The Steel Guitar Forum

I just took a look at the LP and no personnel are listed. The LP is called Texas Bill Strength's Greatest Hits on Re-Car records. Several of the songs give Bill Strength the writing credit.

I only knew of Texas Bill Strength and heard may stories from local musicians who played the Flame Cafe. About 10 years ago or so I found a large box of records at a Twin Cities thrift store. All classic country many still sealed and many with Bill Strength's name written on them. The box included a...

The B film Cash stared in was Five Minutes to Live or Door to Door Maniac. Ronny Howard played the little kid. Merle Travis has a bit part in it as well and does some of he music. I think Vic Tayback was also in it. Obviously a low budget film, but fun to watch. Cash's physical appearance also shows...

Out of couriosity I went into one of the Minneapolis Best Buy's that was one of the first to carry insturments. I was skeptical, but once inside I was somewhat impressed. Nice selection of amps and guitars. I didn't look at the other types of instruments. One of the salesreps approached me. He was a...

Unless Joe is out of town, he's usually with Becky Thompson at Lee's Liquor Lounge on Mondays. A very good local band. Besides the great musicians, Becky and the boys always manage to place a few tunes you don't usually hear local bands play.

Joe;
Just the other day I was wondering when the CD was coming out. I just ordered one, so I look forward to hearing it. Colette and I still get comments about your playing at our wedding. Not a bad comment in the bunch.

Steve P

Hey, you still got my Jimmy Day CD?

I was not aware that Ken was originally from Caladonia MN, A small farming community near my home town of Austin MN. He was a true legend. Thinking about Ken's achievements made me realize that many of may favorite albums were produced by him.

James has a lot of talent. He's also a film director. He directed Dale Watson's Justice For All video (which I think is a wonderful video) and James directed a full-length western film staring David Caradine. Don't recall the name of it right now, but it's on Jame's website. I bought the DVD. Good f...

Here's one I took of Rhonda at the Ryman back in 2005. She gives bluegrass sex appeal.

Found this on YouTube.

Kellie Pickler on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juOQhTuzDQ0

It's amazing.

Delvin I was in Wennicks up in Ham Lake last week. On Hwy 65. Saw the rhinestone Rockmount as there along with a few other Rockmounts. They had a few nice "retro shirts", one with muscical notes on the yokes but mostly the modern style shirts. Schatzlein's on Lake street usually carries so...

I was in a weastern wear store today and saw a nice Rockmount with chain stitching and rhinestones. $89. I think the Rockmount website has it for $85 For me, I like the fancy stitching and piping rather than the rhinestones. Marty Stuart mostly wears Manuel. Katy K in Nashville has a number of nice ...

The last couple of surgeries I've had (including the shoulder) they had me mark the body part to be operated on with a Sharpie. I guess if they operated on the wrong body part it would be my own fault.

I had the surgury back in '93. Injured myself pitching batting practice to my little league team. I lived with the pain for a couple years, but couldn't throw without pain, it hurt to play acoustic guitar and worst of all it hurt when I had wrapped my arm around a woman, slow dancing. Today my shoul...

Here's a photo of Dale and DonDon at the Austin MN show last week. Great show at the restored Paramount Theater.

A few weeks ago I saw Bon Jovi on one of the morning shows and he performed a couple songs off the new album. During the interview he was asked about recording a country album and his response was that he did not record a country album nor is he going country. He said it happens that album was recor...

Never saw the documentary in question, but.. Several years ago, the first time I met Willie I had the opportunity to talk with him about his jazz influences - specificaly Django. Willie's eyes lit up and he had a big smile when I asked the question. He said not many ask him that kink of question. He...

I have CTS in my left hand as a result of playing acoustic guitar. I was also having the numbness during the night due to bent wrist while sleeping. I went to a hand specialist. I was/am not a candidate for surgery at this time, but they had me see a therapist it it was quite interesting. For the sl...

Dale Watson announced his new video on his website (news link) for the song Justice For All. It's also found on YouTube. This is the new song from his new CD From the Cradle to the Grave, coming out later this month. Great video. Dale played this song at the Opry a couple months ago and I thought it...

As soon as Google bought YouTube a couple months ago they started deleting files. There were rumors that is it was going to happen and Google jumped on it right away as soon as they took ownership. I guess to make a good impression on someone. I lost the Johnny Cash video of Folsom Prison Blues with...

I grew up in the 60's and when I was a few years old and we listened to music on the radio, I thought the singers/band were at the radio station poerforming live. On the other hand when I listened to records I knew it was a recording. I don't know why I thought there was a difference. When I was fiv...

Doyle; Always interesting to hear about the artists who stopped by the Turf Ballroom in Austin MN. Austin is my hometown. Unfortunately by the time I went to the Turf in the late 1970's it was at the end of its life as a Ballroom. It's now owned by some relegious group and used as a church. I didn't...

I've had the pleasure of working with Wanda and getting to know her and her husband a little bit at Midwest Country. They are wonderful people. Wanda still has a hint of naughtiness in her. After one of the Midwest Country shows I asked to have a picture taken with Wanda and she said we had to make ...

Erv I don't know if Bill's wife is still alive. A couple years ago the HOF's Journal of Country Music did a nice feature article on Texas Bill and his son was quoted quite a bit. (Issue with Billy Joe Shaver on the cover). If I remember the article correctly, I believe his son still lives in the Twi...

The name of the Columbia LP is Town Hall Party and it was recently reissued on Bear Family. I had never seen this LP before until recently when I found a copy that was from the estate of Texas Bill Strength. Bill wrote his name on the back of the LP cover. It's a fun LP with an interesting cover. I ...