How Many Steel Players In The State Of New York?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 29 Aug 2010 4:05 pm

Bernie,

Thanks, I read you loud and clear. I'll be sending for that CD. This is something to look forward to. It's great to know about players with Buck's level of prowess.

Terry Miller · Post by **Terry Miller** » 29 Aug 2010 7:57 pm

I live in Hammondsport ny

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 30 Aug 2010 3:17 am

Terry Miller,

You live in a township with a ton of history. I jogged through the accounts given, and learned of the famous wineries there. The Finger Lakes Trail, Wood Barrel Factory, D.W. Putnam Wine Co., etc. It appears to be above average in past histories with its scenic waterways, railroads, and ambitious citizenry. Are there any steel players in nearby Bath, N.Y.? It's good to hear from you.

Mike Greenberg · Post by **Mike Greenberg** » 30 Aug 2010 3:20 am

From Ithaca, NY here. I know of only a few others from the area who have not been mentioned -- Gary Webb, from down near Oneonta. And of course there is Chuck Campbell of the Campbell brothers.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 30 Aug 2010 6:02 am

Mike,

It's interesting to read about the struggles to overcome difficult lifestyles in various locations. North American Indians once roamed all through N.Y. State, and were eventually crowded out by earlier settlers. Ithaca's campuses for higher learning is said to feature many musical varieties of entertainment. I'm curious to learn what percentage of musically inclined students are aware of the steel guitar as a featured lead instrument. The city and town of the two Ithacas is different.

Terry Miller · Post by **Terry Miller** » 30 Aug 2010 7:22 am

Bill, none in Bath ny but in Addison ny Larry Bates is a fine steel player.

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 30 Aug 2010 8:10 am

Bill, you're right about Hammondsport. My wife is from the Bath/Corning area and we often vacation on Keuka Lake.

I think Terry Miller is the first steel player I ever met (while visiting Hammondsport in 1972), and I'll second his comments on Larry Bates. I saw Larry for the first time in many years Larry in St. Louis about 5 years back. He was about to retire from his day job.

Terry will also recall another local player named Jamie Herd, from Canisteo. He was fantastic, but I'm not sure what he's up to these days.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 30 Aug 2010 1:18 pm

Ron Page,

Thanks for the response. I want to chase down that new Dale Watson CD featuring Lloyd Green on steel. I listened to the samples, and was treated to Lloyd's innovative style of playing. I can easily understand how he became the leading steel guitar recording artist among singers in Music City.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 31 Aug 2010 2:36 am

Terry Miller,

There was at one time much country music activity in Cortland back in the 80's. Do you have any updates on the follow up of the "Hall Of Fame" there? I remember that donated instruments, and other items were on display there. I have all the publications of the former "Country Music Record" newspaper. I'll go back in time and trace their plans for the future at that time. Thanks..

Bob Vantine · Post by **Bob Vantine** » 31 Aug 2010 5:18 am

BILL....

Myself & former bandmate LARRY LORROWS ,now of Florida ,are inductees in the NYSCMA Hall of Fame .

And hopefully BOBBE SEYMOUR will be shortly.

Any musicians being born in NY State are eligible.And if any forum member meeting this criteria would be interested I'll be happy to make myself available as a sponser (if that's what it is).Just write a complete music history bio on yourself and mail it to me or the Assoc. in Cortland for future years consideration .First one needs to be nominated & inducted into "Hall of Honor" before any action is taken for "Hall of Fame".And there is NO guarantee of HoF even with a HoH induction.

I have known of Terry Miller for years and believe he is truely disserving of this honor.

LARRY L.

please add or clarify if I've mis-represented anything .

I value your input!

Bill , I must admit that I usually avoid your posts...

mostly from a "volume" view point

& NO DISRESPECT INTENDED , but have enjoyed remembering old familiar names. THANK YOU

****Bob V****

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 31 Aug 2010 7:31 am

Bob Vantine,

Back in the 80's Jack and Joan West from the Catskills were helping to promote the "Hall Of Fame In Cortland", if my memory serves me correctly. I had lunch with them near Hudson N.Y. back at that time to discuss helping with promotions. I remember that Jean Shepard, Dick Curless, and maybe John Conley, were discussed at the time, possibly to be in attendance at the Grand Opening in Corinth. I'll try to locate Joan's letter, that may contain information from the early eighties. Thanks for the notes. It's nice to hear from you.

Bob Vantine · Post by **Bob Vantine** » 31 Aug 2010 8:00 am

Bill...
I was 17 yrs old when I started my country music indeavor in July 1976.The band I was playing lead for did MANY YEARS of benefit shows and attended SEVERAL YEARS worth of meetings.
The outdoor stage is named after Ms.West ,altho I must admit

I don't remember her .

