Endorsees
 | | | | Jerry Brightman | | | Jerry's Story:
Jerry retired from professional playing in 1975 at the age of 22 after a 3 1/2 year career as a member of Buck Owens and The Buckaroo's. Jerry performed and recorded with many internationally recognized acts during his playing career. He recorded over 400 international masters, plus 100's of other recordings, including 16 albums with Buck Owens, and another 11 with other Capital Record acts throughout his career. Below, is a story, and some information, that Jerry has chosen to share after twenty plus years of seclusion. Jerry is married to wife Kathie, and has two girls, Leah and Kim, which he put first and foremost in his life.
Jerry was born in Akron, OH in 1953. He began playing the steel guitar at the age of six on a Fender deluxe 6 string. At the age of twelve, Jerry began playing during the summers at Ponderosa Park, a 12,000 seat outdoor facility located in Salem Ohio. The park provided a venue for major country music acts to perform during the mid to late 60s. It was there that John Hughey, then touring with Conway Twitty, Bob Hempker, who traveled with Loretta Lynn, Don Helms with Hank Williams Jr., and Buddy Charlelton with Ernest Tubbs and the Texas Troubadours first heard Jerry. Jerry was also influenced by Pure Prairie League, and Poco. Needless to say, Jerry was exposed to many of the great all time players and singers, and was being recognized for the talent he possessed.
In Oct. of 1968, at the age of 14, Jerry was asked to join the staff band at The Wheeling Jamboree in Wheeling, W. Va. which was second only to the Grand Ole Opry in length of broadcast. The live broadcast covered 23 states and 6 Canadian providences. More than a 1/4 of million radio listeners heard the Saturday night live broadcast each Saturday. (*Arbitron). Jerry's playing was now beginning to branch out to many more fans. His exposure to the major country acts was now occurring every Saturday night as each major artist visited. Jerry was a guest of the late Shot Jackson at his home in Nashville in 1969. It was Demons Den where Jerry first heard Doug Jernigan and the late, Julian Thorpe. Jerry also met Paul Franklin during this visit and became friends. Jerry's head was filled with so many licks, he didn't know where to begin on the plane ride home. It was also there when Jerry met Buddy Emmons for the first time.
In April of 1972, at the age of 18 years old, someone would change his musical life forever. The following day a phone call went something like this: Long Distance Operator calling for Mr. Jerry Brightman from Mr. Buck Owens. After a one-week visit consisting mostly of recording in Bucks studio, Jerry was asked to become a Buckaroo.
Jerry's performances and recordings with Buck Owens, Don Rich, Susan Raye, Tony Booth, along with the other members of the Buckaroos, afforded him a chance to travel nearly a million miles per year. Jerry was also signed to a Capitol records contract and appeared as a member of Hee-Haw for CBS during his 3 1/2 years. He recorded 16 albums with Buck. Jerry was now being seen and heard all over the world.
Among some of the most memorable venues were:
The Sydney Opera House, Australia;
The Houston Astro Dome, Houston, TX
Panther Hall, Fort Worth, TX
Tokyo, Japan, Lee Gardens, Hong Kong Madison Square Gardens, NY, NY
The Grand Ole Opry Radio broadcast (Ryman Auditorium) Nashville, TN
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver, CO
Grand Opening of Disney World, FL.
The LA Forum, LA, CA
During the two scheduled tapings of Hee-Haw each year, Jerry would be seen playing out in Nashville.
In 1974, tragedy struck the Owens organization with the sudden death of Don Rich. Jerry, among the other current Buckaroos were pall-bearers at the funeral. It was a sad day for anyone and everyone who had ever come in contact with Don. Jerry continued playing steel and added electric guitar duties with the band until 1975, when he resigned from his position. Jerry returned to perform one more series of shows in 1976 on Hee-Haw. After these tapings, Jerry set the bar down, with no intensions of ever picking it up again professionally. Although Jerry didn't realize it at the time, he was promoting steel guitar into the homes of millions by appearing weekly on the show.
In 1977, Jerry transitioned from player, into the business side of music when Glen Reeves hired him, and he began working for Columbia Pictures. Jerry played a major role in the development of Jamboree In The Hills, which packaged 20 of the largest names in country music at the time for a two day outdoor festival. It was called the "The Super Bowl" of Country Music. Nearly 60 thousand people attended the first year and still continues today. Jerry also served as Executive Producer and Director for the Saturday Night Broadcast of Jamboree U.S.A. This live radio broadcast was second only to the Grand Ole Opry in continuous length of broadcast. Jerry assisted many acts with career development. From helping find a band member, to recording and concert presentation, Jerry was always there to help the acts in any way he could. Anyone who was anyone in country music performed at the show. Aside from winning many awards while with Columbia, Jerry was also nominated to serve on the C.M.A. Board of Directors.
