MAY 1, 2011 "MASSBASH"

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 30 Apr 2011 3:04 pm

Jim,

Thanks for thinking of us. You will be missed! Hopefully, there will be future events here in the Berkshires. You are one of my favorite participants of past performances.

Sincerely,

Bill

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 30 Apr 2011 3:08 pm

John Floyd,

Thanks for the heads up regarding Joe's trip north. I appreciate your help in this matter.

Bill H.

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 30 Apr 2011 3:35 pm

I take it that the Old Coot arrived safely

Jim Rice · Post by **Jim Rice** » 30 Apr 2011 5:34 pm

We're all set for the show tomorrow Bill. Truck is all gassed up and the cooler is ready. GPS is loaded with the ITAM address, and we've got a list of great restaurants in Pittsfield (Teos Hotdogs, Halpins Grub and Grog, Matt Rileys Pub)

Jake and I are really looking forward to it. What a fantastic list of players you have arranged.

And don't forget that I'll be available if you need me!

Manny Philipps · Post by **Manny Philipps** » 2 May 2011 6:03 am

To everyone that showed up and played...thank you! you all did a wonderful job! and Bill Hankey the father of the biggest little show of all you're the best! I'll arrest you another time!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 2 May 2011 1:29 pm

My heartfelt thanks go out to each participant who helped make the 25th "MASSBASH" a great success! Without their special efforts to assist, by becoming supportive, and traveling great distances to reach the lakefront staging area in the ITAM LODGE, the outcome of concerted efforts, to assure a wonderful day packed with entertainment would be lost to chance. TERRY SUTTON, with his STONE CANYON BAND equipped the staging area with necessary sound equipment throughout the day. Steel guitarist TERRY SUTTON'S performance with STONE CANYON BAND brought cheers of delight. The steel guitarists who entertained throughout the day, provided the attendees with an afternoon of superb performances. A report covering the participants, and their great performances will be forthcoming shortly.

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 2 May 2011 3:00 pm

Thanks, Bill, for inviting me up to play the "25th MassBash". Darlene and I had a great time listening to all the steel players and getting back in touch with so many friends. It was a fun time and I hope you get to do it again.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 3 May 2011 3:58 am

Bill,What a great site to have the 25th.I enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting so many new ones.I have always been a big fan of Terry Suttons playing and of the person himself...One thing that amazed me was how far most came to play from..They came from the Boston area,Central Connecticuit,New York and I'm sure even further..I'm thrilled that I was asked to be the MC once again,It was great after so many years to be on the same stage as so many great players.It was great to see the respect shown for a man who gave of himself so many years to further the Steel Guitar..Mr. Bill Hankey..I truly hope this series the Mass bash will continue to show the Northeast has the quality players,those that would and could play in any steel show across the Country and fit right in...When I return to Florida I will upload some pictures..

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 3 May 2011 5:54 am

Joe,

I am most thankful for your great assistance throughout the past few months by recognizing how very important bringing the music of steel guitarists before the public is in reality, and by engaging your artistic ability to position yourself professionally, as the "MASSBASH" host for a program of entertainment. This past Sunday's presentation left no doubts in my mind about your abilities to carry through as you did in past events. Your wide range of country music knowledge, added to your special abilities to become sensitive to the wishes of patrons entering a facility, are well known. All of those things, combined with others, have made you a very special person.

Bill H.

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 3 May 2011 8:53 am

I'm so glad the Mass Bash was such a wonderful success! I wish I could have been there, but I was in spirit!! Bill Hankey has done it again, and Bravo to Joe Casey for keeping it in the minds eye. I know from past experience how good an Emcee that Joe is. And he isn't a bad country singer either!!! : ); ). Anyway congratulations to all of the steelers, back up musicians, and everyone involved. ---Leigh

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 3 May 2011 10:32 am

John De Maille,

You and your wife Darlene were an absolute delight at Sunday's MASS BASH! Your set was total enjoyment! Darlene's vocalizing was the "icing" on the cake. I'm so pleased with your triple treat performance, that I'm hoping for a continuation of such great entertainment, somewhere down the road.

Bill

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 3 May 2011 11:13 am

Jim Rice,

Thank you for attending the show, and remaining on standby as a reliable assistant, as well as having the resourceful abilities to introduce the steel guitarists, and for knowing what they represent in terms of dedication.

Bill

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 3 May 2011 2:42 pm

leigh,I made 3 copies of your CD and gave Bill,Sammy Gibson and Joey Baer each one.Im sure as I they will enjoy it..Let me know if you need some things I wrote,I have a suitcase full.. :lol:Terry Sutton says hello..

Chris Caruso · Post by **Chris Caruso** » 3 May 2011 3:24 pm

Great show, Bill. Frank, Stephanie, Jessie, and myself had a great day. It was nice to see so many friends!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 May 2011 4:05 am

Our friends were very pleased to have been entertained by an instrumentalist gathering of major country music oriented steel guitarists, who are influenced by the good music produced by the steel guitars. The steel guitar's mechanical versatilities, provides the player with countless incredible advantages to attain the highest levels of technical performances. A provisional list of players that were presented; reads as follows:

SAM GIBSON, EDDIE CUNNINGHAM, MANNY ESCOBAR, FRANK CARUSO, TERRY SUTTON, JOHN De MAILLE, RICH SULLIVAN, GARY BLODGETT, CHUCK SHERMAN, RUSS BENNETT, GEORGE SCHACHER, RANDY ROLLMAN, AND CHRIS CARUSO.

