Ben Lawson wrote:Wayne and I worked opposite each other at the Caravan East in Alb. N.M. back in '76. He was working with Nestor Eaton. Wayne was an amazing steel player who in my opinion was as good as the big name pickers. I sat at his steel and could not imagine how he played it so well. On some of the pedals you had to "feel" the notes because the pedals had no stops on them.
I heard he had passed away many years ago and I believe we lost a great picker way too soon.
Good luck with your search and I hope you are able to learn alot about your Dad, his playing inspired me greatly.
Thanks Ben-
I can't imagine the difficulty in playing without stops. As a beginning player I appreciate the technology in the equipment today for sure!
Steve Hinson wrote:Wayne,I didn't know your dad but he was a great player and everybody I ever knew that knew him and worked with him raved about him!
Hello Steve-
I love your playing! I cant imagine the things you do in the live shows! Hopefully get a chance to see you soon as I understand and hope you still tour with Randy. I think he still has a place in Santa Fe. If you're ever out this way, coffee is on me.
I have 2 Brothers that play they live up in the Jemez Country, they both played with Nestor some, and Knew your Dad around Abq, One is a Steel and Guitar Man, I think he has taken lesson from a guy that has a music store in Los Lunas, or down that way. But man what a Band when Kenny, Nestor on Bass, Jack On Drums, and Your Dad on Steel and Knock your socks off on 12 string keep in touch my friend vanspad@gmail.com
Roy McKinney wrote:I grew up with your dad down in the Corona, CA area. The last time I got to see him or hear him play was when he was playing down at the Westerner in San Diego (Chula Vista) area. That was just before he went to Alaska with Paul. When Wayne was learning the steel there was another local guitar player named Gary Wilson (played like Chet) who he hung with. They would go out and camp in the desert and the two of them would play for hours. He had an uncle named Chuck who also was a player/singer and he lived in Home Gardens (Riverside county)just across the street from me. At one time he had a tripple neck steel and put a mulit-cord changer on the middle neck. Believe that was his first pedal steel. His amp was made special for him by Standel. Don't remember a lot about it, but it was small, light and loud. He waS a great player for sure.
Hey Roy-
From what I understand, back then he would drive from Corona to Chula Vista each night to play! Having lived in San Diego for almost 20 years, that drive would be murder lol! I guess Hwy-15 was a two lane road back then? I had heard stories about Gary but have never met him. From your profile you live in Oregon now, beautiful place, are you close to Portland?
Wayne~O
Hi Wayne, and no I am not close to Portland. I live at the end of the road in NE Oregon and then another 25 miles back up a dirt road in the mountain.
Yes your dad was working at a pruning sheer factory (CORONA CLIPPER COMPANY) between Corona and Home Gardens. They were giving him a hard time with his journies down to Chula Vista and he was trying to make up his mind if he was going to play steel pro or work. I don't know what ever happend to Gary, lost contact soon after that. I know Gary went back to the Opery one time as a guest of Chet and played with him. What a time those days were.
Hi, I saw your dad with Kenny in Nashville years ago. A super picker! Herb, I saw Dave Muskgrave with Rogers years ago. Dave came to my house to jam. Super nice time.
I never met your dad but a great friend of mine is Charles Eaton. Charles played a lot with your dad and played me a lot of live bandstand tapes of his playing. He was a great player! I don't know if you have many recordings of his playing but CHARLES EATON (<charleseatonati> is his email address) does and I'm sure he would make you some copies... Great stuff!
Wayne,I knew your dad from the Caravan East in Abq. Russel Wright and I always set beside the stage by him so we could soak up everything he did.We always called him the fastest thumb in the west.The 60's had all the good music and it was always great when Kenny Vernon was there.Your Dad was a master on the steel.Ray
Don't know if you are still using this forum, but I used to work with your Dad in Albuquerque. I actually threw a baby shower at the club for Wayne when they were expecting you. I am not a player but I considered your dad one of my best friends and really miss him
Here is a photo I shot of Wayne Jr. playing a Jackson Steel Guitar. I thought everyone might like to see who they are responding to on this thread. Wayne is a good friend and is practicing the pedal steel regularly.
Hello JR. I had the pleasure of playing with your dad, in Swamproot for a short time. I had just turned 17 yrs old, and of course, It was my first "big gig" which was at the Caravan East. I could never fill Jack Clarke's shoes, but they tolerated me for a time. Jack Clarke fit that band better than anyone could. Jack was an incredible country drummer, and my mentor.
The first two weeks with Swamproot, was supposed to be the "cocktail hour" only or break in period for me. As it turned out, it was two weeks of "doubles" which meant we played from 5PM to 1:30AM for the first two weeks instead of from 5PM to 8:15PM, 7 days a week. ( I can still taste those "cocktail hour" sandwiches they served back then…) that musical experience, served me well for years to come.
