Phil Baugh
Encyclopedia
Phil Baugh was an American
guitarist
. He was known as one of the leading hot country
guitarists whose "playing exuded joy and humor." He was active from the 1960s through the 1980s, performing as a highly sought-after session musician
as well as a recording artist in his own right.
, California
in 1936. Singer and songwriter Vern Stovall discovered him and helped him get a contract on Crest Records in 1962. With promotion from Longhorn Records in Dallas, Texas
their song Country Guitar became a hit. He then recorded an album called Live Wire! as a follow up. However, it wasn't as successful. He continued to work in Southern California
, including joining Ray Price
's band in 1969. In 1975 he moved to Nashville
where he become a popular session guitarist. In the 1980s he was part of a country/jazz band called The Superpickers. The lineup included steel guitar
ist Buddy Emmons
, drum
mer Buddy Harmon, bassist
Henry Stryzlecki, pianist
Willie Rainsford and harmonica
player Terry McMillian. He suffered a coronary in 1985 and died 5 years later at the age of 53.
Baugh's "Country Guitar" and "One Man Band" were top 40 hits on Billboard's country chart during 1965.
players along with James Burton
and Don Rich
. The entire album "Live Wire!" was recorded with his signature heavily customized Telecaster. But he also had other guitars, including a custom made doubleneck guitar from Mosrite
and a Chet Atkins
model Gretsch
that according to Vern Stovall, frustrated him so much he smashed it against a wall.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He was known as one of the leading hot country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
guitarists whose "playing exuded joy and humor." He was active from the 1960s through the 1980s, performing as a highly sought-after session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
as well as a recording artist in his own right.
Biography
Phil Baugh was born in OlivehurstOlivehurst, California
Olivehurst is a census-designated place in Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 13,656 at the 2010 census, up from 11,061 at the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1936. Singer and songwriter Vern Stovall discovered him and helped him get a contract on Crest Records in 1962. With promotion from Longhorn Records in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
their song Country Guitar became a hit. He then recorded an album called Live Wire! as a follow up. However, it wasn't as successful. He continued to work in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, including joining Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
's band in 1969. In 1975 he moved to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
where he become a popular session guitarist. In the 1980s he was part of a country/jazz band called The Superpickers. The lineup included steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
ist Buddy Emmons
Buddy Emmons
Buddy Emmons , is an American guitarist.Emmons has been called "The World's Foremost Steel Guitarist" and his talent is greatly admired by fellow steel guitarists...
, drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
mer Buddy Harmon, bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Henry Stryzlecki, pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Willie Rainsford and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player Terry McMillian. He suffered a coronary in 1985 and died 5 years later at the age of 53.
Baugh's "Country Guitar" and "One Man Band" were top 40 hits on Billboard's country chart during 1965.
Guitars
Phil Baugh was one of the great country Fender TelecasterFender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
players along with James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
and Don Rich
Don Rich
Donald Eugene Ulrich, best known by the stage name Don Rich was a country musician who helped develop the Bakersfield sound in the early 1960s. He was a noted guitarist and fiddler, and a member of the Buckaroos, the backing band of country singer Buck Owens.-Biography:Donald Eugene Ulrich was...
. The entire album "Live Wire!" was recorded with his signature heavily customized Telecaster. But he also had other guitars, including a custom made doubleneck guitar from Mosrite
Mosrite
Mosrite is an American guitar manufacturing company, based in Bakersfield, California, from the late 1950s to the early 1990s. Founded by Semie Moseley, Mosrite guitars were played by many rock and roll and country artists....
and a Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
model Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
that according to Vern Stovall, frustrated him so much he smashed it against a wall.
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Country Guitar | 4 | Longhorn |
| 1969 | California Guitar | — | Era |
| 2005 | Live Wire! | — | Sundazed |
Singles
| Year | Single | US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "Country Guitar" (with Vern Stovall) | 16 | Country Guitar |
| "One Man Band" | 27 |
Awards
- "Best Guitarist" by the ACMAcademy of Country MusicThe Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
1965 - "Outstanding Instrumentalist of the Year" by BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
1965 - "Instrumentalist of the Year" by Cash Box 1965