County at a jam session after the Thumbpicker's Hall Of Fame meeting. I didn't know a soul up there except Eddie Pennington. There was a group of guitar players onstage and one of them was somewhat the center of attention. I had heard of Paul but had no idea what he looked like. Don't ask me how I knew but somehow I knew it had to Paul Yandell who was somewhat the center of attention and sure enough it was. What an honor to have met him in person and what an honor and privilege it was to have had him post here on this board. No one else could have done the job that Paul did of helping Chet be Chet.

Unfortunately I never got to meet Odell but know a couple of people who knew him. The way they rave about his playing says it all! I remember when I discovered the audio clips of Odell that David Elliot posted. I hadn't felt that way since discovering Chet and Merle.

Thanks again Gayle for all the words about Odell and Paul. Thanks Phil for starting this thread!

Now here's Odell playing his original tune "David's Dance." I think this is one of the greatest tunes ever written.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS6_lR_i4bc