A Gentel Giant!

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 3 May 2004 9:32 am

The big tuff,mean and ugly David Wright ain't nothing but a big ole teddy bear.At our showcase,round robin this week-end we had a 12 year old blind boy from Yuma join us.This little guy blew us all away with his playing.He played every song that Big Jim put out of his computer.Then along came bad A$$ David Wright.His time to showcase,he invited Johnothan to play part of his set with him.Well ole mean David Wright wouldn't let Jonothan down and he remained and played the entire set with David.The house came apart when David did his "blues thing" with the shades on.Johnothan was not to be outdone,he told Billy Easton to bring him his shades(not only a player but a great sense of humor also)The new Blues Brothers were born.David had to get a little stern with him a couple of times,Johnoton did play alittle to much a couple of times and David called him down on it.(he was out playing him)Seriously,I had tears in my eyes for what this fine gentleman did for Johnothon.You all know David is a MSA team member,well MSA is fortunate to have such a gentle giant to repesent them,he did it well here.In less than 2 years you will all know exatly who Johnothan is.Thanks David.Your nother brother.
Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

[This message was edited by Ray Jenkins on 03 May 2004 at 10:39 AM.][This message was edited by Ray Jenkins on 03 May 2004 at 10:40 AM.][This message was edited by Ray Jenkins on 03 May 2004 at 10:42 AM.][This message was edited by Ray Jenkins on 03 May 2004 at 12:27 PM.][This message was edited by Ray Jenkins on 03 May 2004 at 12:28 PM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 3 May 2004 11:26 am

Pictures! We want pictures!

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 3 May 2004 11:32 am

Don't worry Jim David is on the plane right now.He will more than likely put them up tonight or tomorro.Hey my Emmons is still not for sale,how much are you not going to offer me this time?

Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 3 May 2004 12:44 pm

Oh, well if it's not for sale, then I would be able to not make you a very attractive offer! And no shipping would be required, too!

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 3 May 2004 3:58 pm

Hello Ray;
I am so glad Jonathon was able to make it up to the jam..That is for sure one very special little boy!!.He has progressed so fast on that steel it is truly amazing..
Even tho i could not be there, i sure want to THANK all of you guys for making this little guys weekend a memory he will not soon forget & a special Thanks to David..
Thanks for the story too Ray...Ron

Red Kilby · Post by **Red Kilby** » 3 May 2004 4:04 pm

I met this little guy in Mesa this year, WOW what a talent. And that was so Cool of David to let him play with him.
I only wish I could have been there to hear that.
PLEASE POST SOME PICTURES DAVID!!!!!!

Will Jonathan be in St. Louis this year???

I only hope so because, you are all in for a BIG treat to see this young man play.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 3 May 2004 9:31 pm

Hi All,
Meeting this young man this weekend was one of the greatest things playing steel guitar has ever brought to me. He has many gifts, and one is playing steel guitar. I have to say that words can not truly explain the true gift this young guy has, you just need to experience him!!!
I am proud to say we at MSA are building him a new guitar, I talked to the factory today, and told them of him, he needs more guitar. And thanks to Kyle, and Maurice he will have an s-12...and I also called Peavey, to lend a helping hand with a amp!~! his little Fender just won't cut it.. and Big Jim Baron is donating a new Goodrich pedal!!! This little guy went to every guitar in the place and played them!!!
One more thing, had lunch with Hal, he's doing very well, and he wants to thank all the people that have had him in thier prayers!!!! and not to stop , it ain't over with yet!!
I almost have him and Jonothan ready to shave thier heads, and we will tour as the Blues Brothers (Bald)!!!
And I just want to thank everyone there for making me feel so welcome..and Fred and Brenda for putting me up...and Billy, and Troy... Now you too Ray!!!!!!!
I will admit, I have a soft spot for little kids playing steel guitar, but don't let this teddy bear thing out!!!!!! I'm still a mean ass...Please forgive the spelling , my head writer quit me!!
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[This message was edited by David Wright on 03 May 2004 at 10:39 PM.][This message was edited by David Wright on 03 May 2004 at 10:42 PM.][This message was edited by David Wright on 03 May 2004 at 10:49 PM.][This message was edited by David Wright on 04 May 2004 at 08:45 AM.][This message was edited by David Wright on 04 May 2004 at 11:12 AM.]

