Apprised Of The Road To Stardom

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 20 Jul 2010 4:40 pm

tbhenry,

Give me your best STEEL RELATED shot. What have you got in the line of new licks, favorite new songs, etc. I hear you knocking, please enter the powwow in the company of a menagerie of educated mammals and birds. Do you have anything in the line of originality?

Barry Hyman · Post by **Barry Hyman** » 20 Jul 2010 5:09 pm

I am actually learning some things from this thread. One is that part of what Bill is trying to tell us is that he is frustrated as a steel guitarist, wondering if he'll get good enough before he gets too old. (I know that feeling, although most days I think I'll make it...)

And I have learned that our beloved Bama Charlie is not as healthy as we wish him to be, but he certainly does have the right attitude!!!

I also see that some people don't sense the deep pain and frustration in Bill's posts and think he is just fooling around, and that he enjoys making himself the butt of our jokes. I don't think so, although of course part of the fault is Bill's, since he never takes the trouble to make what he is trying to say very comprehensible...

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 21 Jul 2010 3:51 am

Upon waking this morning, I said to my wife, "Some people have bacon and eggs, home fries, toast, and whatever; for breakfast." She replied, "Good for them!" I thought to myself, now there is the reply that coincided with my feelings about the grease and sodium, with a plentiful supply of cholesterol. So very tasty, but a source to weary the digestive system. Feeling perky is an absolute must for class act probing into the secrets and science of uncovering hidden licks, and first time turn arounds of steel guitar mastery. The pedal steel is far too demanding to be approached with halfheartedness. The bottom line from my point of view is a very demanding experience in comparing the steel to less complicated endeavors. Enthusiasm is the most important connection of man versus steel. I'm aware that many steel guitarists are excellent pickers, but the accreditations should list whether or not they follow the rules of maintaining good healthy attributes.

Bob Simons · Post by **Bob Simons** » 21 Jul 2010 4:15 am

With all due respect, you guys have the strangest and most unfortunate attitude toward creativity and self-expression I've ever encountered in any other artistic medium.

Bill, I think you need to distinguish more clearly between the "mechanics school" aspect of this forum which concerns itself with the nuts and bolts of steel guitar playing, and discussions of the creative and transcendent in what we do (which does not require encyclopedic knowledge, well-regulated blood sugar, and skill to achieve or enjoy.)

Instead of frustrating your wife and us with more solipsistic rhetorical questions, go to your guitar and start the day by playing something pretty.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 21 Jul 2010 6:16 am

Bob Simons,

You would be the workshop "scareperson", I presume? When you fly into town fully equipped with the tools to change right and wrong attitudes, please spare personal property by allowing clearances for your brusque demeanor. Drawing from your statements, I'm immediately put on guard to beware of your imaginative extenuating circumstances that nibble constantly at creative endeavors. Salvation did not originate in your backyard. A wise man once suggested to a group of adversarial bystanders, "Don't do me any favors." Most assuredly, my steel is intact, and is not packed away. "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" will never lose favor in my practice sessions. When did you last play that melody? If you say, yesterday, or the day before, I'm all ears.

Bob Simons · Post by **Bob Simons** » 21 Jul 2010 6:24 am

Bill. I appreciate the time you spent responding to my post. Unfortunately, after several hearty attempts to read your response, I still have no idea what it means. (Although I did note a rather petulant tone...) I seriously mean no disrespect. What the *** are you talking about?

By the way I never heard of "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down."

This morning I was playing "Canarios" by Gaspar Sanz. Serves the same purpose...

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 21 Jul 2010 8:22 am

Bob Simons,

There is a good arrangement of "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down", played by the late Jimmy Day, at Scotty's International Show held yearly in St. Louis, Missouri. I find it hard to believe that you haven't heard the song. I had a habit of believing everything written here as truthful. I've since ignored some of the writings, if they lack continuity in making a point. Sort of the type of thing you are trying to brand on me.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 21 Jul 2010 10:38 am

b0b,

As you can see, once again writers are trifling with my threads! There is no mistaking the lack of interest on a broad scale, by leaders in the dissident groups, as they pair off two at a time.

