John Hughey

About Steel Guitarists and their Music

Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn

Carlos Polidura
Posts: 688
Joined: 10 Feb 2004 1:01 am

Post by Carlos Polidura »

I am so sad we have lost another great and an inspiring person such as Mr. Hughey. He was one of my motivators on steel guitar as his style was so unique.
My condolences to his wife and entire family.
With much respect,
Carlos Polidura
User avatar
Drew Howard
Posts: 3910
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: 48854
Contact:

Post by Drew Howard »

HOW AWFUL!!! My condolences to the family!!

Drew
Norman Carlton
Posts: 51
Joined: 25 Sep 2006 12:01 am
Location: Advance North Carolina, USA

Post by Norman Carlton »

I have a CD of John's Gospel Instrumental. I have treasured it since the first time I heard it. Now, it's PRICELESS! Rest in Peace, Dear Friend
billy tam
Posts: 1287
Joined: 27 Mar 1999 1:01 am
Location: baton rouge, louisiana

John Hughey

Post by billy tam »

Indeed a blue Monday for the steel guitar world. We have lost an amazing pair of hands and probably the biggest heart in the steel comunity. My prayers to Miss Jean for her loss. Mr. John (I always called him that out of respect and admiration) seemed to have time chat steel and life in general the few times I was lucky enough to speak with him. He will be sorely missed.
Billy
User avatar
Dirk B
Posts: 523
Joined: 25 Sep 1998 12:01 am
Location: Harrisburg, MO, USA
Contact:

Post by Dirk B »

I'm so sorry to hear this.
User avatar
chris ivey
Posts: 12703
Joined: 8 Nov 1998 1:01 am
Location: california (deceased)

Post by chris ivey »

i'm not ready for this...........who's going to give me goose bumps now?
absolutely one of my main favorite inspirations!
i'm very sorry to hear this.
Nigel Mullen
Posts: 460
Joined: 15 May 2004 12:01 am
Location: Cassilis, New Brunswick, Canada

Post by Nigel Mullen »

John was such a fabulous steel guitar player. He'll certainly be missed by all of us. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Bill Sutton

Post by Bill Sutton »

john hughey was a legend. john hughey made conway with his crying steel. we will miss you john. god bless your family. thank you for the great music that you gave us.
Gary Steele
Posts: 1794
Joined: 18 Nov 2002 1:01 am
Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Class act

Post by Gary Steele »

He was a Class Act in every way. Always the same anywhere he was at. Dont know anyone that didnt think he was a Special guy. I believe i will see him again.
robert kramer
Posts: 2052
Joined: 27 Nov 1999 1:01 am
Location: Nashville TN

Post by robert kramer »

John Hughey's obituary from the Nashville Tennessean:

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... ERTAINMENT
User avatar
J D Sauser
Moderator
Posts: 2808
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Wellington, Florida
Contact:

Post by J D Sauser »

While I had the pleasure of seeing John Hughey at various conventions, I only once had the privilege to speak with him and was immediately overwhelmed to discover his generosity and simple approach to a person he had not know before.
We had brought a prototype instrument with us and he immediately offered to come up to my room and try it. We just wanted to have some feed back, not looking for endorsements or anything at that time. Anyway, John Hughey spent about an hour or more with us and our little creation and never even looked on his watch and gave us a very honest opinion.
I will always remember him for that and his music of course.
... J-D.
User avatar
Paul Wade
Posts: 5532
Joined: 27 Aug 2003 12:01 am
Location: mundelein,ill

j.h

Post by Paul Wade »

i first herd john at a jeff newman "june jam with
also, jimmy day what a treat for me john took my breath away what a player what tone, . he will be surely missed R.I.P :( john
paul wade
mundelein,ill
User avatar
Whip Lashaway
Posts: 509
Joined: 29 Aug 2002 12:01 am
Location: Monterey, Tenn, USA
Contact:

Post by Whip Lashaway »

I can't believe it! I will certainly be praying for his family and friends. So sorry to hear of this. Hang in there guys, we're losing a lot of precious friends.
Whip Lashaway
Sierra E9/B6 12 string
Sierra E9/B6 14 string
Excel S12 8x9 blue
Excel S12 8x9 black
Peter Hart
Posts: 249
Joined: 11 May 2005 12:01 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Post by Peter Hart »

I never had the privilege of hearing him play live but have admired him and all he has done for the steel guitar community. He will be dearly missed by all. My prayers go out to all of his family.