Wayne Brown · Post by **Wayne Brown** » 4 May 2004 3:07 am

i see you guys finally got to meet my boy...cool EH....hap young just sent me a email about this thread. johnathan is one very special child.

david your good people...god bless you and reese and every one at msa. if i can help in any way please let me know

thanks
wayne brown
c/o out west pac-seats

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 4 May 2004 7:03 am

Ray-Thanks for posting this wonderful story.

Wow! David, that is just terrific! Steel guitar is not fading if great young players like Jonothon are coming on.

Great Pictures! I wish that I could afford one of those new MSA Millenium's. They look great!

David, Reece and MSA are to be commended for their efforts on Jon's behalf.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 04 May 2004 at 08:07 AM.]

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 4 May 2004 7:49 am

I certainly don't want to forget Joe Naylor,again he volunteered to move equiptment after each showcase,it was only about 5 mins.beteween shows.This guy is fast.I hurt my back Sun. morning and he wouldnt let me lift any of my stuff that went on stage then he took it off after I finished.A big THANKS Joe.
Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Hap Young · Post by **Hap Young** » 4 May 2004 8:21 am

As I sit here reading this thread with tears in my eyes, I just want to thank everyone concerned who had any part in this.
David, for your part thanks for talking to MSA. I played one for around twenty years plus, and they are a fine guitar.
Reece. Thank you,thank you,thank you.. Not many Mfgr's will go this far with such a fine guitar such as the Milliunium.
Jim, thank you for the donation of the Goodrich pedal.
Also the people of Peavey amps. Thank you for your concern of Jonathan.
Also thanks again goes to George Wixon who donated Jonathans first steel wich you see Jonathan playing here, and for Wayne Brown of outwest pac seats for going over that guitar and making it pretty and the donation of Jonathan's seat.
This really makes me proud to be a member of such a fine fraternity and brotherhood of steel players.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 4 May 2004 8:42 am

Looks like I missed a great time...again. It's so nice to see young guys like Jonathon and Derek Duplese keeping the steel flame burning for the next generation! It's also great to see you experienced guys passing it to them in such a selfless way. Bravo.

I didn't know there was gonna be a real back up band. Did they play for the jam too?

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 4 May 2004 9:59 am

No Rick, just the showcase,Denny Sarver on Bass,Barry Wilke on Drums and Sam Marshall on Lead Guitar (Sam is a Design Engineer for Fender Amps).
Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 4 May 2004 2:43 pm

A very, VERY nice thing from all involved.
DW., Reece & Team MSA especially in this case, but not forgetting Big Jim, George and many others too.

You have hearts bigger than most for sure.

It DOES make one proud to be associated with y'all.

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 4 May 2004 7:38 pm

I just wanted to say a few words about Jonathon to those of you who do not know him..This is one very special little boy here folks..He has been blind since birth +
he also breathes thru his throat via a trake
which also happened to him at birth..This baby has had to fight from day one..He just loves the steel guitar so much when he 1st heard Hap playing his steel at the church they all attend.He was at Hap's house 1 day & sat down to his steel & began to play it!!
Hap could NOT believe what he was hearing from this little boy..Hap mentioned this to some folks here on the Steel Forum & shortly this little guy was presented a pedal steel & pacaseat..This kid was in heaven that day as i was fortunate enough to be at Hap's house for the presentation..
I do not ever remember seeing a child so happy..Anyway, i just wanted to let some of you know a little of the history behind this story..The SWSGA has almost "adopted" this precious little guy & the rest you can read above..THANK all of you folks involved as you will never know what this means to Jonathon......Ron

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 4 May 2004 8:32 pm

I call Randy and Jonathan tonight to tell them about all that is going on, Randy is his Dad, As I was telling him about the new guitar, I could hear Jonathan in the back ground playing, he got a Hal Rugg CD, and was learing some songs off it, this kid is un~real !!! Dad put Jonathan on the phone, I told him about his new guitar, and all the other things, and his Goodrich Steel driver, with Fuzz, he said , I like that!!! So now he waits, he ask me three times about when it would be there, Dad got back on the phone, he told me his smile was ear to ear, when I was telling him.. I hope to hand del it to him in a few weeks!!! will keep you posted...

