I love Leo's eyebrows, just how he's so expressive. And yeah, his humor is going right over the host's head... not the first (or last) time that's happened to Leo! Most people just don't pick up on it, but damn is he funny.
I am a big fan of guitar geniuses and have been for sixty years. I JUST discovered this man. I can't understand how I missed him. I don't remember any of my numerous guitarist boyfriends ever mentioning him :). Oh, well, better late than never.
I used to drive my girlfriends crazy with Kottke and Hedges. It's hard to get laughs out of these uptight old bastards. I'm 58 and they're all dead and I don't care. It's a good thing about Kottke. He keeps chugging along.
One of the most brilliant guitarists of all time interviewed by one of the most inept radio and tv interviewers of all time. Ralph was dumber than a box of rocks, and probably never heard of Leo until that day.
Leo Kottke my guitar hero ! Managed to have a little chat with him backstage while he was doing a fantastic show in Oslo. He was promoting his "Balance" album I believe it was in the early 80's. I sneaked behind the scene just before the show and got to tell him how much I really appreciate his music and he signed one of his records for me. It is something special when you get to finaly meet - even for a very brief moment - someone that you like and adore so much. A few years later I worked together with a young guy that was his "spitting image." It was strange to see that he even seemed to carry himself just like Leo. He hadn't heard of Kottke, so I showed him some photographs so he could see for himself. Leo, you have a "doppelganger" in Norway !
Listen to leo back in the 1970's. Saw him in person my home town Spartanburg,SC.he can really tickle those strings especially the 12 string. My friends say they can tell iv'e listen to kottke when I play,no way like him just myself whatever comes out of me
We live in Greenville SC now and would love to see him come around the Upstate. I've seen him about 10 times in NH and Maine over the years. Started listening to him in college in 1977.
Love his music and his story telling. Was soo exited to see him when he played in Auburn CA a few years ago and we were both severely disappointed. He only played one song on the 12 string.
Ralph Emery was the host of Pop Goes the Country. He was okay when he had cue cards, but he wasn't a really big country music fan. After 30 years in the biz he was pretty much burned out. He got a couple of face lifts and tried to keep it going but the industry changed and I don't think he really cared to change along with it.
The host is Ralph Emery, a legend in Nashville. Leo Kottke mentioned Reid Whitelaw but mistakenly credited him with "Yummy Yummy", a record by the Ohio Express. Reid actually wrote "Goody Goody Gumdrops" for the 1910 Fruitgum Company; same time period and some of the same people involved.
I saw that show and I have the bottleneck he was talking about.. the paul masson white wine bottle, clear glass. I met Leo after a show at UCLA and showed him the slide. I offered to return it but he told me it's ok, you keep it. and he verified it was his. he used a green slide that night during his show..
Supreme artistry and a wonderful sense of humour - you can't beat that! By the way, didn't Julie London (or someone similar in style) once do an incredibly sexy version of 'Yummy...'?
You'd think that the qualification to be a TV talk-show host would be the ability to establish a rapport with other humans. Not always, though, I guess.
That "awful host" is Ralph Emery, an authority on country music. He hosted "Nashville Now " in the 80's & had a variety show "Pop Goes the Country" back in the 70's, the same time Jimmy Dean had his TV show. So he's responsible for some country singers getting 'discovered' & starting in country music. They both helped stars like Barbara Fairchild, Donna Fargo, Becky Hobbs & others get started. He began his career as a DJ in Nashville. But I do agree he isn't the liveliest fellow in the world.
All that discussion of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" aka "Wimoweh" and nobody gives props to the most ripped-off songwriter of all time, Solomon Linda, who wrote the song as "Mbube." (see wikipedia)
"Yummy Yummy", the Ohio Express. "Goody Goody Gumdrops" the 1910 Fruitgum Company. Same vapid vacuous crap. Give me Leo ANY day! But this interviewer cannot, or at least does not, do him justice.
I watched this show faithfully in the late 80s. Ralph Emery featured many great musicians including Mark O'Connor, New Grass Revival, Les Paul, Tony Trischka, Edgar Meyer, among others. Too bad he was replaced by those bimbos Crook & Chase.
I love his description of his voice: "A goose fart on a foggy morning".
One time I saw him he referenced this interview. He said talking to Ralph Emery was “not unlike talking to a walnut.”😂
I agree with Leo.
This man is not recognized enough. Pure genius and nobody noticed. But I do.
People who know how to play noticed. John Fahey noticed. He is one of the greats on acoustic.
He's plenty well known. Not everyone needs world wide mega stardom.
Believe me a lot of us noticed not nearly enough however
Good for you, sweetheart.
Have a cookie
Yes, Ralph was a hell of a guy.
2023 and Leo is still a legend!
It's deja vu all over again!
I love Leo's eyebrows, just how he's so expressive. And yeah, his humor is going right over the host's head... not the first (or last) time that's happened to Leo! Most people just don't pick up on it, but damn is he funny.
Funny enough that he could express it sometimes in pure music.
I laugh so hard I fall off my chair!!
I am a big fan of guitar geniuses and have been for sixty years. I JUST discovered this man. I can't understand how I missed him. I don't remember any of my numerous guitarist boyfriends ever mentioning him :). Oh, well, better late than never.
I used to drive my girlfriends crazy with Kottke and Hedges.
It's hard to get laughs out of these uptight old bastards. I'm 58 and they're all dead and I don't care. It's a good thing about Kottke. He keeps chugging along.
