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Topic: My Fiftieth Anniversary....(sort of) |
Roger Rettig
From: Naples, FL
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 9:03 am
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October 2nd, 1957 was the day I started to learn guitar - I think this picture was taken a day or so later (and I'm still struggling with it!!!)
I'd kind-of hoped that I'd be a bit better by now, but it has brought me a lot of joy so far.
Watch for my 'post' in 2057 when I next report my progress!
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Bo Borland
From: South Jersey -
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 11:08 am
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Roger looks like he's learning a Buddy Holly tune. _________________ Bo Borland
Rittenberry SD10 , Derby D-10, Quilter TT12, Peavey Session 400 w/ JBL, NV112, Fender Blues Jr. , 1974 Dobro 60N squareneck, Rickenbacher NS lapsteel, 1973 Telecaster Thinline, 1979 blonde/black Frankenstrat
Currently picking with
Mason Dixon Band masondixonband.net |
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Billy Wilson
From: El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 11:38 am
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Roger, your friend Julian Smedley says to say hello to you. Congrats on your 50th. |
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Roger Rettig
From: Naples, FL
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 12:08 pm
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BO: It could have been - and it looks like it was a hard one!
Thanks, Billy - my best to Julian, too; he was fun to gig with!
Of course, this 50 years is just as a guitar-player - my body is considerably older...
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Chris LeDrew
From: Canada
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 1:46 pm
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Roger,
A while back, I asked on a thread who played on a Carlene Carter song called "Old Photographs". Donnie Hinson repied that the album credit was for a player named "Roger Reddick". Would that be you under the guise of a spelling error? _________________ Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Roger Rettig
From: Naples, FL
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 2:08 pm
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Hi, Chris
It probably was - I did a few sessions with Carlene, although I don't recall that title. As for spelling, I believe my name was correct on a CC album I saw once, but, with a name like mine, there are endless possibilities (Retic, Reddick, Pettig, and my least-favourite - Retting!!!)
RR |
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Chris LeDrew
From: Canada
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 2:31 pm
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Very cool, Roger! I love the playing on that song. Here are the lyrics:
Old Photographs (Carlene Carter)
Old photgraphs always make me laugh
Ponytails and golden locks
Dirty old boys from down the block
Always knew someday we'd have to go
Our separate ways
And you'll find someone to be
And I'd just go on being me
Chorus
Always searching, always finding
We love too easily
We end up some man's family
Always believing the unbelievable
Forever leaving for another man's love
Old photographs always make me laugh
Racin' on our bicycles, sun meltin' popsicles
Jumpin' on trampolines,children have the neatest things
And July Fourth was never hot
The sun was just a great clock
Repeat Chorus
Old photographs always make me laugh
What happened to the dreams
What we thought were the simple things
It's been a long time now
And still it's funny how
Old photographs sometimes make me cry
Old photographs sometimes make me cry
You may remember the chorus....either way, great job!
Chris |
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Jack Stoner
From: Kansas City, MO
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Posted 4 Oct 2007 2:44 am
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Roger, being as we are both Florida "semi" retirees I'm close behind you. I started playing in a Band in 1959. Got my first Guitar in about 1949 and my first laptop steel in 1951. |
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Roger Rettig
From: Naples, FL
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Posted 4 Oct 2007 5:18 am
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Hi, Jack...
I'm not actually retired, and I see no prospect of it, either. It always makes me smile seeing all these TV commercials telling me how to manipulate my retirement fund - they obviously never played the guitar for a living, or they'd know there's no such thing.
It's been an interesting life so far, though.
I started playing guitar as I've said on 10/2/57, and I was getting a living from it by 1960. I didn't get a steel (a ZB Student model) until 1974, when that country-rock scare hit the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. It was a big step in Britain back then, but there were some pioneers who'd pre-dated me - Gerry Hogan, Basil Hendricks, Gordon Huntley, etc - so I had some help.
I moved to the USA in 1998, and we came to Florida five years ago for my wife's job. If I happen not to be working - like right now - I'm living on the golf-course, so it feels like retirement; I've had a good year, so there's a bit in the bank!
Life could be a lot worse...
RR |
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Don Sulesky
From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH
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Posted 4 Oct 2007 5:53 am
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Another Floridian chiming in.
I started playing guitar on October 19th,1958.
I used this day because I got my 1st playable Kay guitar on that day, my birthday, and was able to play chords on it then.
I fooled around before that on an old piece of junk my father owned when he played years ago.
I then like you picked up the lap steel in the early 70's and bought my 1st pedal steel in 1976, a Shobud and the love affair was on.
Don |
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