Me at the Ryman now with pictures!

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 20 Nov 2011 1:37 pm

Well I made it through the hardest gig I ever played Saturday night, The Ryman!

I want to tell you guys that Tommy, Pat and Gary helped me so much and made me feel like I was suppose to be there! When I went on for the first show and plugged in and hit a few licks before we started I heard three words from the Master say "Sounds great Kenny"! then I looked left and the World"s #1 steel player was smiling at me! Tommy White!!! Ya know it was scary but at the same time it relaxed me. Pat Severs standing there as well smiling also was awesome! While the sweat was rolling off my temple right before I kicked the tune off I thought of my daddy and he would have been so happy if he was there!

Tommy you Pat and Gary did and awesome job standing in for daddy! He wouldn't have had it any other way!
Pat, dude it was so nice of you to set the knobs on the amp the way i had them even though I just copy Tommy's! Any ways, it was a life time experience and I will cherish it the rest of my life!
Pat, tell Bill Andeson he is on for a trip to Columbia! Said he was coming to see me so you make sure you and Tommy make the ride!
Thank you three guys so much and Tommy, you are my hero and awesome friend!
Kenny
Pictures coming shortly![/img]

Don Hinkle · Post by **Don Hinkle** » 20 Nov 2011 1:53 pm

Cant wait for pics!

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 20 Nov 2011 2:05 pm

Kenny, you played flawlessly and superbly with The Marshall Tucker Band. I listened to your last spot on WSM radio , again great tone and playing. It really was a special evening at the Opry with you , Pat and Gary there. Tons of great pedal steel guitar playing!
Pedal steel guitar is alive and well at the Grand Ole Opry!

Dan Galysh · Post by **Dan Galysh** » 20 Nov 2011 2:59 pm

Kenny, your tone was HAPPENIN' the first show. Very nice job! Great playing by all.

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 20 Nov 2011 3:27 pm

Lt Dan! Man it was so cool you text me and left the nice words to get me to calm down! It helped a lot! You are an awesome picker and I hope to see you again man!

I hope your wife gets to feeling better! Thx again and all the best!
.....Kenny

Mike Archer · Post by **Mike Archer** » 20 Nov 2011 6:29 pm

great news Kenny im tickled for ya man!!
hope things keep on going for ya to
Mike

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 21 Nov 2011 6:00 am

As you can see in the picture i'm set up right beside the "Master"! Yea, it's pretty scary knowing Tommy is watching and listening!

I can't thank Pat Severs ennough for making sure i didn't have any problems! Guys, he is an awesome player as well!
Thx Pat!.....kenny

Dick Sexton · Post by **Dick Sexton** » 21 Nov 2011 6:39 am

Congratulations Kenny... Looking sharp brother! Hope this is just the start of a long line of Opry appearances for you. I know your Dad was there in spirit, had your back and was very proud! They watch over us...

Steve Alonzo Walker · Post by **Steve Alonzo Walker** » 21 Nov 2011 1:21 pm

I'm glad you finally got to experience The Ryman! Thanks Tommy and all the gang for making my friend feel at home cause I know scary the first time is! There's nothing like playing the Ryman!!!

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 21 Nov 2011 5:03 pm

Thx Steve! It was awesome man! You already know how it feels! Nothing comes close! Hey sorry I missed the steel show but glad it was because I was at the Ryman! All the best man!....KM

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 23 Nov 2011 5:23 am

Now with pictures! Yep, pretty awesome i think!

I'm still in the clouds and hope to be back to earth soon!

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 23 Nov 2011 10:43 am

Pictures to treasure forever - congrats!

Jimmy Campbell · Post by **Jimmy Campbell** » 23 Nov 2011 7:20 pm

Great pictures Kenny, Thanks for sharing with us.

Frank Speights · Post by **Frank Speights** » 24 Nov 2011 5:02 am

Great pictures! Looks like you were having too much fun.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 24 Nov 2011 12:01 pm

good for you, kenny. i'm sure your father is proud! now when are you gonna grow your hair long and get a beat up cowboy hat?

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 25 Nov 2011 1:19 am

Thx guys! Yep, pretty dang proud!
Hey Chris, Doug Gray told me the bald look works for him!

It's funny cause when we were walking in the back door of the Ryman he was a little nervous but walked up beside me and said, this is your kind of place and you fit perfect with us playing the Grand Ole Opry!
I think because I knew a few people there already!

Anyways, I'm almost back to reality from being there but is was pretty awesome!
Thx guys!...........KM

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 26 Nov 2011 8:21 pm

Wish I could have been there to see you play that red Emmons. I will see you in Kenanville in Jan when you all play here.

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 28 Nov 2011 10:19 am

Hey Billy,
I will in fact be at that show. I don't play all of the shows Marshall Tucker does, mainly the big ones and special things Doug Gray wants me to play.

They are off on the R/R cruise at the end of this week that i'm not going on.

He is talking bout some big things coming up that will be pretty cool. Maybe even some TV stuff! That would be cool!

Anyways, yes that Emmons is the best steel i ever had. TW said it sounded great!
You built her right for me!!!......thx....kenny

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 28 Nov 2011 10:37 am

Great Kenny ! Will you be a regular at the Opry ? It looks like you were welcomed by Mr.White and others . Thats wonderful . Best regards , G.P. ( President The Ohio Steel Guitar Association ) .

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 28 Nov 2011 12:36 pm

I wish Gary!

Bill Anderson told us we will be back. I guess he could get R done!

Here's a picture of what we were looking at playing! Pretty awesome!
thx man!....k

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 28 Nov 2011 5:23 pm

Kenny as brother Gary Lee would say, "KEWL".

Greg Moody · Post by **Greg Moody** » 30 Nov 2011 1:38 pm

Kenny,I was in New York doing a show with Roy Rogers Jr.and it was a 2:00pm show so I was back at the motel all settled in and tuned in the opry on my iPad I believe it was around 9:00pm.I was excited when Bill introduced the MTB being a fan since I was a teenager.I herd the intro on fire on the mtn and thought man this guy is nailing it,as I continued to listen to your playing I was convinced that it was Tommy setting in with the band.I didn't realize you were playing that night until I saw your post a few mins ago.I recognized your pic from some YouTube you had posted a year or so ago.I just wanted to share this with you.Kenny you are a fine player,I'm sure your dad was smiling down on you.Take care Greg Moody

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 1 Dec 2011 5:10 am

Well thx so much Greg!

Man i couldn't carry Tommy White's steel case!
To even be mention in the same sentence with him is a honor for me.
Ya know i was talking with Bill Anderson cause he is from SC and we were laughing about a few things where i live. Said he wanted to come hang with me one weekend. That would cool!

He said, "Kenny do you realize that MTB has never played the Ryman in 40 years of being around?" I said yep!
He said, "The first song ever to be played here by MTB will be "Fire on the Mtn"! I said yep!
He said "You have to play the historic first lick for MTB at the Ryman"! I said yep!
He said "No pressure right"?

Wow, that pretty much rattled me!

Again, Tommy and Pat calm me down and without them, i would not have pulled it off!
Ok, i'll shut up but as you can tell i'm still in the clouds!
Thx again!

Buck Reid · Post by **Buck Reid** » 1 Dec 2011 5:48 am

Way to go Kenny... sorry I couldn't be there. Looking good my friend!

Greg Wisecup · Post by **Greg Wisecup** » 1 Dec 2011 7:34 am

I'm still waiting on the audio brudda!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Me at the Ryman now with pictures!

Me at the Ryman now with pictures!

great news Kenny

Made us proud...

Kenny