In 1982, Jerry joined the S.I.T. String Company where he began to once again come in contact with key players. Jerry also helped develop string sets for pedal steel guitars during this time. He was responsible for development and marketing of the "Buddy Emmons" signature sets still sold today.
In 1989, Jerry took a job pursuing a non-musical career with a local firm, where he worked for13 years, working his way through the business ranks in order to be more at home with his family.
Beginning in January 2001, Jerry began to have interest in playing again, and made his first live appearance in St. Louis at The International Steel Guitar Show.
His new ideas are surfacing and beginning to take hold within the music industry. Jerry is invited to attend every major steel guitar show and when time permits, he does perform.
In December, 2002, he released his first solo CD, "Back Again" In 2003, he released "Back Again, To The Country" . With his new musical styles, he is being heard on various record projects and live events. He also has endorsement agreements with Peavey Electronics, S.I.T. Strings, and Walker Seats.
In 2004, Jerry started producing professional steel guitars with the formation of Performance Steel Guitar, LLC. Jerry performs on 2-3 sessions per week, along with selected dates with The Curtis Brothers.
Awards:
Player
Nominated by the CMA, Academy of Country Music, Music City News: Number One Band, The Buckaroos
British Music Journal: Most Promising Steel Guitarist:
OCMA: Musician of the Year
ESCMA: Number One Musician
Producer
Nominated for Board of Directors, CMA
Presidential Award: For Outstanding Contributions to the Country Music Industry
Executive Producer/Director, Jamboree USA radio Broadcast, Columbia Pictures.
Pittsburgh Advertising Award: Alcoa Aluminum
Faron Young Live for K-Tel
Jamboree in the Hills: Executive Producer/Director
Jamboree USA Syndicated Re-broadcast: Mutual Broadcasting and Blair Radio Network
Jamboree In The Hills Television Special (Showtime)
Television Credits
Hee-Haw (134 shows) DVD's now available
Buck Owens Ranch Show
Mike Douglas
Tonight Show Johnny Carson
Merv Griffin
Dinah Shore
Record Credits:
Singles:
Buck Owens:
Streets of Bakersfield Palm of your Hand
Ain't Gonna Have Ole Buck to Kick Around No More
The Good Ole Days Hello Trouble
Great Expectations Weekend Daddy
41st Street Lonely Hearts' Club
Monsters Holiday Big Game Hunter
Cover of the Music City News
(Buck and Susan Raye)
Lookin' Back to See
Love Makes the World Go Round
Susan Raye:
Everybody's Somebody's Fool
Love Sure Feels Good in my Heart
Watcha' Gonna Do with a Dog like That
The Cheating Game
You Can Sure See It from Here
Stop the World and Let Me Off
Plastic Trains, Paper Planes
Wheel of Fortune
When You get Back from Nashville
Tony Booth:
Happy Hour
Secret Love
Lonely Street
Someday I'm Gonna go to Mexico
High as the Mountains
Old Faithful
Would You Settle for Roses
Watch Out For Lucy
Good as Gone
Jerry playing electric guitar solos with Tony:
Workin' at the Carwash Blues
Midnight Race
Buddy Alan:
Chains
All Around Cowboy of 1964
Albums:
Buck Owens:
Ain't It Amazing Gracie
41st Street Lonely Hearts Club
Live at the White House
Palm of your Hand
Arm's Full of Empty
Monsters Holiday
Meanwhile Back At The Ranch
Best of Buck Owens Vol. 5
Best of Buck Owens Vol. 6
Bakersfield, Nashville West
California Christmas (Various Artists)
The Buck Owens Collection
Buck Owens/Susan Raye:
The Good Ole Days
The Best of Buck Owens and Susan Raye
Susan Raye:
The Cheating Game
The Best of Susan Raye
Singing Susan Raye
Wheel of Fortune
Watcha Gonna Do with a Dog Like That
Plastic Trains, Paper Trains
Hymns by Susan Raye
16 Greatest Hits
Tony Booth:
Happy Hour
Workin' at the Carwash Blues
This is Tony Booth
Lawanda Lindsey--- The Best Of Lawanda
Buddy Alan--- Chains/All around Cowboy
Arlo Gutherie--- Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys
Rex Humbard Family---Live in Hawaii
The Cathedrals
*Re-Cut during my time with Buck
Live Albums:
Buck Owens:
Live at the Sydney Opera House
Live in New Zealand
Live In Japan
Other National Artists:
Arlo Gutherie
David Frizzell
Rex Humbard
Mary Lou Turner
Johnny Russell
Madelyn Manning Jackson
Mayf Nutter
The Cathedrals
Joyful Noise
Rachel Sweet
Endorsements:
Peavey Electronic
S.I.T. Strings
Walker Seats
BJS Bars
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