Could james best actually play the guitar

Here, James Best talks about playing on the show....and like any good storyteller, doesn't let the facts get in the way of telling a good story.

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Could james best actually play the guitar

spanky1 said: ↑

Was he not one of the famous "Wrecking Crew"?

Click to expand...

Yes, according to wikipedia:


Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA. He was a member of many prominent jazz groups as well as a "first call" guitarist for studio, film, and television recording sessions. Kessel was a member of the group of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew.

Kessel began his career as a teenager touring with local dance bands before moving on to bands such as that led by Chico Marx. He quickly established himself as a key post-Charlie Christian jazz guitarist. In 1944 he participated in the Lester Young film Jammin' the Blues and in 1947 he recorded with Charlie Parker's New Stars on the Relaxin' at Camarillo session for Dial Records. He is featured on the compilation Charlie Parker on Dial.[1] He was rated the #1 guitarist in Esquire, Down Beat, and Playboy magazine polls between 1947 and 1960[2].
Barney Kessel is known for his innovative work in the guitar trio setting. In the 1950s, he made a series of albums called The Poll Winners with Ray Brown on bass and Shelly Manne on drums. He was also responsible for the prominent guitar on Julie London's definitive recording of "Cry Me a River". Also from the 50s, his three Kessell Plays Standards volumes contain some of his most polished work.
Kessel was also a member of the Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown in the early 1950s. The guitar chair was called the hardest gig in show business since Peterson often liked to play at breakneck tempos. Herb Ellis took over from Kessel after a year or so. He also went on to play with Sonny Rollins in the late 50s and can be heard on Sonny Rollins' recordings of songs like "How High the Moon" (on the Freelance Years box set).
A "first call" guitarist at Columbia Pictures, during the 1960s Kessel became one of the most in-demand session guitarists in America, and is considered a key member of the group of first-call session musicians now usually known as The Wrecking Crew. In this capacity he played on hundreds of famous pop recordings including albums and singles by Phil Spector, The Beach Boys, The Monkees and many others. He appeared in an acting part playing a jazz guitarist named "Barney" in one episode of the Perry Mason TV show. He also wrote and arranged the source music, including a jazz version of "Here Comes the Bride", provided by the jazz combo that figured in the story.
In 1961 The Gibson Guitar Corporation introduced The Barney Kessel model guitar onto the market and continued to make them until 1973.
One custom instrument Kessel played was essentially a 12-string guitar neck attached to a mandolin body (similar to Vox's mando guitar), which may have been played on the intro to The Beach Boys' "Wouldn't It Be Nice."
During the 1970s, Kessel presented his seminar 'The Effective Guitarist' in various locations around the world.
Kessel released several solo albums even late into his life.
Kessel died of a brain tumor in San Diego, California. He had been in poor health after suffering a stroke in 1992.

 

Bobby Fleet refers to Andy as "Hyrum." This was 50s slang for a sweet and funny and often naive boy of strict religious upbringing, typically Mormon.

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Bobby Fleet's vehicle was an extended 1947 Cadillac.

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The guitar Jim is playing is a Harmony Archtone; a common student instrument from the 1950s and 1960s.

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The little boy with the dog pictured on the jail cell calendar is Ron Howard's real-life younger brother, Clint Howard.

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Andy mentions "That fella we see on television every now and then," referring to Elvis Presley. In fact, Jim Lindsey is a spoof of that rock star. Elvis Presley was a singer not a guitar player, whereas Jim Lindsey is a guitar player and never sings in either episode.

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Bobby Fleet would appear on the series three times, played here by Henry Slate, but in the other two appearances he was played by someone else. **UPDATE** The original poster was WRONG! Bobby Fleet was played by two different actors in two episodes. In this episode Bobby Fleet was played by Henry Slate. In Season 1, episode 31 "The Guitar Player Returns," Bobby Fleet was played by Herbert Ellis. In season 3, episode 8 "The Mayberry Band," Freddy Fleet (not Bobby Fleet) was played by Joseph Sirola.

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James Best returns as his Jim Lindsey character in season 1, episode 31 "The Guitar Player Returns."

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Later in the series it is established that Barney can't sing but here, during the "New River Train" number with Jim, Andy invites him to join in singing the chorus.