A real Authentic human being! Peace and Love!
Leo is such a funny guy. Seen him in concert a few times and his stories are as good as his playing.
One of the most brilliant guitarists of all time interviewed by one of the most inept radio and tv interviewers of all time. Ralph was dumber than a box of rocks, and probably never heard of Leo until that day.
tony orlando and leo kottke-----------wow!
Leo Kottke my guitar hero ! Managed to have a little chat with him backstage
while he was doing a fantastic show in Oslo.
He was promoting his "Balance" album I believe it was in the early 80's.
I sneaked behind the scene just before the show and got to tell him how much
I really appreciate his music and he signed one of his records for me.
It is something special when you get to finaly meet - even for a very brief moment - someone that you like and adore so much.
A few years later I worked together with a young guy that was his "spitting
image." It was strange to see that he even seemed to carry himself just like Leo.
He hadn't heard of Kottke, so I showed him some photographs so he could see
for himself. Leo, you have a "doppelganger" in Norway !
Tom Roger Lilleby
Listen to leo back in the 1970's. Saw him in person my home town Spartanburg,SC.he can really tickle those strings especially the 12 string. My friends say they can tell iv'e listen to kottke when I play,no way like him just myself whatever comes out of me
That’s inspiring man
Just yourself - whatever comes out
We live in Greenville SC now and would love to see him come around the Upstate. I've seen him about 10 times in NH and Maine over the years. Started listening to him in college in 1977.
And he just says what's on his mind - gotta love that!
Ice water album is superb but the armedelo lp last forever. Go kottke go. Doc tva
Leo is a legend. Much deserved.
I have been to five of his concerts in Minnesota, still an amazing talent.
Great guitar player, funny guy, saw him twice, great shows.
Love his music and his story telling. Was soo exited to see him when he played in Auburn CA a few years ago and we were both severely disappointed. He only played one song on the 12 string.
Ralph Emery was the host of Pop Goes the Country. He was okay when he had cue cards, but he wasn't a really big country music fan. After 30 years in the biz he was pretty much burned out. He got a couple of face lifts and tried to keep it going but the industry changed and I don't think he really cared to change along with it.
Leo Kottke is above this kind of interview! He is the Lindsey Buckingham of the twelve string! A genius!
Thanks for posting
I love to hear Leo play slide on the 12 string....
haha i love leo's stories
It’s kind of funny how Leo’s wry sense of humor contrasts with the somewhat mirthless host.
Love Leo.Miss Ralph.
The world’s funniest guitarist. Mark Twain meets, well, I dunno who cause nobody plays like him.
The host is Ralph Emery, a legend in Nashville. Leo Kottke mentioned Reid Whitelaw but mistakenly credited him with "Yummy Yummy", a record by the Ohio Express. Reid actually wrote "Goody Goody Gumdrops" for the 1910 Fruitgum Company; same time period and some of the same people involved.
I saw that show and I have the bottleneck he was talking about.. the paul masson white wine bottle, clear glass. I met Leo after a show at UCLA and showed him the slide. I offered to return it but he told me it's ok, you keep it. and he verified it was his. he used a green slide that night during his show..
Are you still alive?
Living in the country
Love Leo. First saw him live right at 50 years ago. His host is not able to keep up with Leo's wit.
Leo is roughly 37 times smarter than Ralph!
Joe Pass, Paco de Lucia, Paco Peña, Chet Atkins, Leo Kottke. Still legends. And I can’t think of a Tony Orlando song that I don’t like.
Ah, talk shows from the 80s...
Interesting comments on Joe Pass. So true.
Supreme artistry and a wonderful sense of humour - you can't beat that! By the way, didn't Julie London (or someone similar in style) once do an incredibly sexy version of 'Yummy...'?
This audience/host doesn't get it.
yeah he sounds like jack nicholson, Jack Torrance popped in my head first though.
You'd think that the qualification to be a TV talk-show host would be the ability to establish a rapport with other humans. Not always, though, I guess.
Interview by the Crypt Keeper? But Leo is a true original even when just talking.
Who is the chap on the right, the interviewer?
(Pardon me, I'm from Europe)
God Joe Pass can shred like Yngwie
With more soul
That "awful host" is Ralph Emery, an authority on country music. He hosted "Nashville Now " in the 80's & had a variety show "Pop Goes the Country" back in the 70's, the same time Jimmy Dean had his TV show. So he's responsible for some country singers getting 'discovered' & starting in country music. They both helped stars like Barbara Fairchild, Donna Fargo, Becky Hobbs & others get started. He began his career as a DJ in Nashville. But I do agree he isn't the liveliest fellow in the world.
Leo Kottke interviewed by The Mummy
Joe pass
All that discussion of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" aka "Wimoweh" and nobody gives props to the most ripped-off songwriter of all time, Solomon Linda, who wrote the song as "Mbube." (see wikipedia)
"Yummy Yummy", the Ohio Express. "Goody Goody Gumdrops" the 1910 Fruitgum Company. Same vapid vacuous crap. Give me Leo ANY day! But this interviewer cannot, or at least does not, do him justice.
Is that "interviewer" actually alive? Seems as stiff as wood, and like he's afraid to move his lips.
I watched this show faithfully in the late 80s. Ralph Emery featured many great musicians including Mark O'Connor, New Grass Revival, Les Paul, Tony Trischka, Edgar Meyer, among others. Too bad he was replaced by those bimbos Crook & Chase.
It couldn't have been any worse than Ralph. He sucks as an interviewer.