I have done maybe 5 shows there that JackGreene was headlining ,1 with Porter Wagoner,Waylon Jennings,RickyVanShelton,LittleJimmyDickens.Also a show at Hunter Mt ski resort with headliners Bellamy Brothers & K D Lang where our opening slot was due to a Cortland Country Music Park promotion.

The Hall of Fame museum is very nice ,but as in most "not-for-profit"organizations...HIGHLY UNDER FUNDED

And could stand to benefit from some generous donations.The entire park is run by volunteers...CAMPGROUND /DANCEHALL / HALL of FAME MUSEUM.

Larry Lorows has done some with me and probably more with other artists.
There has been

NO Nashville star shows in years

I would urge folks to check out their website !

thank you ****Bob V****

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 31 Aug 2010 8:40 am

Bob Vantine,

Last summer I chatted with the late Joan West's husband before her passing, about musicians and the instruments they play. "Jack" has relatives in West Stockbridge, MA, who are related to me through marriage. My daughter is a blood relative. "Jack" is quite knowledgeable on a broad scale, if he is engaged in country music discussions. I am country band oriented, although steel guitars are my forte'. I know that, with the correct setup, a steel guitar can hold its own many times over, among the fiddles and guitars. If the "Hall Of Fame" in Cortland has never sanctioned a steel guitar show there, I would try to promote one in a facility such as the H.O.F., by addressing the management; those who may wish to further public interest. Someone living in that neighborhood would be needed to make the arrangements.

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 31 Aug 2010 11:04 am

if you take the membership list as a proxy there are about 344 members that can be considered as coming from ny representing 120 reported or derived cities

here is the top of the distribution showing that 136 records lack any city specifics for the purpose of reporting

[tab]City | dst
-------------| ---
| 136
new york | 32
brooklyn | 23
rochester | 7
buffalo | 5
upstate | 4
binghamton | 3
jamestown | 3
tonawanda | 3
albany | 2
broadalbin | 2
chazy | 2
constable | 2
farmington | 2
ithaca | 2
lockport | 2
merrick | 2
niagara falls| 2
round lake | 2
rouses point | 2
schenectady | 2
staten island| 2
syracuse | 2
walton | 2
woodstock | 2[/tab]

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 31 Aug 2010 2:20 pm

ebb,

Those who have offered their assistance in this study of active players, and those who have returned home after vowing that they've played their last "gig" have made this a thread of great interest. ebb, thanks for the ballpark estimates of players. I'm not sure who provided the listings. There are numerous players in and around Albany, N.Y. The list shows only two. I'd estimate 25-30 in that area. Information sources are claiming an increase in New Jersey; as well.

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 31 Aug 2010 5:15 pm

this data is from the memberlist
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/memberlist.php

if the players from albany do not indicate that fact in the From field then they wouldnt be included as such

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 31 Aug 2010 5:25 pm

Well, I was from New York (13 years), then I wasn't (11 years), then I was again (2 years), then I wasn't(2 years), Then I was a third time(25 years), and now I'm not (4 years).

Does that count?

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 31 Aug 2010 6:38 pm

I was born in Romulus.

It was Sampson AFB then.

1953-54.

I didn't do a lot of gigs there.

I split town before I could walk, and my folks wouldn't let me drive or help me load my equipment.

EJL

Bob Vantine · Post by **Bob Vantine** » 31 Aug 2010 7:04 pm

ERIC.....
good ol' Sampson and the white (albino) deer...... or were they glow in the dark ?

****Bob V****

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 31 Aug 2010 7:09 pm

I know I do if the moon comes out just right...

EJL

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 31 Aug 2010 8:24 pm

Ebb,Is Brooklyn a city?

John DeBoalt · Post by **John DeBoalt** » 31 Aug 2010 8:48 pm

My old pal Bernie Gonyea already mentioned my name, but I thought I'd chime in anyway. I live here in the woods by Lake Bonaparte near Harrisville in the foot hille of the Adirondaks. There's a fine steel player named Chubby Shortsleff, I've probably spelled his name incorrectly, who lives down around Stirling NY. He isn't a forum member but some of the folks here may remember him. John

Larry Lorows · Post by **Larry Lorows** » 1 Sep 2010 4:49 am

I just thought of another pedal steel guitar player from NY. Actually, he's over near the Adirondecks near Albany, somewhere. We used to meet at the Country Music Park in Cortland, when I lived there. His name is Ray Lamoureux and he plays a fine Williams U12 like mine. Larry

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 1 Sep 2010 5:11 am

Ebb,Is Brooklyn a city?

guilty

i am using city in a broad generic sense to represent borough county district township town village hamlet etc

state/city really breaks down when you leave the states

just an attempt at a distribution of distinctions

Buck Reid · Post by **Buck Reid** » 1 Sep 2010 6:06 am

Good news! I received a very nice email from Johnny Dugan and he assures me he's alive and well. So glad the rumor wasn't true. Cheers Johnny!!