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This episode marks Jonathan Hole's first appearance as Funeral Director Orville Monroe.

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This episode originally aired on October 17, 1960, but the calendar in the jail cell, with the 1st falling on a Tuesday, suggests the story takes place in November of that year.

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Dub Taylor plays Talbot, the postman, in this episode. He also plays Emmett Clark's brother-in-law in Season 8, Episode 18. He also was in "The Shakiest Gun in the West" which starred Don Knotts. He also plays the preacher that marries Dud and Charlene in A Mountain Wedding episode and appears as the postman again in High Noon In Mayberry but his name is Billy Ray instead of Talbot.

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James Best, who plays Jim Lindsey, later becomes well known as a sheriff himself. He was Rosco P. Coltrane on "The Dukes of Hazzard." His stint as a sheriff was only one season fewer than Andy's, with shows running 7 and 8 seasons respectively.

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When Bobby Fleet (Henry Slate)'s vehicle stops at the Mayberry restaurant, a trumpet plays "My Dog Has Fleas."

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Depending on the needs of the script, the storefront just to the left of Floyd's Barbershop was used as a beauty shop, an extension of the grocery store, and most often, the front for Monroe's Funeral Home and TV Repair. * UPDATE * The original poster is incorrect. In this episode, you can see that the barbershop is marked on both windows on either side of the door going into the barbershop. Making the barbershop larger than what is turned out to be. The window to the left of the barbershop door would later turn into "Beauty Shop," then "TV Repair," and finally "Used Furniture."

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The $70 fine that Andy imposes on Bobby Fleet would be equivalent to $654.10 in 2021 dollars, after adjusting for inflation.

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This episode marks the only time in the series that filming actually took place inside of the building across street from the courthouse. This is evident while filming the interior shot of the drugstore when Andy and Barney are seen walking across the street towards to the drugstore. Every interior shot of the drugstore after this episode was filmed inside a sound stage.

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Jim Lindsay is a young man of about 25 years of age. James Best was actually 34, the same age as Andy and Barney.

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Although evidence of Monroe's television repair shop would remain throughout much of the series, Jonathan Hole as Orville Monroe will actually only appear in three episodes in the first season only.

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The Andy Griffith Show became a showcase for some of the most famous and prolific character actors in the business. Dub Taylor, who plays Talbot the postmaster, appears four times in the series, and had a lifetime career of over 250 films and television shows.

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There is a scene where Jim Lindsey is playing his guitar inside the cell while Andy plays his on the outside. On the wall behind Lindsey (James Best) there is a calendar hanging on the wall. It's a 30 day month on the calendar with the first day of the month falling on a Tuesday The nearest month meeting that description would have been September of 1959. The picture on the calendar appears to be John Provost and Lassie from the series where he played Timmy Martin. Contrary to the earlier submission stating that the boy on the calendar was Ron Howard's real-life younger brother, Clint Howard. Clint Howard was born until April 20, 1959 which would have made him only be 5 months old when the calendar was made. In addition to the fact that the boy in the picture was standing next to a collie dog identical to Lassie.

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Spoilers 

The trivia item below may give away important plot points.

In this episode Jim, Andy, and Barney are singing "New River Train." This song would later be sung by Rafe Hollister in season 3, episode 20 "Rafe Hollister Sings."

Did Andy Griffith really play the guitar on the show?

Griffith, who played his own guitar for the part of Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, stunned audiences with his talent for the six strings.

Who really played the guitar for Jim Lindsey on The Andy Griffith Show?

Whenever Jim Lindsey is playing guitar, you're actually hearing the legendary Barney Kessel playing those licks. This episode marks the last appearance of the character, Ellie Walker.

Did Herb Ellis play the guitar on The Andy Griffith Show?

I alway thought it was Herb Ellis but I found out the Herb Ellis in the credits is an actor. Further investigation revealed that Howard Roberts is the guitarist on the show.

What instruments did Andy Griffith play?

He commuted from his coastal home in North Carolina to Los Angeles every weekend for the first six years while starring in Matlock (1986) on NBC. He purchased his first trombone at age 15. Played the guitar and banjo on both series: The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and Matlock (1986).