ROOTS of Country Music

The Professional Work of Bud Isaacs

(b. Bedford, Indiana ~ Mar. 26, 1928)

 At age fourteen, Bud Isaacs hopped a train from his hometown of Bedford, Indiana (IN), to Louisville, Kentucky and then on to Nashville, Tennessee (TN)where his goal was to break into the Grand Ole Opry. 

Although initially booked to play on Nashville’s hallowed stage with Pee Wee King, Isaacs was sent back home after revealing his age.  Throughout the remainder of his teen years, Isaacs played local dances and eventually achieved regional fame playing for WIBC of Indianapolis. 

From there, he played in Michigan and Cincinnati, where he switched from six-string guitar to steel guitar while doing session work for King Records. 

Isaacs soon became a high demand steel player in Nashville, TN, landing recording opportunities with Hank Williams, Red Foley and Patsy Cline. 

In 1951, Isaacs finally got a gig at the Grand Ole Opry with Eddie Hill’s band and singed a record deal with Chet Atkins at RCA Victor in 1954.  Although none of his singles were huge hits, Isaacs created some standard steel guitar showpieces like Hot Mocking Bird and Bud’s Bounce (1955).

A 1984 inductee of Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, Bud Isaacs revolutioned the playing of his instrument by introducing the “pedal glissando” in Webb Pierce’s number one hit Slowly in 1954.