Heavy Lifting: The Hammond Organ Has a Special Place in Austin ... I Should Know

Austin's an epicenter for an instrument that stopped being manufactured 47 years ago

"...The Hammond organ – it's heavy, it's hard to move, you..."

April 1, 2022 Music Feature by Red Young

Dreamland

This ensemble piece set in a rural mobile-home park has a solid emotional center despite some dramatic mood swings.

"...– as well as nifty design, down to its Hammond-organ Photek soundtrack and desert chic – but this ensemble..."

Dec. 1, 2006 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

The Drifter

Mike Flanigin's accidental (and all-star) organ-grinding

"...a masterful delivery each and every time that famous Hammond B-3 is fired up...."

Aug. 14, 2015 Music Feature by Jim Caligiuri

Sister Bobbie

'Sister Bobbie' puts the 'Family' in Willie Nelson and Family

"...that my grandmother start teaching me on the pump organ we had in the house."..."

Jan. 18, 2008 Music Feature by Doug Freeman

I'll Fly Away: “Sister” Bobbie Nelson Passes on at Age 91

Soul of Willie Nelson & Family called the piano her "truest friend"

"...I recovered from my nervous breakdown, too, playing the organ. It's my medication. My piano is always there. As..."

March 10, 2022 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

All or Nothing

Ian McLagan: Small Face, Face, auxiliary Rolling Stone, A-list sideman, Austinite

"...used to take photographs of his shoes underneath the Hammond – just his shoes. They looked so great, poking..."

March 20, 2015 Music Feature by Tim Stegall

Dr. Lonnie Smith’s B-3 Love Affair

Getting existential with the organ’s greatest suitor

"...Antone’s is booking a who’s who of Hammond B-3 organists lately, including a summit last year with..."

Sept. 29, 2017 Music Post by Thomas Fawcett

Of a Lifetime

Gregg Rolie, the voice of classic rock, and originally, Journey

"...he? Lessons didn't stick, but Jimmy Smith and his Hammond B-3 organ did, and soon the teen was playing..."

Sept. 25, 2009 Music Feature by Raoul Hernandez

Whirled of Sound

Tracking down Rob Halverson and Robinson Ear's Little Whirled of Sound.

"...of them intricately and mercilessly carved into the discomfitingly organic curves of the human ear; lots of computer equipment;..."

Jan. 21, 2000 Music Feature by Christopher Hess

Live Shots

Beastie Boys, Rancid, Asiandubfoundation

"...hell without ever sounding somber; the band features a Hammond organ that could easily have been deleted from the..."

Sept. 18, 1998 Music Feature

All Extremities Involved

"...I read your article with joy. [“Heavy Lifting: The Hammond Organ Has a Special Place in Austin … I..."

April 2, 2022 Postmarks

Bubba Ho-Tep

Elvis Presley and JFK (played brilliantly by Campbell and Davis) fight a soul-sucking mummy in this twisted sci-fi horror film loaded with generous chunks of cheese.

"...cheese generously. Brian Tyler’s score is a mix of Hammond-organ swamp funk and rockabilly-Morricone twang guitar and those epic..."

Oct. 24, 2003 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Reverend Organ Drum

"...Reverend Organ DrumHi-Fi Stereo (Yep Roc)..."

Feb. 15, 2008 Music Review by Austin Powell

Off the Record

Commemorating the 95th birthday of Pinetop Perkins one year at a time, exploring Willie's Place at Carl's Corner, and a pregame pep talk with Paul Wall

"...with a private benefit for the Freddy Powers Parkinson Organization that found the nonprofit's namesake rattling off as many..."

July 4, 2008 Music Column by Austin Powell

Sabor a Mi

"...they asked me to audition for the job at Hammond Organ, that's the song I played on the piano...."

Jan. 18, 2008 Music Feature by Doug Freeman

Steve Winwood

"...whiskey angel belting out "Gimme Some Lovin'" behind a Hammond organ with the Spencer Davis Group. His vision of..."

Sept. 19, 2003 Music Feature by Margaret Moser

SXSW Records

Jeff Beck

"..."Skip's Song" being a melancholy acoustic dirge with a Hammond organ droning in the background; "Dinner Train to Dutchtown,"..."

March 12, 1999 Music Feature

Carrie Rodriguez

"...Love," for example. "Sad Joy" channels John Prine with Hammond organ that rolls behind the mellow melody. And in..."

Feb. 1, 2013 Music Review by Cara Tillman

Mothers of Reinvention

White Denim's Fits of maximum R&B

"...in Block's bedroom, one wall consumed by a Farfisa organ, as is the case with the L-100 Hammond organ..."

Oct. 23, 2009 Music Feature by Austin Powell

Robert Randolph & the Family Band

Record Reviews

"...demon in the land. Applying the poor congregations' pipe organ substitute -- dubbed Sacred Steel -- to a naif's..."

July 19, 2002 Music Review by Raoul Hernandez

Texas Platters

"...move along. Were it not for the deliciously droning Hammond organ, all B-52's comparisons could finally be disposed of..."

July 11, 1997 Music Review

Sxsw

"...maybe they don't write songs as good as Billy Corgan, but, hey, who'd want to be that fucked up..."

March 14, 1997 Music Feature

Jimmie Vaughan

"...longing. On song of contrasts "Hold It," Mike Flanigin's Hammond organ suspends in air, buoyed by George Rains' pocket..."

Sept. 6, 2019 Music Review by Alejandra Ramirez

Gary Nicholson / Whitey Johnson

"...irreparable nation. It ripples with acoustic guitars, violins, and Hammond organ, Nicholson's almost-cracking tenor caressing woebegone words on recent..."

July 5, 2019 Music Review by Tim Stegall

The Crack Pipes

"...title track, the überfunky "Sha-Zam" features Riley Osbourne's thick Hammond organ, a Funkadelic-tinged "Giraffe" boasts remarkable free jazz sax..."

Nov. 9, 2018 Music Review by Tim Stegall

Saturday SXSW Sleepers

"...Kenny Garrett. The jazz/soul musician's first love was playing Hammond organ in church, hence latest solo album The Revival...."

March 18, 2016 Music Feature

Lee Michaels

"...as a pioneer in the duo format – just Hammond organ and drums. Longtime Austinite and world-class drummer Barry..."

Dec. 18, 2015 Music Review by Jim Caligiuri

ACL Review: Tame Impala

“Mind Mischief” for “Apocalypse Dreams” from Down Under

"...while the hulking, road-grating “Elephant” stopped conversations by stacking Hammond organ and drum solos...."

Oct. 3, 2015 Music Post by Kahron Spearman

Let the Music

Garage punk Orville Bateman Neeley III crosses over

"...on the latter. Of course he just added a Hammond organ to a track on the latest OBN IIIs..."

Sept. 18, 2015 Music Feature by Tim Stegall

Hot August Nights: Hot

"...a massive orchestral psychedelia summoned by Vincent Crane's roaring Hammond organ, set Europe alight and gave producer Pete Townshend..."

Aug. 28, 2015 Music Feature by Raoul Hernandez

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