WALKING STICK SOCIETY
PRESENTS
LEON REDBONE MEMORIES
| The Bratcher Collection | |||
| To eloquently describe as to why I have been
immersed in the career of Leon Redbone is difficult. It's a
connection deep within to forgotten tunes that have been revived
in a unique style and presented theatrically that simply
mesmerizes me I suppose. It was never enough to listen to his
recordings or witness a show. I had to meet the fellow, discuss
with him personally his love for those that came before him.
Names like Lonnie Johnson, Wilton Crawley, Emmett Miller, Lee
Morse, Jelly Roll Morton to name a few. To understand his
passion for these performers was to understand him. I appreciate
so very much his exploration into the history of these artists
that so moved him. Not only blues and jazz artists, but
stretching into so many other genres of music like that of
Carlos Gardel the great Argentinian singer and Viennese folk
songs. As a tribute to all I've learned from a stage and musical
perspective from him, I felt a need to obtain instruments he
played and in my own way, carry on the torch and just to be
around them. There were years when other than my own shows, I
would only go see Leon Redbone because he was all that made
musical sense to me. Making something out of the past while
staying relevant is difficult. It's what I've tried to do with
my career and most definitely what Leon has done. My admiration
for his consistent approach to vaudville style authenticity
shall be eternal. To thank those musicians that have traveled
many a road with him and performed on television, stage and
radio is not enough. It's the very reason for this web site and
the formation of "The Walking Stick Society". Billy Bratcher |
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| Leon Redbone's 1960's Harmony Sovereign Acoustic Guitar | |||
| A guitar of historical significance as it was Leon's first professional instrument. It's the same guitar shown in the earliest photos known and heard on his first recorded works which are available on "A Long Way From Home" recorded in Buffalo by David Benders at WBFO University of Buffalo 1972. It's the same guitar Leon played at The Mariposa Folk Festival in 1972. The festival was captured beautifully by photographer Aurther Usherson and was the same festival where Bob Dylan sought out Redbone. Gorgeous photos of Leon with the guitar on and off stage. Earlier photos have been discovered from Toronto in 1968 and provided by David Barrett who shot them where Leon is shown with the guitar as well. A beautiful video from The Buffalo Folk Festival of 1973 was captured by Walt Behnke is available for view on YouTube that features Leon with the guitar. The guitar was described in the first paragraph of a wonderfully written article called "Vessel Of Antiquity" in The Oxford American. | |||
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 Walking Stick Certificate |
 Leon and The Walking Stick |
 Leon Redbone and the Plane Crash 1979 |
 Leon Redbone and the Plane Crash 1979 |
This guitar was most noted for Leon's appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on
January 2, 1991 on NBC.
 Leon's 1930 National Guitar |
 Leon's 1930 National Guitar |
 Leon's 1930 National Guitar |
 Leon on The Johnny Carson Show 1991 |
 Leon's 1930 National Guitar |
 Leon on The Johnny Carson Show 1991 |
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