The story of a guitarist
RelationshipI’m writing this so people know what it’s like to be a professional gamer. I started playing very young. When I was 20 years old, I played with musicians who were professionals. People like Cliff Bruner, Murphy McDowell, Deacon Anderson, Troy Passmore, Billy Carter, and Johnny Holland. There were more professional escorts, but these are the ones I learned from. I was a very good singer and that’s what got me into these guys. Then they taught me more about the playing part. For several years Murphy, Johnny, Bugs Riley, Deacon and I worked together as a band. (very good band). Everyone except Bugs was at least 10 years older than me. Most of these guys have passed away now. Although I can still hear Cliff telling me “learn how to play the melody before you try to jam,” and Murphy saying “okay, go pee and come back, we have a 30 minute break, I’ll show you some more chords,” and Deacon saying learn the scales, all of them,” and Johnny telling me, “Come on time, I’m going to throw a drumstick at you every time you get off.” So you see, they took care of me.
Over the years I have had many experiences that I would like to share with you. Like the time I was invited to be on the show with Jim Reeves, Ernest Tubb, Willie Nelson and Bennie Barnes. I had this new record and I had never been on a stage with spotlights. When they announced me I entered from the side, he gave me the spotlight, I looked at him and that was a big mistake. I couldn’t see anything but a big red spot. I knew he was walking towards the microphone, but I didn’t know how far away he was from me. So I slowed down in the hope that I could get my vision back. But no, it didn’t happen. I touched the microphone and it made a big boom.
They all laughed, they thought he was drunk. So I said to myself, “You better sing well,” and I did, I brought the house down. I went out to Ernest’s bus and we were talking, he told me not to worry about it, everyone has.
That was the first time I met Willie Nelson. I knew him through the years. I already knew Bennie, he was on RCA records and he was from Beaumont. I was living in Port Arthur. I married a girl from Port Arthur when I was 20 years old. She and I have been married for 51 years. Her name was Mary Grace Brown until I changed the last name to Bridges. Grace became a great bass player and a very good songwriter. A friend of ours told us about Jack Rhodes, writer and promoter. So we went to Wood County to see Jack. He wanted to hear me sing, so blood. He said that he had great potential and that he would work with me. He then found out that Grace was a writer and she really liked us. Jack wrote: Satisfied mind, silver threads and golden needles, waltz of angels, woman’s love, beautiful lies and a lot more. Well, we worked on new material for months and then a guy from Nashville came and wanted me to sign a contract with Capitol Record, a touring contract to travel with Ray Price 273 days a year, and a management contract with him. I was really on fire, so Jack said “we’ll let you know something tomorrow Al”. I didn’t know what was going on. So after Al left, Jack sat me down and talked to me until 4 am telling me why he didn’t want to do that. He said that he would lose my family and my children. Then he would destroy me. He said that after working with me, he learned to love me very much and that he didn’t want that to happen. So he offered me and Grace a studio writing job. He said that way he didn’t have to travel. I didn’t know what to think at the time, but now I’m glad he talked me out of it.
When Jack passed away, I went to work with Bennie Barnes playing guitar and fronting the band. And I had a band for years playing locally and supporting the stars that came along. In these stories that I write about, the dates are not in the order that they occurred. They will mostly be in the order that comes to mind as I write.
One of those stories, Grace and I were playing and George Jones used to come over where we played. He was sitting down and someone wanted him to sing “walk this world with me.” He sang a line, turned to Grace and said, “Do you know the words to this damn song? Grace looked at him and said, “I’ve never heard that song in my entire life.” Of course it was number 1 at the time But George didn’t know what to say after that Grace is smart, quick and honest, don’t ask if you have tender feelings.
Another with George. He was playing with Eddy Stevens and Pearl. George came over and sat with us. He had just released, “blue is the color of blue.” On the back of the record was the Eskimo pie. Two girls came over and wanted George to sing the Eskimo Pie song. He turned to me and said, “I’ve never liked that damn song, I’m not going to sing it. The two girls looked at each other and left. Really, the truth is, George didn’t know.” the words for it.
okay, here’s a fun one. He was playing with Murphy McDowell. He was singing a song, people were dancing. Suddenly, Murphy doubled over with laughter. He could hear Johnny and Bugs laughing too. I thought he had done something wrong. I looked at Murphy, he pointed to the dance floor, I looked over and there were a couple of people dancing, the lady’s pants had fallen down around her feet. Neither of them knew. Everyone around him was laughing and looking, then the man realized what was happening. The lady then grabbed her pants, pulled them up and ran out the back door with the man right behind her. Of course, some wise cracks were made.
