September 2007 \ Features \ Artist Interview \ Forever Young: Reggie Young

Forever Young: Reggie Young

Dirk Wacker

Nashville's living legend keeps his fingers movin'.
Premier Guitar September 2007
(4 of 4)

So you’re not a collector?

No, absolutely not. Guitars are made to play, not to collect.


Are you into vintage instruments?

Both of my main axes are vintage guitars – my Strat from 1957 and my Tele from 1969. I don’t know if it is the age or not, but both have fantastic tone, much better than any other guitar I have ever played. Both guitars are slightly modified though. I know that’s almost a sacrilege, but first and foremost they are working horses for me. Naturally I stored all the original nuts and bolts, but no true collector would even think of modifying these. You know, if I could find a guitar today that’s better than my old ones, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy the new one and sell my old ones. I really don’t care if it’s new or vintage; it’s the sound that matters.



Reggie Young


You’re working on your first solo project, right?

That’s right, and it’s a lot of fun. My wife Jenny plays fiddle and cello, and together we wrote and arranged some nice songs that we are recording now. It’s not a country album – more of a mixture of classical music and Latin with some modern elements. It has no electrical instruments on it; it’s completely unplugged. It’s hard to describe – I wish I had a guitar in my hands to show you some things! We’re hoping to finish it soon.


Do you two play together a lot?

Yes, every possible minute. Our whole life is filled with music – it’s my job, my hobby, my passion. When I come home from the studio and want to relax, I play guitar. I really enjoy playing together with Jenny; she is a fantastic musician. Jenny and I got married in April 2005 and she’s the love of my life. She’s my wife and my best friend at the same time, which is great.


Are you friends with your session colleagues outside of the studio?

Not directly, we moved to the countryside some time ago and it’s hard to drive all the way to the city just to have dinner or some beers. Still, we’ve all known each other for a very long time and naturally, there are some friendships with guys like Bill Hullett and Willie Nelson. I’ve always tried to separate my private life from my job, but it hasn’t always worked.


Touring with the Memphis Boys all over Europe; did you ever think about doing a solo tour?

No, never. I don’t have time for one, and the Memphis Boys are kind of family for me. We’ve known each other for so long, we’re really good friends. I would miss them too much on a solo tour!


Did you ever think about retiring?

That’s a joke, right? Absolutely not, I still have my health, I’m feeling great and my musical career is still in progress – I have no time to retire!


Reggie’s Gearbox

Guitars
1957 Fender Stratocaster
1969 Fender Telecaster
Jerry Jones guitar-bass
Fender ‘52 Reissue Telecaster


Amps
Fender blackface and silverface
Deluxe Reverb Amps
Fender silverface Twin Reverb


Pedals/Effects
Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
Cry Baby 5350 Wah Wah
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
MXR DynaComp
Boss GE-7 Equalizer
Boss Chromatic Tuner
Voodoo Lab Tremolo
Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive
T.C. Electronic Stereo Chorus
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2


Accessories
George L´s cables
D´Addario XL Nickel Wound
“Super Light Plus”
Let Reggie’s Fingers Do the Talking

Reggie Young’s studio career has been undeniably prolific – a search for Reggie Young’s album credits on Allmusic.com turns up 590 results. Here’s a list of six albums to get you started listening to the man you’ve probably unknowingly heard so many times before.

Reggie Young Jimmy Buffett
Last Mango in Paris, 1985
Reggie Young Willie Nelson
City of New Orleans, 1984
Reggie Young Kenny Rogers
The Gambler, 1978
Reggie Young Merle Haggard
Chicago Wind, 2005
Reggie Young Waylon Jennings
Honky Tonk Heroes, 1973
Reggie Young Highwaymen
Highwayman, 1985



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Comments

 (30 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Bob Fisher
on 01/18/2013 		I sold Reggie guitars when he was in Memphis. I remeber when he came to the store to pick up a new tele and a 335 I had set up for him I asked him if he wanted to try them out he said " they work don't they" I said yes he said " I can play them" I never forgot that it's the sign of a real player.
SouthernFrie d
on 10/11/2012 		My band is doing a Dobie Gray song and I was listening to the guitar parts to play. The guitar rifts on "Drift Away" were really nice so I had to find out who the guitarist was. Which, led me here. I've been playing since the 70's and I never heard of Reggie Young. Well, I have now...wow! Now I know why those few riffs in that one song spoke so loud to me.
Fino R.
on 02/09/2012 		Reggie used Scotty Moore's Gibson L5 On Suspecious Minds I believe.What a great picker.He is A RIFF MASTER.
clint scott
on 10/27/2011 		i met mr. young in a dennys restaurant in denver back in the early 90's. i'm not a musically inclined person and didn't know of him or his background. but that night, he was waiting to fly somewhere and was killing some time. i knew the bartender and we asked him if he could play a few songs... he closed down the bar and then some. he played the guitar for a long time right handed then when his left hand started to bleed he switched hands. he was the most personable performer i have ever met a real down to earth guy. leaving me with a great time that i will never forget.
Dale Pearce
on 01/12/2011 		I was a cameraman for a French TV special featuring Johnny Halliday in Nashville back in the mid-80's. We shot for two days at Sound Emporium studios. Musical guests were Carl Perkins, the Stray Cats and others. The backing band was the best of the Nashville Cats including of course Reggie. I spent quite a bit of time during breaks talking with Reggie as he and I both had lived and worked in Memphis. Also, we had a mutual friend, engineer, writer( T.G. Shepperd) and performer Red Williams from Memphis. Red is one of Reggie's closest friends and I had worked with Red for years at WMC-TV in Memphis where Red was an audio engineer. That said, Reggie was gracious, humble, funny and a wonderful story teller. I'll never forget it. For more on Reggie, check out the new book Memphis Boys-The Story of American Sound Studios. He plays a huge role in the book.
TJ
on 10/25/2010 		I first heard, saw and became an instant fan of Reggie Young with the Highwaymen tours of Australia. What a brilliant and unassuming musician. He certainly does work and back the best
Ray
on 08/13/2010 		Any ideas what guitar Reggie played on Suspicious Minds studio recording with Elvis ? Also any effects he used to get that sound....would love to know. Cheers !
Pete Farmer
on 07/22/2010 		I've been a Reggie Young fan for decades, ever since hearing him on a Wilson Pickett session, and wondering who played that funky guitar? Reggie, if you are reading this, your music means the world to me... thank you so much. remember doing a session on a 1980s country tune called "Anybody's Heart but Mine," by Terri Gibbs? I your solo break in that tune the other day, what a great part.
That's one of your more obscure tunes, but just as much a classic as any you have done. Lots of guys know how to play, but very very few can compose and play the perfect part to complement a song right on the spot; you are one of the best ever at that skill, at least in my book. You are in the history books of the best session guys alongside people like Steve Cropper, Cornell Dupree, Albert Lee, and a few others.

Thanks again for all the music, and keep those hot records coming, OK? And more work spotlighting you, please; you've spent a career making other people sound good, now it is your time!
louis
on 07/19/2010 		i became a reggie young fan after hearing him on brenda lee's memphis portrait lp.when people ask me who my favorite guitarist is , i always say,reggie young. they alwats reply ,whos he? i answer ,you probably habe recordings by him and don't know it. reggie ,you are the best.
edd nelson
on 06/13/2010 		hi guys,

dose antone know a cagun guitar picker also named reggie young ,from louisiana? i meet him in denver at teddie's lounge[i was head of security there.this man could play like nobodys business!play anything.says he was hank jrs.
stuido gitarest.my emale is [enelson22@verizon.net] i'd shure like to her from him.any info would be great,thanks



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