The Steel Guitar Forum

Thanks for posting these memories of Lee, Duane. He was a prince of a guy and a well known steel player for decades around Spokane. I attended his memorial service last Friday and it was a nice service and fitting tribute with some of the pics you posted here shown. Lee lost his wife of 63 years, Da...

I'm sure many of you, like me, have reached the point where you are converting old analog tape recordings to digital before they disintegrate. I wanted to share this song that my dad, my brother and I recorded back around 1998. This is a great Shelby Lynne song (aren't ALL of her songs great?!). Our...

Donna - Thanks for that loving insight. I don't believe anyone in the world of steel guitar ever had as much fun cranking out a tune than did Tommy Dodd! I loved watching him work! His immersion in a song was total and unique. I recall sitting in front of him in one of the jam rooms at the Phoenix s...

Thanks for all the responses folks! It appears we have a committed buyer for Ray's Bigsby! It sounds like it will be in good hands a even be exercised occasionally!

I have been in e-mail contact with Sally Montee, Ray's widow and she still has his 4-neck Bigsby and is ready to sell it at a considerably reduced price (like <$10K). If anyone here on the forum is interested in acquiring this beautiful instrument and the history that comes with it, shoot me a call ...

I have been in e-mail contact with Sally Montee, Ray's widow and she still has his 4-neck Bigsby and is ready to sell it at a considerably reduced price (like <$10K). If anyone here on the forum is interested in acquiring this beautiful instrument and the history that comes with it, shoot me a call ...

Sad, but expected news for sure. Pete Burak, I can't tell you what a comfort it was to read your posts in Ray's last days and know that a friend was there talking steel guitar with him and listening to JB music. You were a true friend to Ray and as one forumite said, you represented us all by proxy....

Dean - if you do make it to Spokane, add me to your contact list. I was a board member with the NW Steel Guitar Assoc when it as active and Duane was President. Duane and I organized most of the Steel Jams in the area at that time that pulled in the super pickers that Duane mentioned. I am always in...

David - It has been many months since I've logged onto the forum so I am just now reading this news. Loved Bill. He was one big hearted guy with a perpetually positive disposition. Sorry to hear of his passing. Hope all is well with you and Red.

Played a lot of music with Russ over the years as I know you did too, Duane. Great lead picker and a big hearted human being. Dad and I are planning to be there tomorrow at the Eagles, Duane. Spoke to Lee Lessig and he will be there too.

I need to add my voice to this chorus. Mike is so easy going and a joy to be around; a true gentleman and a generous soul. Last year in PHX, my Dad and I jammed endlessly with Mike in the GFI room and Mike generously invited me to play bass on his showcase. We always enjoy attending these steel guit...

Great to hear you are on the Internet now, Danny. I got your FB friend request and sent you a message there. You are going to love the SGF and the exposure it affords you to an unbelievable group of people, friends and fellow musicians. I will definitely contact you anytime I am in the Nashville are...

I just returned from a trip to Nashville and need to put a plug in for Danny Dunn. I got to sit in and play with Danny last Sunday evening and have to say he plays outstanding steel, lead guitar, harmonica and vocal (lead and harmony). He has professionally backed Charlie Pride, Jerry Reed, Tanya Tu...

It was great meeting you in PHX, Ray and talking music with you. You are an unbelievable vocal talent and certainly an "anchor man" when it comes to bringing a song to the stage at these steel guitar events. Keep doing what you do, Ray. Oh - and one of these times I want to hear you play t...

I would like to add my thanks to the SWSGA and a personal thanks to Mike Sigler for allowing my Dad and I to jam with him in the GFI room and for his generosity in asking me to back him on bass during his showcase. Mike - I am so glad to have had the chance to get to know you and I look forward to s...

I hadn't checked this thread in a few weeks, but so glad to see a few others adding their viewpoints - and with great depth and much thought. I agree with all viewpoints posted - especially the hope/belief that a lifetime of accumulated knowledge, talent and the passion that fueled it continues to l...

Thanks to everyone for listening and posting, and thanks especially to Frank for adding to the back story with his heartfelt words. I have one more song to add to this thread along with a couple of pics. "Tea for Two Cha Cha" is what this file was labeled. This may have been one of the ext...

I just realized that I stated twice in posts above that Uncle Bob used the Roland Ready Strat to simulate a B3 Organ in "So Rare." I was wrong - the B3 simulation is in a song called "There Will Never Be Another You" a link to which is posted below. This is another that I think F...

Thanks to all for listening and commenting. To answer Tommy's question about the Saxophone (and the B3 Organ on "So Rare"), YES Uncle Bob created those instrument sounds on his Strat. The "Roland Ready" term refers to a Strat that has a special connector and controls on it that l...

It is amazing that someone had not thought of putting a Bigsby Bar type of string bending arrangement like that on a Lap Steel much sooner, considering how long the lap steel has been around! Thanks for posting that interesting video Kjell and good luck with your own ideas.

You are so right, David - Danny's creative mind must be wired just slightly different from most. I've not heard anyone play steel like that - he comes very close to your style just more abstract. I could certainly hear you and Danny trading licks and feeling right at home with each other.

JJ

I asked Frank if I could post these songs and he graciously agreed and suggested I included the back story for them, so I'll try to be brief. Robert Zuder was my Uncle and a friend of Franks for probably 35 years. He was a "musical hero" to us both and one of the finest lead pickers you co...

April 11th will mark the 6th year since the passing of Mr. Byrd. It was reported at the time that his brother had been sitting bedside with Jerry and witnessed Jerry looking down at his hands and saying, "These hands will never, ever play the steel guitar again." That statement seems so pr...

Thanks again for giving this a listen and for your generous feedback. Norm - I agree with your character assessment on Jim & Frank, top notch guys. I will continue to post material as I generate more. Stay tuned, I have some instrumental collaborations that I think are going to blow your socks o...

Frank and I collaborated on this Paul Overstreet tune thru some e-mail and snail mail file sharing with the help of Big Jim Baron. Frank's ability to interpret a song is amazing to me and his steel phrasing on this song is incredible. My friend Walter Goeres in PHX also laid down some long distance ...