Boxcar Willies' Steel Player

Kevin Mincke · From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

I'm being lazy & could research this, but does anyone know off the top of their head who's playing steel with Boxcar during this era?

BTW-I caught him at a local venue in the very early 80's and had a hanker chief signed by him for my dad, who was an engineer for the Rock Island Railroad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fBvqakjwIQ

Dean Holman · From: Branson MO

I didn't watch the video, but I do know that Harland Powell played for box for several years up until box died. When I first met Harland he was playing a twelve string Mullen.

George Plemons · From: Corsicana, Texas, USA

Bobby Garret did some playing for him in those days as well..

Sonny Jenkins · From: Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx

During a visit with Reece, I think he indicated to me that he was instrumental in bringing Box to Dallas for his first recording sessions. If that is the case then I would suppose that Reece also played on his early sessions.

Maybe he will read this and chime in.

*** ooooooppps,,,,I didn't watch the video before I responded,,,,anyway,,,Reece probably knows who the steeler is.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

Harland Powell was in a video with Boxcar, playin his Mullen while Boxcar sang "Wabash Cannonball" and "I Love The Sound of A Whistle". I remember it because Boxcar introduced him by sayin' that Harland Powell played the Hawaiian pedal electric steel guitar.

Brett

Clark Doughty · From: KANSAS

I bought the 12 String Mullen that belonged to Harlen Powell along with his pack seat in July 2010. That same guitar is again on the forum for sale.

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Towards the end of Box Car's career, Bobby Garrett was the steel player. Harlen stayed in the band and played bass. Jody.

bruce fischer · From: florissant, mo. 63031 USA

chubby howard played steel for box for several years.
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David Griffin · From: Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA

I'm almost positive that's Harland Powell & the guitar player is Chuck Jennings. I knew these guys when they all lived in Texas before Boxcar moved to Branson. But,that's been more than a few years ago. Very Happy

The venue looks like Church Street Station.
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Gus York · From: Devon, UK

Not sure whether I should mention this it might harm my career steel playin'!

But I do have the dubious honour of being given the ol' heave ho from BW's
backing band here in the UK in the 70's when he was on tour!!

He was very polite about it, but it would seem i didn't cut it as far as the
Hank williams style was concerned-Ah well! Not sure who took over from me
but I'm sure he must have faired better-I was too wrapped up in Paul Franklins
style-still am- but I'm a bit more 'street wise' now and play what the artist wants me to play! (If I can) Hah!
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Larry Baker · From: Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.

Bruce, you beat me to the punch with CHUBBY. Larry
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Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Gus - whereabouts in Devon are you living these days?

In 1980, I played on a country music festival in Zurich, where BCW was one of a number of USA country artists appearing. Chubby Howard was playing with him, and played C6 all through the set from start to finish. 'Boxy' came into our dressing room and asked if he could borrow some cigarette papers as he rolled his own. He was very popular in the UK at one point, and toured over here very often.
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Mike Daly · From: Tennessee

I had the pleasure of playing steel for Boxcar Willie before he was carrying his own band fulltime. Around the time that his TV album hit big, he and a band leader whose name I believe was Jesse Hudson would travel alone and had a few regional bands that they would use as backing bands depending on where they were in the country.This was maybe around 1978 or '79. For $500.00, Boxcar would get sound, lights, and an opening act (The Buckeye Biscuit Band) and then use our rhythm section and myself and Jesse as his backing band.We played packed out and crazy shows all through the northeast region (Kentucky,Penn.,Ohio, Indiana) and had a great time. Boxcar made alot of money (his production costs being next to nothing) and move on to another region with a different band and we would see him a couple months later and do it all over again. Ah...the good old days....Mike Daly

Dean Holman · From: Branson MO

I just watched the video in question and that is Harland Powell. That is the first time seeing him play an MSA. It looks like it could've been mid to late eighties.

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · From: Branson, Missouri, USA

Hi guys! Harlan Powell was Box's regular steel player through most of the years Box had his theatre in Branson. When Box was diagnosed with leukemia towards the end of '96, the show was shut down and the Texas Trainmen disbanded as Box travelled to Houston for treatment. Ronnie Prophet was brought in to play 2pm and 8pm time slots in '97 at the Boxcar Willie theatre. Ferlin Huskey was performing in the 10am slot.

I joined Ronnie's band in June of '97. As Box was starting to feel better, he would come in on weekends and do parts of the show! Usually sitting on a stool telling stories. This evolved into a show that featured less Ronnie and more Box and we learned Boxcar's songs as we went. At the end of '97, Ronnie left and Box kept us as his backup band until he died. This has nothing to do with the video, which appears to be Harlan, but I became Boxcar Willie's last steel player. He died in April of 1999.

I never felt like we were truly Texas Trainmen (except for David Byrd, Box's piano player who was our bandleader) because I felt like those guys are legends! I always thought he should call us the Branson Brakemen, lol! But he did call us the Trainmen and it was a huge honor to perform with such a gentleman as Boxcar Willie!
I also performed with him on the Grand Ole Opry in July of '98! What a rush it was to play Dobro on the Wabash Cannonball with the Opry staff band and Boxcar Willie!!! I sure miss him!!!
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Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

My band, the Deputy Dawg Band, opened up for Boxcar in 1982 at Peabody's outside Minneapolis. We were there for the afternoon sound check when this beat up old RV pulled up with the band and gear. I said, "Where's Boxcar, is he pulling up on the next freight train?" They said, "No, he flies to the gigs." I thought that was rather humorous. Put on a hell of a show, though.
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Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

I got to play with Boxcar out here in NZ on a TV show about 83 or 84 ...he certainly was a great guy and absolute gentleman to work with, and very popular out here too.
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Archie Nicol R.I.P. · From: Ayrshire, Scotland

I caught Boxcar in Glasgow with Reece playing steel.
Round about '79ish, I think?

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