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Topic: Picking with exciting new group. |
Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 20 Sep 2006 5:47 pm |
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| I was contacted to start playing pedal steel with the famous "The Cross Band". Check out their web site at: www.thecrossband.com This is the legendary guitarist Bill L. Smith's band. A large show group, complete with comedian, horns, and bunch of male and female vocalists. One girl can sing higher than the frets go on a guitar. Bill L. Smith has played guitar for so many groups, it would be hard to mention them all--George Morgan, Porter Wagoner, Del Reeves, Wayne Carson, Merle Haddard, and Bonnie Ownes to mention a few. When I was listening to their new CD, I thought I recognized the steel player on the CD. Sure enough, it was Robby Springfield--From Frenchy Burke fame. Robby lives at Viola, Arkansas. Pretty tall shoes for me to fill. This is a Gospel Jubilee Show. I will be appearing with the Show, live in concert at the Lyric Theatre in Harrison, Arkansas on September 30th. Bill has a big new band bus that must cost in the range of a million. I am doing a lot of twin stuff with the horns and Bill on guitar. Top notch drummer and bass player. Top notch band, and they sure make my old ZUM E9th sound good. |
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Jody Sanders
From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Sep 2006 6:09 pm
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| Hi Keith, Sounds like a grest gig. Best of luck to you on this new venture. Jody. |
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Fred Justice
From:
Mesa, Arizona
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Posted 20 Sep 2006 6:23 pm
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Keith your way to busy building those great Hilton Pedals you better let me take care of that good playing job fer ya buddy, 
No really, I'm glad for you pal, go getem!!!
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Fred Justice,
Justice Custom Cases & Cabinets,
Fred's Music, www.fredjusticemusic.com
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 21 Sep 2006 5:56 am
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| Thanks Jody and Fred, I've been wanting to play with a really good Gospel group for a long time. The last time I played with a Gospel music show was back in 1985 and 1986, with the Collins family out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. It hasn't been that hard thus far working up their Show. Had to work a little figuring our harmony for some minor scales. You have to know every harmony part, major and minor, because there are several lead instruments. You might have to play the harmony above, below, or in the middle---on the spot. Finally got a drummer who knows the difference between shuffle and swing. The only other drummer I've played with lately, who seems to know the difference between shuffle and swing, is Chuck Landry of the Mel Tillis Show. I took a liking to the drummer even before we started playing, when he was talking about a "RIM SHOT." My advise to drummers is to get rid of all your tom toms, and cymbols, or join a rock band. Of course that is just my opinion. |
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Jim Hartley
From:
SC/TN
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Posted 21 Sep 2006 7:08 am
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Hey Keith,
Sounds like a great gig, I hope you have lots of fun. Please tell Bill I said hey. We became friends years ago when I played drums for Del Reeves and Bill hired us for several promotions for his log home business. I haven't seen him or talked to him in years, glad to hear he is doing well.
Thanks,
Jim Hartley
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 21 Sep 2006 11:15 am
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Keith
Congrats on getting the gig with the excellent band. Ask, and it shall be given; seek, and ye shall find.
I must disagree about your drum comment, though. The drummer needs ONE tom in order to play Oklahoma Stomp.
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 21 Sep 2006 1:24 pm
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| OK, one Tom Tom Herb, but ONLY on Oklahoma Stomp. On all other songs just the high hat, snare drum and bass drum. I think the RIM SHOT went south when they quit playing real country music on the radio. Herb I know they still do RIM SHOTS down in Texas. I am playing friday and saturday with a different band at a town fair in Gainsville Missouri. Had this booked before I started playing with the Gospel Group. The Gainsville Show is with Morie Sullivan from Topekia, Kansas. Morie runs the Kansas State Symphony, and also plays Bass for Hank Thompson. Morie told me Hank added horns over a year ago. |
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Jim Hartley
From:
SC/TN
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Posted 21 Sep 2006 2:34 pm
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Hey Keith,
Thanks so much for posting the link to the website. I was looking through it last night and noticed a phone #. I called this morning and had a great visit with Bill. Directly or indirectly, this forum has put me in touch with so many friends who I haven't seen or heard from in years. I guess I need to give a big thanks to Bob for that.(maybe even send him a check)
Thanks again, and have a great time with the new group.
Jim
By the way, there are still a few of us outside of Texas who play backbeats and rimshots. |
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Gary Atkinson
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2006 9:17 am
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| Great news,Keith survived last nights storm in Gainesville MO.He was there to play a show this weekend at the Fair.He said the wind blew the booths away and the weather is so bad they had to cancel.He said at 6:00 this morning his trailor was rocking and it wasn't him doing it.Maybe it will be better in Harrison next weekend. |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 23 Sep 2006 2:51 pm
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| Jim, Bill called me last Thrusday and said you had called him. He was so happy you contacted him. I was in the staff band, on pedal steel, at the big Gainsville Show, all day Friday, and into the night. The storm waited until the music was over, then let lose. Everything was so wet this morning, Saturday, the sound equipment people would not hook up, as they thought it too dangerous. Still got paid for the 2 full days. It rained all night Friday, and the wind blew so hard it woke up our little rat terrier dog. She started barking and knew something was not right, as the 28 foot 5th wheel RV was really rocking in the wind. I told the wife not to worry about the wind, just worry that the camp ground was in a creek bottom and might flood. The day before someone told me they had seen the creek bottom under 10 foot of muddy swift water before. We are back home and the trip was a lot of fun. I got to play a lot of steel guitar, and the audience liked what we did. Sid Pierce was running sound. Sid ran sound for Roy Clark for 20 plus years,in Branson and on the road. Sid and I became friends when I played at the Roy Clark Theatre in Branson. Sid is now a 6th grade teacher in Gainsville. |
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Terry Bethel
From:
Hollister, Missouri (deceased)
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 10:06 am
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Keith,
Congtarulations my friend. Does this mean you are a full time musician again?
You are a great player and needed to be playing with a good group again.
Give me a call when you can,
Terry Bethel |
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