I think that Jerry was one of the most influential steel guitar players ever! What was it that Jerry had that made this possible? It was his Touch And Tone. And his love for Hawaiian music. When Jerry was active in the late 1930's and in the 1940's he was playing Country and Western music. He was recording with the likes of George, Morgan, Ernest Tubb, Red Foley and many other singer during that time. His Hawaiian touch, transposed over to the country field, was the sound that made him different than other steel players. I could hear a record being played and in 5 to 10 seconds I could tell you who the singer was, the title of the tune and who the steel player was. If I were hearing a song for the first time I could you right away if Jerry was playing the steel guitar.

Jerry was a perfectionist! He teamed up with the most popular guitar player of that era, Chet Atkins and it was while playing with Chet that Jerry got to expand his knowledge from the country side of playing to the more pop side. There was a radio show every morning in Nashville, TN, "Two Guitars" and Jerry and Chet played mostly pop tunes. And Jerry was playing it on a 6 string Rickenbacker steel guitar. I often think about this and wish that the radio station had recorded the shows for their archives. Maybe they did, I don't know but I would dearly love to have copies of those shows.

Jerry was born on March 9th in Lima, Ohio. I don't want to spend much time on this as it is well documented in the Jerry Bio book, "It Was A Trip-On Wings Of Music". And almost every article written about Jerry has given this information.

Jerry had recorded many, many solo tunes on 45 RPM records, 10" records, LP's and now on CD. The range of his playing varies from Country to Pop, to Latin music, Mexican style and recordings using orchestras. And of course, Hawaiian music. I have most all of his recordings, or did have until I would loan one out here and there and never got them back. At last count I have over 110 of Jerry's performances on cassette. 90% of which are live recordings. I have all the performances that Jerry played at the International Steel Guitar Convention on video! All the performances he played at the Hawaiian shows at the Ala Moana hotel in Honolulu on cassette. I also have a few of those show on video. The shows were called Ho'o'le'lau. A gathering of musicians for a party and entertainment.

When Jerry had all but "hung it up" his guitar and had quit playing I convinced him to come to St. Louis and play a concert for us. He finally agreed! Not only once but twice...the shows were held at the American Hall just 3 blocks from my store. (Scotty's Music, Inc.). Now the catcher..As I had been to Tokyo, Japan and helped them set up their own Steel Guitar Convention I talked with Jerry and Buddy Emmons about going to Japan. They both agreed! This was the very first Convention in Japan. The year was 1978. Jerry had been accustomed to rare reviews when he played at the International Steel Guitar Convention in St. Louis, USA and also in both New Zealand and Australia. But he was not prepared for the reception that he received in Tokyo. The reaction was so great by the fans we had to move out of the hall onto the street. They were lined up for blocks wanting autographs. After all, it was Buddy Emmons, The Worlds Foremost Steel Guitarist and Jerry Byrd, The Master Of Touch and Tone and Scotty, the Worlds Ambassador To The Steel Guitar. The Japanese were familiar with the LP "Steel Guitar Romantic World" which was recorded with a Japanese orchestra. Jerry told me that they sent him a rhythm track to Nashville and he added his steel to it there. It was one of the most difficult things he ever did. Jerry was so popular that he made an acquaintance with a man that just loved his playing and he brought Jerry back to Japan many, many times. He played in Hawaiian clubs all over Japan.

I traveled with Jerry and to my surprise he would suggest that we stay in the same room. The first day we got to Tokyo we each had a room. Jerry, Buddy, and I. Jerry immediately suggested that we stay in one room. Jerry being my all time favorite player, mentor or what ever, I was shocked. 13 days in Japan with Jerry and Buddy and staying in the same room with Jerry? I was in heaven. Pure heaven! I later asked Buddy if he would invite me to stay in his room sometime? He told me "no way Jack"! I was Buddy's road manager for 2 years and I think we stayed in the same room only one time.

I met Jerry in Nashville several times and we would play cards, play on guitars and every time I would leave Jerry I always felt like I had learned something. Not necessarily music but life in general. I did ask him a question that everyone would have liked to have asked him.."You can play so lonesome at times. Did you have an love affair go wrong? Or some other type of emotional crises in your life that influences you play like that?" His answer was, "It is nothing like that. I just love the steel guitar and that is the way I play. Period."

Jerry retired from playing in about 2001. He told me that he has contributed all that he can think of. He did get into the instruction part of the business and it was very successful for him In fact, his 333 page Instruction was put together in the basement of my home. His Video course was produced by the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association under auspices of Loren Ruymar. His Sho Bud double neck steel guitar, his Fender Twin amp, his Goodrich volume pedal and his picks and bar just sat until the year 2004. I played one of the Conventions in Japan and on my way back to St. Louis I stopped over in Honolulu to visit with Jerry. When I left for home I took these items with me. Jerry had given me his personal equipment. Oh my, I don't know what to say here. Sorry.

There is so much more to Jerry's life than I was a part of and even more about his life that I was not a part of but too numerous to put in print for a short article. For more complete information about Jerry's musical life I would highly recommend that you purchase his bio book. Thanks to Alexander for inviting me to write something about a man I have admired all my musical life. I came up with a slogan for Jerry. "Master Of Touch & Tone! and it has stuck all these years.

Jerry passed on Monday morning of April 11, 2005. Mary and I had flown into Honolulu on Sunday, April 10th (my birthday) and we were able to visit with Jerry before he passed away. We stayed over and I was a part of his Memorial Service on Saturday, April 16th. Jerry is gone but his music will live on the hearts of his many fans throughout the world.