Note: A list of vocalists, "STONE CANYON BAND" MEMBERS, drummers, bassists, emcees, guitarists,
etc. will be forthcoming soon.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 May 2011 11:14 am

Leigh Howell,

Thanks for the spiritualistic visit to the Mass Bash! I remember well when you attended other events. The HOME CLUB visit was a memorable occasion, as well as the the "MASSBASH" in Lenox, MA, at THE AMERICAL MUSIC FOUNDATION theater. That event featured BUZZ EVANS. BUZZ was booked somewhere in Nevada this past Sunday. I'm hoping to see BUZZ again sometime in the future.

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 4 May 2011 1:48 pm

Bill,
Thanks for the kind words. Again, we had a great time at the "BASH".

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 5 May 2011 2:31 am

Those who attended the event, were treated for the first time here in Pittsfield, to the songful voice of SAM GIBSON'S daughter. Her renditions were unmistakably the purest of vocal intonations. As I moved about the spacious room, and entrances to the staging area, I heard the cheers after each of her selections of preferred song titles. I will offer congratulations to her, at the first opportunity to do so. Steel guitarist, and machinist, SAMMY GIBSON played the supporting fills, to enhance his daughter's beautiful vocalization.

To become more familiar with the Connecticut based house band; (STONE CANYON BAND) is another of my future goals. Due to the timing, much gathering of names, locations of attendees, performers, etc. is still on the list of my things to do.

Steel guitarist GEORGE SCHACHER, who played at the event, must have derived old memories from his many
bookings at the ITAM LODGE by his band "AGED IN THE HILLS". George's contributions to country music entertainment, is without question, one of the most impressive in NEW YORK, and the neighboring states of NEW ENGLAND. George is multitalented; he sings and plays all stringed instruments in a country music
band.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 5 May 2011 8:54 am

Pictures of the attending musicians surrounding Bill for group picture..

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 6 May 2011 2:34 am

Joe,

On behalf of the New York and New England steel guitarists, I would like to take the liberty to assume that the same appreciation for your exceptional assistance, abounds within all of the participants of 2011 MASSBASH, held last Sunday, May 1st, at the ITAM LODGE, in PITTSFIELD, MA. The congeniality of the visiting steel guitarists, blended with a mixture of authoritative expertise on your part, assured the attendees of an afternoon of entertainment. It would be difficult to relate each individual helpful gesture from others that I experienced on the day of the show. I must report the heartfelt special efforts of steel guitarist, MR.TERRY SUTTON and "THE STONE CANYON BAND". TERRY has exemplified the meaning of gentleman. His calm demeanor left me with a ton of respect for him, and his dedication to the music of the steel guitar.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 6 May 2011 6:52 am

Bill, it was really great to see old friends once again after several years.I knew what to expect from Terry and also from Ray and Norm LaChance..That Family has always been a premier part of the New England music scene and especially the Country scene.Ever since we started talking about my coming up for your show I began to wonder if I still could do it..I'm sort of stuck into the classic part of Country as since I retired from music in 1991 I had not learned anything new..But I guess one still can't go wrong doing Price or Hag (just remembering the words lol). After my stroke in 09 I was hoping for the challenge and you opened the door for me..As in 07 when I booked Laney and Russ Hicks into Brooksville Fla I had been away for a number of years ,then Russ got me up and boom the fires were charged again..My Fires are recharged again thanks to the Mass Bash, it was fun and a privelege..I did a couple of songs that others had done earlier mainly because my memory bank of songs has been depleted and I tryed to stay safe.But for most part I let the steelers pick what songs they wanted me to do..You certainly brought in some solid performers that made everything easy on the mike..I'm still here in New England until Monday ,then I'll get home and harass John Floyd (Carolina Wildman) on the IM.and post a lot of pictures..Although at this stage of my life I may surface at some other shows or jammin with Smiley and friends in Nashburg I say,Bring on the 26th...

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 6 May 2011 7:17 am

Harass Away Fool

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 6 May 2011 4:49 pm

One more trip to the top! It's time to make some moves.

manny escobar · Post by **manny escobar** » 7 May 2011 4:30 pm

Hi Bill, Thank you for letting Elaine Ellis, (bass player), and myself perform at your Mass Bash. We had a good time talking to all the musicians. Terry Sutton is quite a legend on steel, and I got to know a lot more about the great Joe Casey. There is nothing more comforting than a nice room with round tables and a beautiful view of the lake. I am guessing that it`s been about a decade since the last Mass Bash. It was a void that longed to be filled. Also I enjoyed your invention for increasing visibility of the fret board location.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 8 May 2011 2:24 am

Hi Manny,

From this day forward, I will always regard you as an absolute entertainer and performer in gatherings such as the "MASS BASH" steel guitar event. I enjoyed your presence at the lakefront meeting, and most assuredly you've left a lasting impression with me that will remain intact throughout future rallies to promote our favorite instrument. Your Willy impression in my eyes was a class of entertainment that everyone enjoyed. The excellence of your ability to entertain attending audiences, as well as fellow musicians, became instantly apparent at the 25th steel guitar event here in Central Berkshire County. I look forward to your presence and participation in shows of the future. Please thank bassist Elaine Ellis for her participation and for
joining the afternoon entertainment. Thanks..

The Steel Guitar Forum

MAY 1, 2011 "MASSBASH"

It was great to see everyone again...

Mass Bash Success!!!!