PLEASE CLOSE this thread for the good of the forum.
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Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 21 Jul 2010 12:13 pm

Mr. Bill, Seems you rather have that mountain you talk about bulldozed down instead of climbing it.

YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 22 Jul 2010 3:08 am

Charles,

Are you the same gentleman who never practices climbing on the strings, known as middle of the week practice sessions? It really isn't that hard to believe. I played a stint with a group whose bandleader was working a "day job", and was thought of as a mediocre singer and guitarist. He too admitted never opening his guitar case during the week. One night on set he remarked to me, "You stick with me and I'll make a steel player out of you." He had trifled with a lap steel years ago. The culmination of events swirled into an unforgiving scenario at a New York State gig site. It occured when a fine country music female singer came out of the audience and sang "Look At Us". I think if the late John Hughey had been on stage, the same thing would have happened. The bandleader grabbed for the beautiful Hughey "break" on his 6 string guitar, when she gracefully stepped away from the mike. To this day, I think the bandleader heard the song for the first time that evening. What a mess up! Other situations that generate annoyances, and come about when bandleaders mess with TEMPOS. That consequence could cut short a stay under an array of band titles. The percentages for landing a good job in a country band, could run in the neighborhood of 50/50. About half of the bandleaders I've dealt with, are working up to grooming an ego problem. They'll acknowledge the steel guitarist, maybe once or twice on band night, and then it's right back to grooming before a cheering audience. Take for example, a song such as: "The Key's In The Mailbox". You'd better be quick on the intro, if you enjoy playing the song on pedal steel. If the bandleader kicks it off from a cold start, most invariably, the tempo he/she chooses will pull down a good opportunity to perform at your best on the steel.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 22 Jul 2010 6:49 am

Bill, are you really still practicing 'Pick me up on your way down?' The song is 52 years old.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 22 Jul 2010 7:24 am

Barry,
The song is still being recorded and at shows is still a steelers favorite..
Actually the song will be 51 years old next month...

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 22 Jul 2010 7:37 am

Yet another "ain't it awful" thread. Time changes everything.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 22 Jul 2010 10:48 am

I wouldn't mess with Joe Casey for any reason when it comes to country music worth listening to. The incoherant babblings writers are trying to pass off nowadays, couldn't hold a candle to the selected tune, "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down." I think the late Jimmy Day's performance at Scotty's Labor Day event exceeds some of the best performers in the business of entertainment. Pure and simple.. "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" is at the very top of favorites in my home. I met Charlie Walker in Copake, N.Y. some time ago. He always featured "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" as his specialty song. Harlan Howard had written the song in 1958. "Down to My Last Cigarette" written by Harlan and Billy Walker, is a fine steel guitar melody. The late Hal Rugg put life into that song at the big St. Louis Show.

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 22 Jul 2010 10:57 am

Time changes everything.

What key Drew?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 22 Jul 2010 3:11 pm

Barry,

Yes! I'm sure that you are up to your old kidding around games. Steel players still play the 500 year old melody called: "What Child Is This" or "Greensleeves". Where do you get off pointing out when the song was most popular? (Pick Me Up...)

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 22 Jul 2010 6:29 pm

Steel players still play the 500 year old melody called: "What Child Is This" or "Greensleeves".

Yes, Bill, they play it, they don't practice it.

Where do you get off pointing out when the song was most popular? (Pick Me Up...)

Bill, answer me why would you be practicing a song you should have known how to play in your sleep decades ago? Are you still not sure how it goes?

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 22 Jul 2010 7:56 pm

Barry Blackwood wrote:Bill, answer me why would you be practicing a song you should have known how to play in your sleep decades ago? Are you still not sure how it goes?

Can't speak for Bill--

Barry, I play that song in my practice sessions sometimes. It's part of my routine practice of playing an interesting (to me) melody in many different ways, on the fly, to discover new pathways on the steel and maintain my connection to the pathways I already know. I might run through it four or five times, no two the same, none pre-planned.

Let's say, on the other hand, I was repeating the same arrangement in each practice run-through, working on honing my articulation of it, as a way of refining my expressive technique. What would be ridiculous about that?

