The Steel Guitar Forum

Having exhausted all options to find a solution to my health issues, the problem remains unresolved and I am now on Hospice. I just want to say thanks for the many years of association on the Forum with some of the finest individuals I have ever known, both professionally and personally. Our sometim...

From my files, a picture of Gary at a Western Swing Music Association event at Amarillo, Texas.

69 years!

So sad to hear this. Gary and I shared many a bandstand over the years.

During the 15 years or so that I played western swing way back before ever playing a single country gig, the working bass and drums players could have moved seamlessly and unobtrusively between big band and western swing bandstands without changing a beat or style. Many of them actually came from bi...

WORLDS WORST PEDAL STEEL: The Japanese Tiesco, using bicycle clutch & brake cables to connect pedals with changers. ALMOST AS BAD: The first Rickenbacker pedal steel. HONORABLE MENTION: A Fender lap steel with pedals of unknown origin added. Considering it's limitations, it played fairly well, b...

Initially I tried to play wearing bi-focals but could never adjust. Fortunately, my eye doctor recommended mono-vision contacts (one contact in the left eye for the steel, and a contact in the right eye for distance). The adjustment period was immediate, because the brain automatically selects the a...

1996 Harley Heritage

When my wife was suffering with cancer, Fred did a "Sweat Lodge" ceremony on her behalf, and obviously it helped as she is still with me. May the wind be at your back as you ride into the great beyond old friend.

Back in the 1960's I worked a tour with the Alligator man. He was a gentleman and a pro and easy to work with. Seems like the entertainers from that era are going away faster than WWII vets.

When I started playing steel guitar in 1948, only musicians knew what it was.

When I retired from playing steel guitar in 2001, only musicians knew what it was.

In memory of Roy I am playing one of his CD's as I write this post. Bless you Laurie.

Could and did.

I continued to carry a full load of equipment all the way into my seventies until I retired.

My compromise was a "rock-n-roll" cart that I could roll fully loaded in and out of the side doors of my van to wherever I needed to go.

Mickey, you are an inspiration. Be sure to occasionally season that heart healthy diet with a fine steak and a glass of vintage wine. You deserve it!

Behind every successful man is..........

It's inspirational to learn of your mother's extraordinary contribution to the career of one of the worlds greatest music stylists.

May she rest in peace.

Sedalia brings back memories.

I was playing steel with Conway when he was the headliner at the Missouri State Fair in 1965 or 66.

There was just four of us on that great big stage, Conway, Big Joe, Pork Chop, and me.

Leroy, that is really sad news. Joel was much too young for his life to end so soon. Our condolences to his wife, who we met when she played the Harp at our friends wedding anniversary celebration.

Gene

I can say without any doubt that line dancing and especially "Achy Breaky Heart" was what seriously started me thinking about retirement.

When I was at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, in 1951, I saw Krupa and his band when they played at the service club.

One of the original units with the mechanical Leslie style wheel was the CORD-O-VOX, originally marketed for accordion, but later used by steel players, including the album by Chalker.

Those infrequent and fleeting "in the zone" nights happen just often enough to keep a player "sucked in" for life through all those other nights.

I bought one of the first pedal steels that Rickenbacker built. It was a monstrosity to tune and keep in tune. After two weeks I returned it to the music store.

Singing off meter has always been Willies intentional style, but he and the band always reach the end of the song at the same time.