Tony Davis · Post by **Tony Davis** » 5 May 2004 3:32 am

Hey David Wright!!!!...you are awright !!!!!!!!!in my book!!!!!..so are you Ray for posting this!!!!!!!!and so is everyone else who helped.......what a nice thing to do for this young guy !!!!!!!!!............let him play your whole set.........let him try all the other guitars.........and all the other stuff about donations ......etc........well you sure touched me guys....hope to meet some of you down the track and shake you by the hand !

Tony

JAMES BANKS · Post by **JAMES BANKS** » 5 May 2004 10:01 am

Everytime I check this post, it seems something else is added. Just want to say, it blesses me to tears of joy to see such an outpouring of love for this youngster. As someone already stated, makes me so glad to be a part of the steel guitar family.

James

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 5 May 2004 1:32 pm

I just wanted to add a line or two to this thread myself.
David Wright,Jim Baron,and others will surely be blessed for their good heart.And what better advertisement for MSA can you get.This young man im sure will be playing all the major shows by next year.
Here at the SWSGA its a group effort to help this young man to move forward with his music and we all will help him in any way we can.Our own Billy Easton and Hap Young have
both stepped up to get Jonathan off to a good start,and we thank them for that.
I have had several e-mails from good folks wanting to help Jonathan in some way and that is so uplifting to me.I dont want to go public with his phone and address,however if
you have something to share with Jonathan,just e-mail me and i'll put you in touch with him.This little man melts your heart when you meet him and im sure you will all get to do that in the near future.
_____________________________________________

Fred Justice
Events Dir.
SWSGA
982-402-4779

Sidney Malone · Post by **Sidney Malone** » 5 May 2004 5:08 pm

Wow, this is very touching!! I can't express with words how I fell about what all you guys have done and are doing to help this young man!!

For someone to be able to play Steel with these kind of handicaps should be an inspiration to every one of us!! He really blows all my "excuses" out of the water.

I look forward to hearing Johnathan play and getting to meet this young and really big man!!

Johnathan please keep up the good work because it's people like you that keep people like me trying to keep up!!

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Fessy S-12U, Future MSA Millennium S-12U, Stereo Steel

Bill Sampler · Post by **Bill Sampler** » 5 May 2004 6:12 pm

David, you are Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!

Bill

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 6 May 2004 4:06 am

I have a friend in Paris who plays several instruments including Dobro, and he is very close to blind. Some days he is totally blind, with this rare disease.

But his fingers and his ears make up in his playing for the loss of visual acuity.
He has a voice to die for and has an amazing sense of rythm in chords or single note lines.

If Johnathan's precosiousness at this stage is any indication, this little guy could well become one of the prettiest players around.

He will not be worrying about position or other things we LOOK to see, he will just HEAR what he wants and make it happen with a focus we sighted folk will only dream of.

It is for that reason I am so proud of y'all for this very serious support for him.
It well may mean he makes a good living for himself playing.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 6 May 2004 5:33 am

David, you make me proud to be a member of this community. With all the horrible news out of Iraq this week it's so good to hear an uplifting story. Hurray for Jonathon and his grown up friends.

Dale Bessant · Post by **Dale Bessant** » 7 May 2004 5:39 pm

Now that does my heart some good......

Louie Hallford · Post by **Louie Hallford** » 7 May 2004 8:32 pm

Great to see Johnathon getting started. It was a real pleasure to meet he and his Dad when I was out for the January convention.

It is great what all you SWSGA people are doing to help promote steel guitar and especially promoting the youngsters like Derrick, Johnathon, and Austin. You guys and ladies are super people. ...even old BA.