During the 1970’s, Tut Taylor designed and produced the “Plickett”, the “Twanger”, and the “Plank”. He trademarked the names of each and had a U.S. Patent on the sound chamber design that was used on each of the instruments. Tut produced several of these for the “Hee Haw” TV show with his good friend Roy Clark playing the Plank and the Twanger on the show. The Twanger was manufactured with many different body designs and featuring the characters “Shotgun Red” and the Donkey from Hee Haw. These items…
Read moreBiography
Corey Lee McQuade, the other flatpicking dobro man, carries on the dobro style of Tut Taylor flatpicking the resophonic guitar aka dobro. He is a singer/songwriter from Lewisburg, WV and currently residing in Athens, WV. His solo performances include finger picking and flatpicking guitar, flatpicking dobro, and clawhammer banjo. His original songs are inspired by old time traditional music, local history, and folk singer/songwriters. Corey currently performs with longtime friend singer/songwriter Paul E Johnson as an Americana duo.
Corey Lee McQuade met Grammy winner Tut Taylor, the flatpicking dobro man, in 2010 performing at Merlefest with the band Johnson’s Crossroad. Corey and Tut became good friends and performed together until 2015. In 2012, Tut Taylor wrote and released a song titled “Papa Don’t Play the Dobro Anymore” that told of Tut’s life playing the dobro and Corey Lee McQuade carrying on his flatpicking dobro style after his passing. In 2014, Corey Lee McQuade recorded a tribute album in honor of Tut Taylor titled “Double Clutching” that was produced by Tut Taylor and released on Tut’s record label Tutlee Records.
Stories
Tut Taylor's Instrument Collection
Tut was a vintage string instrument collector and one of the founders of GTR guitar shop in Nashville, now known as Gruhn Guitars. John Hartford called Tut "The King of the Horse Traders" because his instrument collection was so vast. At one time Tut owned 67 Dobros and many other fretted string instruments. He bought, sold, and traded many instruments over his life. He was always searching for rare and better sounding instruments. Here are some old photos of his instrument collection and music room.
…
Read moreTut Taylor's Hand-Painted Instrument Cases
If you asked Tut Taylor what he did for a living he would say he was a sign painter and playing music was his hobby. He painted several instrument cases over the years for many different folks including Bill Monroe, Jerry Douglas, and many others. In the 70's when Tut owned Tut Taylor Music Inc. in Nashville, he also owned Taylor Sign Shop just a few blocks from his music store/factory. Tut had purchased the sign shop from John Taylor, no relation, who was retiring and known for hand-letter work…
Read moreThe Polish Sausage Story by Tut Taylor
In 1976 there was a bluegrass band over here in Knoxville that called and said, “Would you like to go to Poland and play?” Naturally I said yes. We went with a clog and dance team from North Carolina in a musical exchange program and played all the music for them. We’d play on flat bed trucks or in the village squares. All the people would walk up to us and they spoke no English. They were very grim, very plain, but the minute we started playing everybody started smiling.
Now I have always…
Read moreThe Life and Times of Tut & Clarence by Tut Taylor
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997
From: Tut Taylor
The Life and Times of Tut & Clarence
I have been asked to write of my experiences with Clarence White. Which I will do. First I must bring up some events leading up to this wonderful time in my life. I became friends with Bruce Cummings of SLC Utah, past president of The Inter-Mountain Folk Council (I think)....after all, it's been over thirty years ago.
Originally,at his encouragement I decided to do a Flat-pickin' Dobro Course which led Bruce to Call…
Read moreThe Making of Double Clutching (Tribute to Tut Taylor) by Corey Lee McQuade
First off I must say that it is close to impossible to put into words exactly how making this album makes me feel. I could not be prouder of it. This project is truly the honor of a lifetime for me. Not many people get to meet their heroes and even fewer become good friends with them. Plus I was given the honor of making a tribute album to my hero that is produced by my hero. The whole thing blows me away. My entire dobro style is based on Tut’s pickin’ and I’ve always wanted to record his tunes…
Read moreOld News is Good News
05/24/2021
It looks like live music is slowly coming back. I have a few upcoming shows scheduled in June and I'm really looking forward to more live music this year. I am vaccinated and ready to return to some form of normal. Covid-19 cases are declining and more and more people are getting vaccines but we're not out of the dark yet. Broadway is still closed and not scheduled to reopen until this fall. Many venues have been closed for a long time and some are gone forever. I wrote this song for all of the theaters and music halls across the world that have been closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A ghost light is an electric light that is left energized on the stage of a theater when the theater is unoccupied and would otherwise be completely dark.
