I was the editor at Guitar Player magazine who was given his tape to listen to among the nearly 900 entries from all over the world submitted for the contest. He was one of a tiny handful of acoustic players who entered. Most of the entries were carefully recorded and mixed but it was clear that he had used a portable cassette recorder in his living room to record. We weren't looking for the best recorded and mixed player. We were looking for talent, and his brilliance immediately stood out. He didn't win a gold record, though. His prize was to be featured on a vinyl soundpage inserted in the magazine that could be torn out and played on a turntable. Among the people who heard that soundpage was Chet Atkins, a member of the Guitar Player Advisory Board. That exposure led to a record deal and a performing career.
I met him at a guitar festival, bought him beers at the hotel bar, we talked, GREAT GREAT MAN! fantastic player... a few months later he passed.... I AM PRIVILEGED to have had some beers with this GREAT MAN! RIP, my friend!
It all makes sense now listening to buster when he plays fast. he does sound like a record playing to fast. unbelievable. its amazing how a being uneducated at first completely transformed a sound into his own then, later in life learning how his mistakes shaped his sound brought it around full circle, absolutely an incredible guitar player. And i must say i wish someone would have introduced me to buster b when i was a child. sometimes you search a lifetime for musicians and one day the show-themselves. and then the hours of jaw dropping listening begins. thanks to the guitar workshop i will never look at the guitar the same. thanks to stefan and all the people who make this happen.
I worked at a guitar shop in southern Ohio in that late 90's early 2000's. The store sold Godin guitars which Buster was playing at the time and was sent down for a workshop in hopes to help promote the guitar brand. We met with Buster at a small venue in town. My friend and I were asked to accompany him to kind of make it an open jam atmosphere. I was a flat picker and only knew fiddle tunes mostly at the time. Buster asked who one of my influences were, I said Tony Rice and he started playing a finger style version of Tony's "Manzanita" I sat back in awe and enjoyed listening. This guy was a great guitarist and had a lot of funny one liners.
WOW!! What a talent! Yes, Merle, Chet and our Alabama Wild Man Jerry were/are among the finest "pickers" our Great US have seen and we miss them too much. Your style Buster is indeed a collage of these great pickers and you do them justice partner. Thank you and RU-vid for sharing this video. It's wonderful and a pure joy to listen to.
I loved this guy, he did a clinic at a music store I used to manage the guitar department at, most down to earth guy you could ask for, no ego at all, we partied at a bar after the clinic until the wee hours of the morning, you left us too soon Buster, I miss you.
I met Buster at a Godin Guitar Clinic at Zzounds music when they had a store front in Chicago in the Mid 90's. He just blew everyone one away while they were standing stunned! RIP Buster.
RIP Buster B Jones. Used to sit with Buster in his "office" at CAAS and just listen and love it. For those not in the know the "office" was the lobby bar at the Sheraton Music City, Nashville.
Such musicality.These are some of the most beautiful tunes I've heard on the guitar.Why do such gifted people have to leave this world do early? Wish he was alive for a few more years.
I remember that issue of Guitar Player, I was so blown away by Busters playing, I would play it over and over again, And dream about being able to play that well, He also did a fantastic version of Salty Dog Blues, That was my introduction to fingerstyle Guitar, Thank you, Buster!
Glad to hear the story behind Buster's picking speed. When I first watched his videos (and I've watched a lot of them!), I kept thinking "What's the rush, Jerry? Slow down so we can hear the beauty." Now I know.
Still have that Guitar Player magazine copy from '88.I just couldn't believe how great that guy was,he had a tremendous technique,and he sounded incredible.
50.000.000 guitar players.And ONE level that almost every one of those 50.000,000 guitar players struggle to rise to.Buster DID it. NOBODY has ever done it any better. Who's the Best? THEY are the BEST ! The few who rise to this level.
Thank you Mr. Jones. You were a true artist. You will be glad to know that Tommy Emmanuel is having a tribute to you this June 2013 (Roanoke, VA). When I get to heaven I would love to hear you and Chet for a while.
You're welcome! ... For me it is a pleasure to speak with outsiders about this great man because in Spain still not heard too much, I'm now learning their songs to touch ... since I discovered it gone through the roof to be my favorite guitarist certainly ... 'm responding so late but still not mastered this too and also sorry for my English, I'm using google translator. Greetings!
Luckily though he left a huge legacy... Some of which is available in what I find flat out the best lessons for this style. Be sure to google his instructional dvd's; Fingerstyle Guitar from the Ground Up, Hot Licks, Rythms and Grooves among many. He's one of the best teachers I've ever seen.
The opening tune is 'Guitarville'. The medley at 14:40 is 'Prelude/Funky Fingers'(guitar tuned to CGCGCE). Tune at 7:50 is 'a walk in the park' written for Chet Atkins. The first and last tunes are tabbed and around if you search hard enough-and they are both in dropped D tuning. Perhaps the sound is 'plastic' because the strings are made from nylon? I suspect Brad would've sounded good on a Goodwill special.......sounds(very) good to me!
+maxwellc13 you're obviously a mega fan, an so potentially my last hope... but do you happen to have an mp3 of Guitarville (from Ballads and Barnburners) - I can't find the album anywhere! :'(
I wish I did ! I suggest converting a performance from you tube to MP3 just like all the other stuff you should be able to simply buy-for educational purposes,of course ! If you have the book 'Ballads and barnburners',hang on to it;the last I saw it was fetching $400 +on Amazon.If you have the book the CD should be there. I got a loan from my local library-one copy had a disc,the other had been 'liberated'.
Yes! I have seen him play live here in Madrid two months ago, he also took along time and I love his music, thank you very much for the recommendation but my favorites are Buster B Jones, Thom Bresh and Brooks Robertson ... sorry for delay in my response and also for my English, I'm using the google translator, sorry Happy New Year to all!
Great DVD. Includes the last lessons from Buster's "The Legacy" DVD ("Sandy", "My Darling Living End" and "B And Me". What I miss are tabs. There are no tabs coming with the three lessons on the DVD.
That last tune was a fave of Bob Brozman's the guy who played National resonator guitars, and I remember Benny Hill play this tune also when I was a kid.
It's amazing isn't it? Some of the best musicians ever were not or are not superstars. I think they're more interested in the artistry & music than being famous. Just my opinion. I miss him. He's one of the nicest guys you could have ever met. I bought my Godin from Buster off his stage & made him sell it to me! But, he refused to sign Chet Atkins' name on it. Go figure! :) What an incredible loss when he passed.
They were friends...I was pulling Buster's chain. It was a joke. He was startled at first, but then broke out laughing. Asked him to do it just to get a rise out of him. He was a complete & total gentleman.
I was fortunate a few years ago to hear Buster, Bobby Gibson, Nokey Edwards and Brooks Robertson play in a little tavern in Juction City, OR. Quite an evening. Too bad he's dead.
Anyone knows the name of the beautiful song at 7:50 (not in the description)? I try to learn it ,but it's difficult with just this video for teacher! RIP Buster.
life is more about this and less about people. yes the world was created so that man could finger style guitar in such a fashion, so says the prophet BuSTa JOnes!