Playing with my brother Nestor and Wayne, was and will always remain a major highlight in my musical life. Your dad and I became good friends, and he always looked after me in those days. Wayne nicked named me "firecracker" because of my wild crazy, and mostly unkept hair, in those days. Wayne was such an incredible instinctive player. Playing with Nestor and Wayne and playing those big band instrumentals that they played back then, prepared me for a show I did with Buddy Emmons, some years later. I had a chance to talk with Buddy before the show, and he definitely knew of your dad. Buddy said: You got to play with Wayne Gailey? Buddy showed a lot of respect for your dad.
I remember in those "Caravan East" days, when we played just the"cocktail hour", the "night band" musicians, would sit at the nearest table next to the bandstand, just to watch and listen to your dad. Bass players, guitar players drummers and of course, steel players, would sit there and be captivated by his playing. He was just incredible. He would, night after night play the most incredible stuff on his steel.He would play Cello lines on some Marty Robbins songs. He played 12 string on a few songs and would sing harmony parts with Nestor too.
Nestor and Wayne could read each so well, it was an incredible thing to witness.They were so tight. I remember that your dad had an incredible sense of humor in his playing as did Nestor. One of the biggest components of Swamproot,was their musical humor. I'm so thankful, that I was witness to some of it. And, I'm so thankful that I got to play with Wayne, Nestor, and Ron Eccles back in the day. I will never forget it. Your dad, will always mean a great deal to me.
Unfortunately, I don't have any recordings of that period of my life, and I will always be sad about that fact. But, I was there and I played with them. I have that.
Good to know you are carrying Wayne's legacy. I'd sure like to meet you some day and listen to you play.
Charles Eaton wrote:Hello JR. I had the pleasure of playing with your dad, in Swamproot for a short time. I had just turned 17 yrs old, and of course, It was my first "big gig" which was at the Caravan East. I could never fill Jack Clarke's shoes, but they tolerated me for a time. Jack Clarke fit that band better than anyone could. Jack was an incredible country drummer, and my mentor.
The first two weeks with Swamproot, was supposed to be the "cocktail hour" only or break in period for me. As it turned out, it was two weeks of "doubles" which meant we played from 5PM to 1:30AM for the first two weeks instead of from 5PM to 8:15PM, 7 days a week. ( I can still taste those "cocktail hour" sandwiches they served back then…) that musical experience, served me well for years to come.
Playing with my brother Nestor and Wayne, was and will always remain a major highlight in my musical life. Your dad and I became good friends, and he always looked after me in those days. Wayne nicked named me "firecracker" because of my wild crazy, and mostly unkept hair, in those days. Wayne was such an incredible instinctive player. Playing with Nestor and Wayne and playing those big band instrumentals that they played back then, prepared me for a show I did with Buddy Emmons, some years later. I had a chance to talk with Buddy before the show, and he definitely knew of your dad. Buddy said: You got to play with Wayne Gailey? Buddy showed a lot of respect for your dad.
I remember in those "Caravan East" days, when we played just the"cocktail hour", the "night band" musicians, would sit at the nearest table next to the bandstand, just to watch and listen to your dad. Bass players, guitar players drummers and of course, steel players, would sit there and be captivated by his playing. He was just incredible. He would, night after night play the most incredible stuff on his steel.He would play Cello lines on some Marty Robbins songs. He played 12 string on a few songs and would sing harmony parts with Nestor too.
Nestor and Wayne could read each so well, it was an incredible thing to witness.They were so tight. I remember that your dad had an incredible sense of humor in his playing as did Nestor. One of the biggest components of Swamproot,was their musical humor. I'm so thankful, that I was witness to some of it. And, I'm so thankful that I got to play with Wayne, Nestor, and Ron Eccles back in the day. I will never forget it. Your dad, will always mean a great deal to me.
Unfortunately, I don't have any recordings of that period of my life, and I will always be sad about that fact. But, I was there and I played with them. I have that.
Good to know you are carrying Wayne's legacy. I'd sure like to meet you some day and listen to you play.
Charlie (Cheech)how the heck r u my brother?U have no idea how much I have wondered where fav drummer and brother at heart has been. Email me so we catch up. I'll email u my ph# so we can talk ok? love bro....Stormy
Wayne,
Debbie Blakely contacted me a few weeks back and told me about this forum. I'm a keyboard player and I joined this forum just to post a reply.
I met your dad around 1976 when I was playing in The Planets in Alb.
Nestor Eaton was a friend of ours and introduced us to Joe Don Davidson, our guitar player. Joe Don had been sleeping on Nestor's floor after leaving the Larry Trider (sp?) band and was looking for a gig. I guess it worked out because Joe Don and I ended up playing together for almost 10 years and was my best friend until his passing a few years ago.
The Planets and Swamp Root were mutual admirers. I loved going to The Caravan and listening to them. I still remember Jack Clarke jumping off stage after one of their sets and realizing we were there said, "Damn, if I'd known you were here I woulda played better!". They were a great band and did the old tradition of ending Cajun songs on a C chord. No matter what key the song was in!