"The Ghost Light" by Corey Lee McQuade
The ghost light is guarded
In a wire cage
Set at the center stage
The theater is closed
The doors stay locked
It stands watch around the clock
There’s no limelight
No spot to shine
No song and dance of a chorus line
The drama is in
The light alone
When all is dark and there’s nothing shown
Stale and silent
Dusty old air
Fills the room with gloom and glare
The single light
With the curtain drawn
Waits while all are gone
(chorus)
The ghost light is guarded
In a wire cage
Set at the center stage4/08/2021
Got my second shot of the Pfizer vaccine and I'm really looking forward to being able to play some shows this year. Just a couple weeks to wait for the vaccine to be effective and I'll be ready. Can't wait for Mountain Music Festival this year June 3-5. Hope to see you there!
03/15/2021
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will be headlining Mountain Music Fest this year. Hope to see you there!
02/12/2021
I am happy to announce that Paul Johnson and I will be returning to Mountain Music Fest for 2021. Tons of great music over three days in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. Tickets are available at https://mountainmusicfestwv.com/
05/13/2020
I am very honored to have Tut Taylor's Tubro. I recently acquired this amazing instrument from a collector in Australia and it's been around the world. This Tutbro was built by Tut's sons David Taylor and Mark Taylor for Tut. Tut had a set of old growth Brazilian Rosewood planks that he had since the 70's and in 2014 they decided to make him a Tutbro out of them. It is a masterpiece to behold.
I was at Tut's house for the ResoGat in 2014 when they gave this Tutbro to Tut. When we first saw it the finish was still damp and we weren't allowed to touch it for a few days while it finished drying. On that Friday night we had a pickin' party over at Tut's house in the family room and the Hitzig Brothers, Xander and Orion, came down and Mike Esposito played the new Tutbro while Tut sat and listened to everyone. We kept Tut up past midnight that night having a grand old time.
05/05/2020
Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 outbreak the last of the shows I had scheduled for this summer have been cancelled. I am looking forward to getting back out to play some shows but we must remain safe at this time. Please continue to follow social distancing guidelines and hopefully we can all get together again soon.
05/01/2020
Unfortunately this year's ResoGat in Wilkesboro, NC has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. I'm really going to miss getting to see everybody and picking some tunes but I always say better safe than sorry. I hope everybody stays safe so we can all pick again next year. Visit the Resogat website at www.resogat.org
03/20/2020
Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all of my scheduled shows from March to June 2020 have been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later time. Please stay safe during this trying time. Check out my YouTube page or other social media sites to help keep yourself entertained. Please, also keep up to date with the development of the virus and safety precautions on cdc.gov. Good health to you and hope to see you at a show real soon.
03/01/2020
Got some exciting things planned to 2020. I have been writing new songs for an upcoming album. Recording will begin in a few months. I am going to be joined by some of my favorite musicians on this project. Here is a recording of a new song that will be featured, "What in the World am I Doing Here?". A song about a guy sitting alone in a bar when his ex walk through the door with her new boyfriend.
The album will consist of eleven original songs and one of Tut Taylor's songs. Stay tuned for further details...
02/17/2020
I am happy to announce that Paul Johnson and I will be returning to Mountain Music Fest for 2020. Tons of great music over three days in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. Tickets are available at https://mountainmusicfestwv.com/
07/17/2019
I had an incredible time at the ResoGat this year in Wilkesboro, NC. Had a lot of visitors stop by to talk flatpicking dobro and enjoyed checking out my booth of Tut Taylor instruments and memorabilia. The full video of my workshop on using a thumbpick like a flatpick and Tut Taylor licks is available free to watch on YouTube
Some photos of my Tut Taylor Memorabilia and Instrument Booth
See you next year!
I will be back at the ResoGat this year with my Tut Taylor collection 7/10 to 7/13 in Wilkesboro, NC. I am honored to be conducting another workshop this year on Thursday 7/11 at 3PM. The workshop this year will focus on Tut Taylor's flatpicking techniques and how they relate to modern fingerpicking techniques. Check out the ResoGat at www.resogat.org
Paul E Johnson and I will be performing at some great festivals this spring, WV PubFest and Mountain Music Festival.
Paul E Johnson and I will be performing at the West Virginia Winter Music Festival in Lewisburg WV 1/26/2019. Stage schedule is posted below.
It was an honor to be a part of Healing Appalachia by Hope in the Hills. The Lone Wolf Revue had a grand time playing the after party and thank everyone that attended.
Images by Jaime Wykle Photography
ResoGat 2018
I had an incredible time at the ResoGat this year in Wilkesboro, NC. Had a lot of visitors stop by to talk flatpicking dobro and enjoyed checking out my booth of Tut Taylor instruments and memorabilia. The full video of my workshop on the music of Tut Taylor is available free to watch on YouTube. The Tar Heel Traveler at WRAL channel 5 out of Raleigh, NC stopped by to do a story on the gathering and did a quick interview with me and had me pick them a tune. Resonator builder Peter Mosco of Mosco String Works brought the other Tutbro prototype that he purchased from Tut to the gathering and we reunited the two original Tutbros once again. The ResoGat is free to attend and I highly recommend it to all levels of players. It is always a great time and every year I leave having learned something new.
