The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey Joey - thanks for mentioning me. I had a great time playing with CC&LPA when we left Michigan and came to Berkeley in 1969. It was a great time to come from the midwest and catch the end of the psychedelic 60's. I never tried to "be the Commander" as Frayne states in the video. I l...

I guess a lot of people have heard the hundred dollar bill story - various versions - it's just paparazzi gossip anyway, but I do know that the great Curly Chalker album Big Hits on Big Steel has an interesting note on the back.... "Produced by Pete Drake". I think steel guitar has had an ...

I heard a story years ago in Nashville that one night Buddy Emmons played some of his usual great stuff in a club and Pete Drake was there. This is probably all completely wrong- but the story went - that Buddy looked at Pete Drake and said "can you do that?". Pete took out his wallet and ...

Chalker almost went to prison once for whacking a drunk over the head with the metal leg of his pedal steel guitar. Ironically, this breach of temper attracts pedal steel players to him even more, since he did it to stop the drunk from leaning on his pedal steel -- which is apparently the worst thin...

What era is the DVD from and what tunes - there is hardly any description on the Forum site. Being Curly I know it's good - I will order it as soon as I can.

Steve

Hey Mike,

I'm kind of new and have been reading posts up and down for a couple of weeks. I remember seeing something about the DVD you have. How can I get one? I just heard some of your Spanish music. I love it. Do you think Curley kept his low string unpedaled at A?

I remember that day in my second floor bedroom. Are you really in Australia now? I always wondered where you were. I was pretty good at stealing licks off lps. They were the worse for the wear. We didn't have ipods in those days. Let me know what's going on down there (it your really are there) - I'...

Not yet, but Curley was always the player I most revered. I stood next to him at the 1968 Nashville DJ's convention in a hotel room where he and some guys played for hours. DJ's were stumbling around drinking whiskey and there were a lot of other rooms with music, but I didn't move the whole aftenoo...

Does anyone know what Curley's pedal setup was? I don't think he used a lot of knee pedals.

Thanks for the invite. I'm sure I'll be there. Fairfax is a great place - reminds me of the 60's. thanks to Joe Goldmark again for the good words. Anyone else know of Bay Area events with steel guitar?

Peri's Club was rockin'. Fairfax is a little off my East Bay / West Bay normal hangouts. I haven't seen a scene like that since the CCLPA days in Berkeley.. Only problem was getting in the door! It really was great talking to Dave Zirbel and David Phillips. I hope to here more. David Phillips univer...

I'm trying to get a group of cronies to come too on Saturday. What time does the music start? You won't recognize me because I'm older - wow. That was profound!

Thanks again for the ideas - I did try to contact Billy C and reached his wife in Alabama - she said he is in France for a concert for a couple of weeks. I don't really expect any real $$$ from the CD's, especially as I was just a musician, not a composer. What I have learned in the last two weeks i...

I still haven't digested the content of the CDs. It brings back a lot of memories. I have to let others decide the value. I was neeeeeew to the instrument and can say the last stuff starts to sound better to me, but I was always more critical of my playing than others it seems. The 2 CD set is on a ...

Just picked up the CD.
If you want to cut some Curly chops for steel players who didn't get to know his work, I'm sure he wouldn't mind.

Greg,

How about if I burn a CD from the LP and send it. I'll need your address.

Steve

I just dug up my old LP of Carl Smith "I Love You Because". It has Curly on the whole LP. Columbia CS9898. I guess I got it in Nashville in about 1968. Kaw-Liga, Blue, Blue Day, Low and Lonely, This Cold War With You, Please Help Me I'm Falling. No credits for the players but in 2 seconds ...

Adair, Could you tell us a little about your introduction of steel guitar into your country's music. On your site the sertanejo music of Zeze di Camargo & Luciano works perfectly with steel. Do groups travel with steel players as in the US for their live shows? How much other Brazilian music - c...

I'm new to this forum, but started steel playing in the 60's. I had been in Ecuador and found Brazilian music to my liking and switched to violão. I met Paulinho Nogueira twice, he became my main influence. I went with him to Ubatuba for a Caipira guitar festival once. I found your music here last w...

I think we used the song to "cool off" a few times and we frequently used the song to end a night. What was good about Cody in those days is we would switch styles. Family Bible featured John Tichy and me and while it seemed out of context with other stuff somehow it fit in. Typical set li...

I'm waiting for it from Amazon - haven't got it yet. Always wondered if there was any other material from those years out there. The only real studio time we had was on Lost in the Ozone. The rest was live. If the title is true - I'm the only steel player on it. We'll see. Thanks Olaf. I found out a...

As I said in the first post - I was really just walking thru some of my old haunts in San Francisco with a friend and my wife. That was only a few days ago and since then - I have been reading thru a lot of posts and they bring back a lot of memories. Friends like Rick Nicklas who moved back to Miss...

Oh, I made a mistake - I meant to say there wasn't any time the LPA wasn't smoked. Thanks for the good words. I'm ready to get back into playing. Nice break, huh?

As a full time Ozoner I assure you all - no one in the LPA ever smoked any illegal substances.... at least as I can remember.

My real name was on my Draft Card. San Francisco was my home, Creeper was my name.