Other: Troy Passmore and I were like brothers. Grace and I had known Troy for several years. To talk a little about Troy’s talent. Troy had the fastest picking hand of anyone in the US and probably the world. Anyone who has met him will tell you. He was a musical genius. He was touring with a band when he was 12 years old. When he was 16 years old, he played guitar in the best dance band in the United States. He had played in 50 states and 5 countries.
Troy showed up one day and we had a long visit, he had been playing in and around Austin. He had tried to get a day job there. He was telling Grace and me about applying for this job to trade money for the washer and dryer place in Austin. Troy said he was given a lie detector test and answered everything truthfully. He said they didn’t hire him and he didn’t know why. Grace asked what they had asked her. Troy said, “They asked me my name, then various other things, have you ever smoked weed?” Troy said of this packed room. I almost fell over laughing. Of course, Troy didn’t think it was that funny. Troy passed away in 1979. I am proud to say that he gave his life to Jesus a year before he died.
On another note, we were rooting for Jimmy Newman. He had several number one songs at the time. He was going to sing “a fallen star”. He turned to me and told me to play it naturally. He had never played himself naturally in my life. He made another in if natural, “alligator man”. That was the first time for me and I still remember it. After that, I worked with Jimmy several times. He is a very nice guy. The first time I met Johnny Gimble was when he was recording in Nashville. Pete Drake was the producer and Johnny played on the session. It was actually two weeks before my session. Pete had invited me downstairs to listen to another session. Anyway, they took a break, and Johnny came out, introduced himself, and said, “Heard you’re from Beaumont.”
I told him it was. He then asked me if she had seen Cliff Brunner lately. I told her that it had probably been a year since she had seen Cliff. She told me that Cliff was her idol, she loved to play the violin. Anyway, I left Nashville that night and went back to the Beaumont, Port Arthur area. The next day, Cliff came to see me. I told him what Johnny had said and tried to get him to come back to me. I could see that he really wanted to do it, but he didn’t.
Troy Passmore had been playing in Columbus Georgia and the band had made a tape from the stand. He and Johnny were friends and Troy sent him a copy. Johnny recorded at his house on the other side of the tape and sent it back. Troy came over to the house and asked if he had a tape player, which I did. We played both sides and when Troy was leaving I said, “You forgot your tape. No, you can keep it, I don’t have a player.” After Troy passed away and many years later, I saw Jerry Gimble at a jam session. I told him about the tape, he told Johnny, and Johnny called me and said he sure wanted a copy, so I mailed him one.
Then there was a time when I was helping a friend change the starter on his car. The car was in the garage and there was no light in the garage. So we decided to push the car out. We forgot the hood was up and when it hit the top of the garage door it came crashing down on both of my hands. I lost 6 nails because of that little mistake. So all I did was sing until my fingers healed. We were playing and I was singing, I stepped back from the microphone and someone had nailed a 2 by 4 to the ground to keep their drum from sliding. My drummer was sitting further back. I hung my heel on the 2 for 4 and fell backwards right into my drummer’s lap. No, I wasn’t drinking. Of course everyone laughed!
Playing music is a fun and rewarding way to make a living, but if you’re just a sideman, you don’t make much. As a colleague put it, “I’m making $2.50 a week.” Yes, 52 hamburgers and 50 cents. Well, I was just kidding, of course. But you never got rich playing music. Although you have good memories that will live with you until you die. In addition, music opens many doors for you and always establishes new friendships.
I was telling a friend of mine, I don’t remember the songs we played, but I remember the people and things that happened while we were playing.
Now, at the age of 71, I only play the jam sessions with other players who have retired from playing for the night. I was very lucky to find some ex-professionals in this area.
I grew up on the ranch where I live now. But I left home at the age of 18 and moved back at the age of 45. This is a wonderful place to live and enjoy life. I have a ten acre lake behind our house, with lots of bass and catfish. We raise Beef Cattle. Guitar shows and recordings are something I wanted to do to help people learn to play. I am also helping some players in this area.
My good friend Veral Vance moved out of Dallas and we have to talk on the phone now. We used to get together and play. Veral is a great guitarist. I really miss playing with him. Maybe we can get back together before too long. Well, I have many more stories to tell. “later”