ShoBud

Buddy Emmons is on the short list of the most influential steel pedal guitarists in the world. Along with Alvino Rey and Speedy West, Buddy helped define the role of the instrument in pop and country music. We proudly note that all three of these legends are now included in the NAMM Oral History Collection. Buddy was co-founder of ShoBud and later worked closely with George Lewis on several noted adjustments and improvements to the instrument. In fact, their close friendship is evident by the number of trade shows that found both men at the ShoBud or George L’s booth talking about the old days.

Bud Isaacs designed a line of pedal steel guitars, teaming with fellow country music performer Shot Jackson to form the Sho-Bud Company. In his pursuit to create and develop new sounds for the instrument, Bud went to Paul A Bigsby to request a custom pedal steel guitar. The Bigsby became Bud’s main instrument in the heyday of his career as a recording artist in the 1950s. He played the Bigsby on stage at the Grand Ole Opry and recorded a long string of hits with the instrument including the widely influential “Slowly” with singer Webb Pierce. Bud married famed yodeler Geri Mapes who toured and recorded with Bud’s band for several decades. The couple became a regular feature at NAMM Shows as well as pedal steel guitar conventions around the world.

 George Lewis is the founder of George L’s in Madison, Tennessee, one of the industry’s leading innovators of cable and electronic components.  George played a large role in the development of ShoBud as a retail store and manufacturer of steel pedal guitars.  George’s entire family works in the business, which is now being operated by his two daughters.  His interview was as much a recount of his career as it was an American history lesson as George was on board a ship in Pearl Harbor on D