Tut Taylor Instrument and Memorabilia booth
The two original Tutbros with Peter Mosco
Flat Picking Dobro Workshop
WRAL Tar Heel Traveler news segment
I am happy to announce that I will be an exhibitor at this year's ResoGat in Wilkesboro, NC from July 11th to 14th. I will have my collection of Tut Taylor instruments and other memorabilia on display and will be around to discuss and play some flat picking dobro. The first time I got to sit down and pick with Tut was at the ResoGat. The ResoGat is held at the Holiday Inn Express in Wilkesboro, NC from Wednesday July 11th to Saturday July 14th and is free to attend.
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel to keep up to date on the latest live performance, instructional, and music videos on YouTube/Corey Lee McQuade
08/01/2017
I had a grand time at the ResoGat. Here is a full video of the workshop I conducted. Thanks to everyone that attended.
I am happy to announce that I will be conducting a workshop on how to flat pick the dobro in the style of Tut Taylor at the Gathering of Resonateurs (ResoGat) in Wilkesboro, NC this year. The workshop will be at 10:30 am on Thursday 7/6/17. The ResoGat is held each year at the Holiday Inn in Wilkesboro, NC and is free to attend.
How to flat pick the dobro in the style of Tut Taylor videos. Step by step instruction on how to play the square neck resonator guitar (dobro) with a flat pick just like Tut Taylor. Videos are over 20 minutes long each and free. There are no accompanying tabs but I take things slow. If you have any questions or requests contact me here on my website. More lessons are available on my YouTube page.
Papa's Dobro has a new home. I have been very saddened by the loss of Tut Taylor. He is an American music legend and my hero as well as one of my best friends. He told me before he passed that he was very happy to know that his style of flat picking the dobro would live on even after he was gone and thanked me for that. He wrote about that in the liner notes of my tribute album Double Clutching and in the lyrics to his song Papa Don't Play the Dobro Anymore. In the song he talks about the dobro sitting and waiting to be played once again after Papa passes away and then mentions the new flat picker Corey Lee McQuade coming. It has been two years now since he passed and just as he said his dobro had been waiting until recently. I am the new proud owner of Tut's Tennessee Resonator made by his son Mark in 2000. This instrument was built for the Aereo-plain Band Reunion Show and was Tut's main resonator. He hand painted the case which I have retired from road travel. I painted a new case in tribute to his old painted case for his Dobro Model 27 with his Dobrolic Plectral Society logo and use his reso as my main instrument.
I am very proud to announce the release of my new album "Double Clutching" a tribute to Tut Taylor on Tutlee Records, produced by Tut Taylor.
CDs and Digital Downloads are available for purchase under the Store tab and you can stream the album under the Music tab. The album includes eleven of Tut's songs including "Double Clutching" a previously unreleased lost song of Tut's written in the early 70's and an instrumental version of John Hartford's "Vamp in the Middle". This was recorded mostly live in the studio with a collection of some of the finest musicians I know featuring Paul E Johnson, Xander Hitzig, Orion Hitzig, Garry Segal, and Clint Lewis.
Check out the Streaming section for streaming and digital song downloads from past live shows and jam sessions. There are some rare gems and wonderful moments available in MP3 and WAV formats for free. Some of my personal favorites are The Lone Wolf Revue show and Johnson's Crossroad performing The Grateful Dead's "Ramble on Rose" with Stig Stiglets on bass and lead vocal, John Hartford's "Back in the Goodle Days" from the John Hartford Memorial Festival, and Tut Taylor's "Mist on the High Meadow" which was almost included on the Double Clutching album as a live track. Also available is one of my most prized recordings from a pickin' party at Tut's house in the family room with both of us playing one of my favorite tunes of his "Steven's Steel". I am always adding new songs so be sure check back in from time to time.
The flat pickin' Dobro hits the silver screen. Check out a clip from James Franco's movie adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Child of God. I am singing and playing the old time West Virginia tune "Sandy Boys" with the Hell For Certain String Band. We spent an evening with Franco and company filming this scene and the next day we did a recording session of a handful of traditional tunes for part of the soundtrack to the film.
New song from Tut Taylor. Papa Don't Play the Dobro Anymore written by Tut in 2012. It is a real honor to be a part of this project and to be mentioned in the lyrics is beyond belief. This is the first song Tut has ever written with full lyrics out of hundreds of songs he's written.
From up in West Virginia come a new flat pick sound,
It's Corey Lee McQuade and he's coming to town.
Soon there will be flat pickers from all around
'cause Papa left his legacy down in old Shacktown.
Folks, I play a vintage '88 OMI 60D Dobro and use the name Dobro quite frequently and would like to remind everybody that Dobro is a registered trademark of the Gibson Guitar Corporation.