Hayride Steel Player

[Billy Gilbert]

Does anyone remember who played steel in the Louisiana Hayride staff band, The Lump Lump Boys ??? The steel player could kick off most any song for most any singer and sound just like their record.

[Mitch Drumm]

Probably Felton Pruett:

[Billy Gilbert]

Thanks Mitch. Whoever he was, he was a good one.

[billchav]

Billy, wasn't that picture taken prior to their days on the Hayride? Lots of great memories from being around KLEE studios in Houston in the late 40/50's.
Hank was one of several that had weekly radio shows there.

[billchav]

Sorry Mitch, my response should have been to you.
I remember Felton playing with Hank some back then.

[Bryan Ritter]

Mitch is right. I played steel with the Rhythm
Harmoneers in 1952 and '53, and Felton was playing staff steel. He did play some for Hank Williams, but there were 3 guys that Hank hired to form his band:
Jimmy Day, Floyd Cramer, and Tommy Bishop (lead guitarist....and a good one!) We joined the Hayride right after Hank was booted from the Grand Ole Opera, and Jim Reeves was hired as an "announcer",
and Johnny Horton joined as a regular. Just an added comment....Jim Evans (Evans Amps) played steel in Johnny's band. I think he was 19 then.
Bryan Ritter
318-855-3693
bryanritter105@comcast.net
[/b][/u]

[Mitch Drumm]

Bryan:

Great to see you here.







I have the above recording "Women Drivers" and can post it here in this thread with your approval if it's cool with you?

I have a couple of questions:

Are you one of the vocalists on the Rhythm Harmoneers recording of "Good Old Chlorophyll'?

Did you by any chance know or record with Roy Harris for Flair about the same time the Rhythm Harmoneers were on that label?? Roy did a song called "South Of San Antonio" that has some fine steel playing and I have wondered for 30 years who it is. You or ??

I think Roy was a brother to Hal and Boots Harris, who could both get around on guitar pretty well.

[Bryan Ritter]

Mitch:

Boy...the pic and record brings back memories! All three of us sang on GOOD OLD CHLORIPHYLL. You may post WOMEN DRIVERS if you wish. The comedy songs we did were more effective live than on record. We did a lot of Sons of the Pioneers also. I did not know Roy Harris.
I wish I still had that Fender Dbl 8! I always played it standing up...it was a great guitar and is now a collectors item. I have one, but it is not the one in the pic that I played until pedals came out. I don't play it enough to keep it so am probably going to sell it. I am playing a CMI keyless Dbl 10, 8 & 7 (made in Monroe, LA)
It is a pleasure chating with you....thanks!
Bryan

[Mitch Drumm]

Bryan:

Here it is--Women Drivers.

http://picosong.com/Rgb

That's how it was nearly 60 years ago. I'd guess the song would be banned for political incorrectness in this age. Phooey, I say.

[Bryan Ritter]

That goofy song was one of the ones that got us on the Louisiana Hayride in 1952. Thanks for posting it. It proves that country music has made big changes since then (better or worse?)