Don Walser with the Lariat Cowboys
Don Walser: vocal, rhythm guitar
Zoomer Roberts: lead guitar
Tony Quero: bass
Mark Kays: drums
Recorded 13 July 1980
Before he became known as the Pavarotti of the Plains, Don Walser was stationed in El Paso with the National Guard and played the honky tonks by night. On this particular night, he was filling in for the Lariat Cowboys' vacationing front man, Joe Leaver. Don was a gregarious soul who loved to sing the older country songs -- such as this Eddy Arnold chestnut -- and I was in my element playing behind him. A few years later I turned on my TV and there he was -- singing and yodeling on the Grand Ole Opry. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. There are some anomalies at the beginning of 'Cattle Call' that I can't correct. If a better recording surfaces, I'll upgrade this post.
The brief opening instrumental, "Remington Ride," was written by steel guitarist Herb Remington, who recorded it during his stint with Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys. I decided to play it on the guitar after hearing Don Reno play it on the 5-string banjo. It has some cool chord inversions in it.
To find out more about Don Walser, check out his official website at http://www.donwalser.com/
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El Paso artist Pat Olchefski-Winston (Buddy's wife) did this vibrant water color of Buddy and me in 2001. For more information about Pat and her work, go to: www.olchefski.com and www.artistsofthesouthwest.com
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What it is...
I've been playing music in the El Paso area for nearly fifty years, and I've accumulated hundreds of tapes along the way. Here they are. Most of these performances were captured with inexpensive portable equipment in living rooms, taverns, houses of worship, festival tents and theatres. Some were recorded off the radio, some directly from public address systems. A few were actually recorded in professional recording studios. Some of these hands are folded now, and some of these voices are stilled. This is what I've done, where I've been and who I've known. This is my scrapbook.
Art by Pat Olchefski-Winston
El Paso artist Pat Olchefski-Winston (Buddy's wife) did this vibrant water color of Buddy and me in 2001. For more information about Pat and her work, go to: www.olchefski.com and www.artistsofthesouthwest.com
With Ernest Tubb ~ 1980
Back in 1983 with Mickey Cochran (guitar) and Bobby Napier (fiddle). Bobby went on to bigger things, including a stint with Tammy Wynette.
1980s Bidness Card