I played with your dad on a TV show. It was titled "The Amy Show" and featured a young attractive female singer. It was based on the Saturday afternoon country shows like Porter Waggoner. The band was really good (at least that's what I remember!) with Amy's band of bass, drums and guitar, me on piano and your dad was, of course, on steel. There were also background singers and a fiddle player who'd once played with Hank Williams. We had charts but your dad didn't want anything to do with them and didn't really need them. It was fairly high pressure because we had to record all the music tracks in one take. If one person made a mistake we all had to start over. No overdubbing. I picked up a lot of things from your dad. Where to fill, where to solo and country arrangements in general (I'm more of a rocker/blues guy). We did the music beds for about 5 or 6 shows in the course of 2 or 3 weeks and it never took off but I learned so much and loved hangin' with your dad. John Cline (JohnCline.com) was the sound engineer and may have recordings. I'm still in contact with him and I'd certainly love to hear them and I'll mention it to him.
After our respective gigs The Planets and Swamproot would often meet up and Nestor, Wayne, Jack, Joe Don, me and whoever else would have some great late nights together. We actually put together a dual concert for New Years one year. We rented a hall and both bands played sets and did a joint jam at the end and the place was packed.
His passing affected me greatly.
Shortly after I ended up writing a song called "Sweet Steel Guitar" and had the spirit of your dad and Swamp Root in mind. We played it live and I think Swamp Root did as well. Wayne Eames, a friend of mine who knew of your dad played steel on it and the recording was done on my Protools studio about 10 years ago in Pasadena.
It's on my website: stevemorelock.com
If you click around a bit you can find another song I wrote, "Song For The Kid" which your dad played on. It was recorded at Wagner studios in the late 70s.
I've always been in awe of steel players and I'm not just saying this because it's a steel guitar forum. I can understand how most instruments work but I look at a pedal steel and I'm dumbfounded as to how anyone can make music out of one much less make one sing. I truly enjoy playing with steel players as I think piano and steel blend so nicely as they're kind've opposite ends of the spectrum. Sustained sliding sounds as opposed to the percussiveness of the piano.
I'm very happy you're carrying on the tradition and playing steel. I'm sure you've inherited the talent your dad possessed.
You can see from all the posts how much your dad affected people. Not just his amazing talent but his heart. He was a wonderful man.
Good luck in your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Steve Morelock
ps. Sorry the post was so long but I wanted to get my $5 worth.
Hey Steve it's good to hear you're still about and hangin in there just thought I'd say hi to an old friend (remember the big house on Candelaria down by the river where You and Jo Don and various members of swamp roots lived upstairs and Debbie and I and Charlie Eaton had the basement with the Debbie Blakely band?)..crazy days they were. take care buddy....Stormy
Stormy!
Of course I remember you! In fact, it was the Candelaria house where we always used to meet up. Where are you these day? Still playing?
Thanks for chiming in!
Steve
Hey Steve, not playin professionally jammin once in a while , mainly bass but I get to noodle around on pedal steel some. Livin in sw NM, a small town called silver city ,I got put on disability so I'm on vacation all the time lol.....This forum is a great place for old pickers like us and Charles and a lot of players I've known and/or played with over the years (whether you play psg or not) to keep up with stuff, so keep posting, great talkin with ya Steve.....Stormy
Sorry I've been absent for so long as my business went through a complete failure! Not to worry though, I am back and in relatively good shape. In the next few days I hope to reach out to everyone again as I dearly want to know about this instrument that calls to me in my sleep and all you great players.
I met your dad when he played with Rose Maddox at McCabe's in Santa Monica. Don't remember when that was. He utterly blew me away with his playing, and was a nice guy. I was just starting to play pedal steel, and he patiently answered all my questions. He was Rose's favorite steel player. She brought him over from New Mexico for the performance and to record with her. They recorded at McCabe's - Takoma Records was next door. I was working in the store at the time.
Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8
Wayne,
I played the Golden Nugget, in Vegas, in the late 60's with the Compton Brothers. Your dad was also playing there with Kenny Vernon. He had the Fender you have with the knee lever made from a floor pedal. He just blew me away !!!
We were practicing in the dressing room and I broke my High G# string. Of course I didn't have a spare. Your dad came in and offered me one and saved the day. Great musician and became a great friend.
Tom
Wayne, I did a show with Rose Maddux years ago when she was spending time up in Oregon. Not long after that I remember her coming to Roseburg Oregon to hear an act I was with in the late 90's. We had a visit backstage. As she sat in her lawn chair we talked about all the steel players she had behind her over the years and she mentioned your Dad was her favorite.
Doug Jones wrote:Wayne, I did a show with Rose Maddux years ago when she was spending time up in Oregon. Not long after that I remember her coming to Roseburg Oregon to hear an act I was with in the late 90's. We had a visit backstage. As she sat in her lawn chair we talked about all the steel players she had behind her over the years and she mentioned your Dad was her favorite.
Hey Doug! Are you still in Eugene? I'll be down next weekend, from Seattle.
Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8
Charlie (Cheech)how the heck r u my brother?U have no idea how much I have wondered where fav drummer and brother at heart has been. Email me so we catch up. I'll email u my ph# so we can talk ok? love bro....Stormy 
Yo Junior how u bean bro? Sorry to hear bout yer business goin down but sounds like u got it covered...good to see u back...Stormy 