Pete
Terry Winter
Posts: 507
Joined: 20 Sep 2007 10:57 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Post by Terry Winter »

This is so heartbreaking! All I could dream of when starting to play was to sound like Mr. Hughey. His sound will always be sweet magic. My prayers also go out to his family.
User avatar
Bo Borland
Posts: 3947
Joined: 20 Dec 1999 1:01 am
Location: South Jersey -
Contact:

Post by Bo Borland »

I met Mr. H just a few years ago, he was a most unassuming and friendly gentleman. That was the day I first heard him play live and although I had heard his recorded work many times, I never realized who he was. No one loved the steel more than Mr. H, you could hear it in his playing. We are going to miss him. Adios John.
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
Dave Robbins
Posts: 803
Joined: 5 Feb 2000 1:01 am
Location: Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)

Post by Dave Robbins »

I was so sorry and surprised when I got the phone call about John. He was just a great guy, loved the steel guitar and had done so much for it. He treated everyone the same...and with respect.

I had many great talks with John. I'll never forget our talks.

He was and is a true legend.

Rest in peace, John Hughey

Dave
Dean Batye
Posts: 266
Joined: 22 Nov 2005 1:01 am
Location: California, USA, R.I.P.

Post by Dean Batye »

I was able to get to talk to John and Jean over the years at the steel shows,this man was a great human being,always had time for everyone. He will be missed by everyone, but will live on with the sound that he leaves behind. My prays go out to Jean and family.
Dean Batye
Concord,Ca
NTSGA
SWSGA
User avatar
Ray Montee
Posts: 9506
Joined: 7 Jul 1999 12:01 am
Location: Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Contact:

Lost in the Feelings.........................

Post by Ray Montee »

What a shock! Since the loss of JERRY BYRD and the host of others during the past several years, there likely will not be any real veterans left within another couple of years.

John was truly an artist, not just a player! It was a shear joy to hear him play.

A terrible loss..........
User avatar
Darvin Willhoite
Posts: 5715
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Roxton, Tx. USA

Post by Darvin Willhoite »

One thing John did do in the last few years is record several new CD's. Because of this, his music will live on for a long time. Some of the other great steel players that are still with us need to do the same. Especially Lloyd Green and Buddy Emmons, and there are many others. How else are the younger players going to know how the pioneers of this instrument sounded. It doesn't cost much to put out a really good project nowadays.

He will definitely be missed.
Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, as well as some older MSAs, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Recently added a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored blue Rose, named the "Blue Bird" to the herd. Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic again that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also added a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks.
Robert Cook
Posts: 81
Joined: 20 Apr 2005 12:01 am
Location: Collierville,TN

Post by Robert Cook »

I never met the man, but I heard him everytime the steel player would stretch that high note and make that steel whine.

You do not replace players like John, you just pray that you can do him honor whenever you put the picks on.

A great talent has gone to wait for the rest of us.
Left-handed Pedalmaster-10, Nashville 1000, Fender Twin, Goodrich
User avatar
Ken Thompson
Posts: 357
Joined: 13 Aug 2004 12:01 am
Location: Great Falls, Montana, USA

Post by Ken Thompson »

I am so sad to hear this. To me, Mr Hughey was THE player that caught my attention rather it was with Conway or Vince. I have heard so many nice things about him over the years by many of you on this forum that I feel like I knew him although I never had the honor.

You, the friends of Mr. Hugheys', are his legacy.

Thank you Mr. H for all the great music but more importantly, the great humanity.
Gary Mortensen
Posts: 80
Joined: 4 Nov 1999 1:01 am
Location: Elgin, TX

Post by Gary Mortensen »

I was in Nashville earlier this month for the ResoSummit, and bought one of John's CD's at Ernest Tubb's Record Store, and the new Time Jumpers double CD, as well. So, I've been listening to John's playing extensively for the past two weeks. When I hear him play at the Station Inn two summers ago, he made an indelible impression on me.

I considered staying in Nashville an extra day to hear the Time Jumpers on Monday night, November 12, but decided to get on the road instead. I guess, if he indeed played that night, that it would have been his final gig.

This is very sad news, indeed...

Gary,
East Snook, TX
Joe Goldmark
Posts: 1098
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA 94131

Post by Joe Goldmark »

One thing is for certain, he went down swinging. He was still playing at the top of his game to the very end. IMO, absolutely the best at bar shiver, and at playing up high in the far reaches of the neck. He played with so much feeling, amazing. As I've mentioned here before, though we all drool over his E9 playing, his C6 playing with the Time Jumpers was unbelievable also. RIP

Joe
User avatar
Travis Toy
Posts: 571
Joined: 29 Apr 2005 12:01 am
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Contact:

Post by Travis Toy »

Mr. Hughey was a great man and friend. I just did the Oprah show this morning with the Flatts, and Vince & Amy were there. Vince and I talked for a few minutes and laughed about some of our favorite memories of John. I sat down and played through "Look At Us", and realized for the zillionth time, what a genius he was. He was a pioneer on the instrument, a hero, a friend, and I will miss him. :-(

-t
Post Reply