The Steel Guitar Forum

Bill also played on Curly Chalker's "Big Hits On Big Steel" Columbia recording 1965/66. Bill was from Tulare CA and his father was a piano teacher.

Speedy was my first steel guitar hero in the early 50s. finally got to meet him in 1959 at a trade show.

Curly Chalker played on the early 50s.

I went to his house in Downey a couple of times in the 50s. A very colorful man to say the least.

There was the video that Buddy Played in England, that was incredible but disappeared except of "Raising the Dickens" which is a takeaway from that video.

Curly's Fender of "Big Hits" was a 2000 D-10, as he stated in a Guitar Player Mag story in 1973.

My friend, the late Chuck Morphis moved from So/Cal to the Central Valley many years ago and he always talked about the time he spent with Blackie, as he turned Chuck on to the Steel Guitar. Blackie mentored many players in his lifetime and left a lot of friends at his passing.

I have known Norm since we were both teenagers and in all the years since, he is as genuine as anybody you will ever meet. I remember a call from Norm to come over hear the new Texas Troubadour's album with the new steel player, Buddy Charleton. That was 1962. Yes, Norm is a very nice guy and being ...

I had the privilege of knowing Chuck Wright, the man as well as the builder. Yes, he built me two: one Wright Custom and one Sierra.

I had the thrill to go to Paul Bigsby's house and shop on Phlox Street, Downey Ca. in 1956. Very interesting man for sure.

Richard and his wife came to Morro Bay a few years back and he was everything that has been said over the years. Truly a fine player and he shows how the Kirk Sand guitar is supposed to sound. I came home and played my K S but it just didn't sing for me like Richard's does. Ah, the story of my life.

Whoa, Buddy pulled up a bit of Curly Chalker at 1:33 for a short burst.

CAB DRIVER project was recorded March 8, 9 10 and 11, 1971 With Harold LEE (CURLY, CHALKER, STEEL GUITAR. IN THE TRACK 9 DISCOGRAPHY of HANK THOMPSON, 1964-1986; There is no listing of JIM MURPHY with Thompson recordings.

Marcel was killed aboard flight 800 that was brought down by friendly fire.

Closer Walk should be all our desire. Can't go wrong on that. Keep it up.

George, you are right, that was a very nice visit you and your son graced us with. Sometimes wish we could step into the time machine and revisit times like that. Ah, those were the days. So sorry I didn't take the camera out and freeze the moment in time. I always took pics of the cat when he did s...

I have known Tom from the mid sixties and if you ever took him apart, you would find steel guitar parts through out him from head to toe. I wish he lived in my neighborhood, my wife would know where I am when she can't find me. When dealing with him; if anybody ever had the chance to be on the short...

When I answered Jim's ad on the Forum and met him at Phoenix; we were loading into my car, and I asked him if he had left any of Tommy's licks on it. I was heart broken when he said, "wiped the hard drive clean" and not only that, it was changed from Day to Emmons setup. It came from Jim w...

Hold on; I see a definite pattern developing here. Jim brought it from Philly to Phoenix in a Boeing Super Jet, I took it to Flagstaff in a Crown Vic, moved it to Morro Bay in a Mini-van, Peter took it to LA in a Prius, the next step is a Smart-For-Two, and when I see it on the back of a Moped rider...

Touche, Jim.

Hey; wait a minute, I would still have this if Jay Dee hadn't told Pete about it, Pete called me, and I folded and let it go, after I moved to Morro Bay. Oh me, what kind of monster did I create? I was living in Flagstaff when Jim had it on the Forum. He was flying to Phoenix anyway; I met him at Sk...

One night in the 90s, while watching the Whites on the Opry, and just before his mid-song solo, Tommy slipped his picks into his coat pocket and preceded to do his fine playing, sans finger picks and if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes; I never would've noticed it. I have on tape somewhere.

Norm and I grew up in the same neck of the woods and have known him before he began his career with Haggard. He is and always been the most down-to-earth man you would ever hope to meet. He and I shared a radio program in 1961 along with Gene Breeden of recording studio fame. It was in this time lin...

About April 1969, Carl Smith released "Good Deal Lucille" with Chalker. Jim Murphy also did some sessions on the steel and sax. for Carl Smith's 20th anniversary double album.

Randy, that one didn't make it, the Pony Express Rider must have been way-laid at the Colorado River by some of my in-law's relatives on the Reservation. Please give it another go, thanks.