Redd Volkaert Pure Vintage Media Podcast Interview 9/16/25

Описание: From Pure Vintage Media
@purevintageguitars

Redd Volkaert is a Canadian guitarist and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar players in the modern era and is "among the country’s top Telecaster guitar slingers” particularly in the genres of western swing and honky tonk. He was the go-to picker for Merle Haggard and has a history playing with Johnny Paycheck and George Jones. Volkaert frequently performs in the company of his fellow Telecaster stalwart Bill Kirchen, formerly of Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen. Together, they are often referred to as the "Titans of the Telecaster" due to their ability and notoriety with the instrument.
Volkaert began performing at 16, playing clubs six nights a week until the mid-1980s in Canada. He moved to Los Angeles in 1986. There, he worked clubs and private gigs at night, and gave guitar lessons and recorded during the day. He regularly travelled to Las Vegas to play show rooms and casinos.
Volkaert moved to Nashville in 1990 to play full-time at clubs seven nights a week on Broadway, Printers Alley, and around town. He had one or two shifts a day between recording sessions most days, periodically traveling with road bands filling in as a substitute for guitarists in bands such as Johnny Paycheck, George Jones, Statler Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, as well as on the Grand Ole Opry. He joined Merle Haggard's band in 1997 while continuing to record with other musicians such as Brad Paisley, garnering a 2009 Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance. In 2000, Volkaert moved to Austin, Texas where he held a residency at the Continental Club for 20 years with his own band on Saturday afternoons, and Sunday nights with the band Heybale! He continued to tour extensively with Merle as well as his own band in between tours.

From country and western swing to jazz and rock, Redd Volkaert is considered a true giant of country music and the Telecaster guitar. Redd is a Grammy-winner and a guitar-playing legend who is renowned throughout the country music world and beyond.

Volkaert played in Merle Haggard’s backing band The Strangers in the spot previously staffed by Roy Nichols. In addition, he has recorded and performed with a who’s who of country music stars such as George Jones, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens, Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, and many more.

Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Redd spent more than a decade in Nashville, playing with the likes of Ray Price, The Statler Brothers and eventually behind Merle Haggard.

Volkaert moved to Austin, Texas, where he lived for some 20 years, including performing at Austin’s famed Continental Club every weekend.

Redd now lives in Galax, Virginia, and performs internationally in addition to his residency at The Floyd Country Store in Floyd, Virginia.

Redd is considered an icon on the Telecaster with numerous guitar models named after him. In addition to his seamless ability to conjure up a vast array of complex guitar styles, Redd is beloved for his trademark wit and sense of humor.

Redd won a Grammy for his own work in 2009, after making an international name for himself as lead guitarist for Merle Haggard. His interpretation of the classic Roy Nichols guitar style led to a quote in Guitar Player magazine by Merle: “When I close my eyes, I sometimes hear Roy Nichols playing over there, and that has never happened before.”

He has released five CDs on his own and recorded and/or played guitar live with a host of world-class artists.

Visit Redd's Official Website - https://reddvolkaert.com

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