Does it really matter how "old" the tune is? Correct me if I'm wrong, but "Greensleeves" was pretty old already when Buddy Emmons recorded it, and I'll wager he'd already "known how it goes" for a long time.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 23 Jul 2010 1:57 am

Brint,

Wow! Just when I needed an assist to pull Barry Blackwood down a peg or two, the arrival of your definitive and explanatory message should send his socks flying about the room. Speaking of "articulation", I was so gratified upon reading what appears to be a sample of absolute reasoning on your part, in connection with Barry's incessant tauntings. Hopefully, your excellent description, and reasons for practicing, will deter Barry's flamboyant and tempestuous positionings.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 23 Jul 2010 8:33 am

Barry,

For the most part, I truly expected your usual protusive response. The original purpose of my becoming a member, offered promises of becoming a better informed musician through a program of dedication. From what I've seen, I'd say you have contributed very little in the line of instructiveness by way of input, from my point of view. Constant nagging is bad, as it contributes to hypertension; something that musicians can live without. A bit of total disregard is in order from now on, and it will help to shape my future in the interest of the pedal steel guitar. I'm not giving up my personal interests in the instrument to satisfy the will of others.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 23 Jul 2010 10:39 am

Purely, and simply, I truly expected your usual protusive response.

Well, Bill, at least then you weren't disappointed. The opinion I was trying to express was, if you are still practicing 'Pick me up on your way down,' you are living in the past, and aren't making much forward progress, IMO.

Let's say, on the other hand, I was repeating the same arrangement in each practice run-through, working on honing my articulation of it, as a way of refining my expressive technique. What would be ridiculous about that?

Nothing at all, Brint - unless of course, you had been persistently repeating this same regimen for 51 years. Just as most probably wouldn't include Row,row,row your boat or Twinkle twinkle little star in their practice repertoire, I wouldn't think Pick me up on your way down would necessarily belong in there either, unless of course, it's just one of your personal favorites.... Obviously, we are having trouble getting on the same page with this, but do you see where I'm going with it?

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 23 Jul 2010 12:42 pm

Barry , when I was getting into the business around 60 in Sacramento "Pick me up"was one of the easiest to learn and do on strange bandstands. Along with "Under your Spell again"..The last time I did a steel show (2007)I had just brought my old Steeler with me. (actually he's still not 40 yet)We found that all the band members we had not ever worked with before knew these songs so it was easy to sound like we were together..Thru the years when we worked with Artist uncontained,their song list always included songs consided standards even older than 5o years..One thing about Country music of the past,most of the well written standards seem to recycle on someones album even nowadays..Lets face it how many times have you heard "Way to Survive"?..Thats still a standard most have and still learn and record..

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 23 Jul 2010 1:24 pm

Barry, actually, when I said I play "that song" occasionally in my practice sessions, I was referring to "Greensleeves", although looking back at the context I see where it appeared I meant "Pick Me Up".

But regardless, my point is that "living in the past" and "making forward progress" are loaded concepts, representing your value judgments. I don't see that as different from value judgments by others who devalue anything that isn't old country. Both, to me, are unfortunate attitudes.

If someone does the same thing for 51 years and it makes them happy, who is anyone else to question that?
To each his own.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 23 Jul 2010 1:55 pm

Joe,

When Buddy Emmons was lying in his crib as a tiny baby, inspired New Englanders were strumming guitars and singing songs such as, "The Letter Edged In Black", Be Nobody's Darin' But Mine", "Old Shep" and a host of heart to heart songs. The 30's were known for old Chevy autos and Gibson acoustic guitars. The lap steel was just making its way into 3 piece groups. The great depression left its mark throughout families that were hard pressed for work, and bare necessities. Music became an important part of evening activities in New England in the 30's and 40's. Here we are, filled with emotions, contemplating hundreds of experiences of the past. Would you "Trade All Of Your Tomorrows, For Just One Yesterday?" I'd be very tempted to do so.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 23 Jul 2010 2:11 pm

Brint,

I have in the past pointed out that I befriended a guitarist rhythm player who was unbelievably adept at chording old standards. I'm quite sure that his chord knowledge would surpass the majority of steel guitarists who are members of the forum. I say that with confidence from past experiences. To this day, I am unable to piece together the rare abilities of my late friend. To say that I'm unable to appreciate music from various genres will not be overlooked.