The Steel Guitar Forum

So... I just took dad's triple-neck, one-off custom, birds's eye maple lap steel to get re-strung at Jensen's guitar.(apparently, a Rickenbacker custom) It was like Pulp Fiction, when the suitcase was opened and dad's lap steel was revealed. Everybody in the store stopped and said "this is Bill...

Just wanted all of you know that, if you would like to attend (and all are welcome) here's the info for next Friday. (from a previous post) Once again, I want to thank all of you for the responses. If any of you are close enough to attend his memorial, it will be held at the Veteran's Memorial Cemet...

Once again, I want to thank all of you for the responses. If any of you are close enough to attend his memorial, it will be held at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetary at Riverside, CA - staging area #4 at 10:45AM on Friday, March 14th He will be recieving full military honors, and if I could, full Coun...

I never did meet Billy in person, but it I think Joe Casey said it best, the guy was a great link to the era when Country Music was King on the west coast. I grew up in that era and enjoyed hearing Billy's recollections and filling in many of the blanks I have in my memory. His presence here on the...

My dear friend Joe Baker has gone home to RIP.Joe & I with my late friend Billy Smith & Lou Martin with our old boss the late Mr. Jack Tucker all worked together at the Pioneer Room in Norwalk,California. We had many years of fun gigging and jamming.RIP Joe.Your old friend Uncle Leo J.Eiffe...

I do believe dad went to Bell high.
So nice to see how many friends he had.

Thanks everyone for the replies and stories, I'll print these out and keep them in an album in his honor.

Steve Tonnesen

To all above, I appreciate all of your kind words and dad will know all of your thoughts are with him.
Tough this weekend not talking to him on Sunday as he or I always called each other on Sunday afternoons to check up.

Thanks again
Steve

My sincere condolences. I met Billy through Chance Roulette, or Whit Wilson, and it was my pleasure to watch him play, have him teach me a couple little tricks, and simply sit with him to watch Jeremy Wakefield and the Lucky Stars. Billy will always be remembered as a kick in the pants. We will mis...

Steve, can you recall where in Bell your father lived? Maywood/Bell is my old stomping grounds as well and would like to maybe see the old home via maps.google Was Billy a Bell High alum? I was really hoping his absence wasn't health related, but he gave us a good ride here at the SGF and answered ...

I am very sad to hear the news. Your father was one of my all time favorites. I've been enjoying his music since the early 50's. He was truly a great musician and one of the greats of the steel guitar. Much of his work helped to define Western Swing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your fa...

so sorry to hear this. our prayers to all his family and friends at this sad time. His Journey’s Just begun Don’t think of him as gone away- His journey’s just begun; Life holds so many facets- This earth is only one. Just think of him as resting From the sorrows and the tears In a place of w...

so sorry to hear this. our prayers to all his family and friends at this sad time. His Journey’s Just begun Don’t think of him as gone away- His journey’s just begun; Life holds so many facets- This earth is only one. Just think of him as resting From the sorrows and the tears In a place of w...

Craig Stock wrote:Found this bio by Billy which is really interesting and incredible.


http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=180866

Wow! thanks for that Craig.
I'll probably take a little something from all these responses and work it in to his ulogy.
My wife will be excited to read this.

Thank you Mike!
Dad was something special, I miss miss him dearly and he always talked so highly of the particpants of the forum.
It was a way he could still stay in touch with the art he truly loved.

Thanks Craig. My dad has been part of something very special over the dacades and I know when he had to stop playing due to physical limitations the fire went out. He did however still live vicariously through this forum and when he came to visit always wanted to check in with the forum and share wi...

Thank you Jerry.
I know that dad is looking down with a smile and he cherished all the memories of playing with folks like you.
Yup, he was a tall one for sure, so many photos of him standing tall over his groups you could always tell who Billy was.

Take care, and thank you for the reply.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of William "Billy" Tonnesen. He left us peacefully last Saturday, February 22 at his home in Buena Park, California. Struggling with bladder cancer over the last several years he finally called it quits. I know that he really enjoyed par...

Thank you.
You are more than welcome to attend the memorial if you can.
I hope some of his friends of the era will be able to attend as well.

Peace
Steve

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of William "Billy" Tonnesen. He left us peacefully last Saturday, February 22 at his home in Buena Park, California. Struggling with bladder cancer over the last several years he finally called it quits. I know that he really enjoyed par...

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of William "Billy" Tonnesen. He left us peacefully last Saturday, February 22 at his home in Buena Park, California. Struggling with bladder cancer over the last several years he finally called it quits. I know that he really enjoyed par...