was lew childre one of the first steel players?

Joe Moulton · Post by **Joe Moulton** » 9 Mar 2012 8:59 am

I LIVE IN LEWS HOME TOWN JUST WONDERING IF HE WAS CLASSED AS A STEEL PLAYER HE PLAYED A AUC. GUITAR WITH A BAR CALLED IT HIS 2 CORD GUITAR

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 9 Mar 2012 11:23 am

I thought of Lew Childre as a comedian who happened to use an instrument more as a prop. Lew just played a standard round-hole Hawaiian guitar as I recall.

His sons got together and put out a very fine baitcasting reel, the Lew Childre Speed
Spool, which I used for years and then mistakenly sold all 7 of them. The BB-1NG was a classic.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 9 Mar 2012 1:42 pm

Lew was probably not one of the first, since the Hawaiian-type acoustic steel was being played in the early 1900's, and Lew didn't venture into "hillbilly music" until the early-to-mid 1920s. However, we could probably rate him as one of the first hilbilly/country players. I think that generally, Bill Carlisle is credited to being the "first" hillbilly/country steel player, but new information is always popping up. For many years, Bud Isaacs was thought to have been the first recorded pedal steeler. But lately, subtle pedal moves that were recorded years before Bud's famous licks have surfaced. We're always making new discoveries of old stuff!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 9 Mar 2012 2:21 pm

Didn't Lew end his act by saying something like:"I'm going to the house, these shoes are killing me"?
Or something like that.

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 9 Mar 2012 2:43 pm

Erv, I believe that was Whitey Ford, the Dukle of Paducah.
Gere Mullican

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 9 Mar 2012 2:46 pm

Gere,
Yes, you are correct, he said: "I'm goin' back to the wagon, boys, these shoes are killin' me".

He also said: "My brother went through reform school on a scholarship".

Joe Moulton · Post by **Joe Moulton** » 10 Mar 2012 7:28 am

LEW CLOSED HIS SHOW MOST OF THE TIME SAYING GOOD NITE TO MY MAMA IN OPP ALABAMI

Joe Moulton · Post by **Joe Moulton** » 10 Mar 2012 7:29 am

LEW CLOSED HIS SHOW MOST OF THE TIME SAYING GOOD NITE TO MY MAMA IN OPP ALABAMI

Eddie Cunningham · Post by **Eddie Cunningham** » 10 Mar 2012 11:49 am

Jenks "Tex" Carmen was also an olde tyme "Hillbilly Hawaiian" acoustic steel player in the 40s & 50s !! Kinda wild & crazy but I loved his style !! I've still got and play some of his records !! Eddie "C" AKA the old geezer