Who might have influenced Jerry Garcia?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 27 Jul 2012 4:18 pm

Great story Scotty, thanks for sharing!

The thing is, for the people that never followed Garcia and the Dead, they just assume that all these guys were about was being out of their minds on drugs and doing a lot of spacey, meandering jamming. Not that I didn't see plenty of that too,

Garcia actually called himself in one interview "a pretty conventional musician."

He loved country, bluegrass, and folk music. Think of the Haggard, Marty Robbins, old folk songs, and so on they played as part of the regular repertoire. And a lot of their own compositions were lifted directly out of that tradition.

That's just a gem of a story, Scotty, thanks again.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 28 Jul 2012 3:54 am

Several times Garcia said something to the effect that he would have to take a lot of time to get good enough at steel to meet his own standards, and he couldn't take time off from being "Jerry" to do so. I have often thought that he should've zagged instead of zigged, he might still be here. Back then nobody had an idea that they were creating an image and atmosphere that would eventually make them "legends", so they just toured, and toured, and toured.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 28 Jul 2012 3:38 pm

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 28 Jul 2012 7:49 pm

That's his ZB.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 29 Jul 2012 7:47 am

Dave,
Do you have any more Jerry pics with Steel?
I have never seen that one.
It's a great shot!
Pete

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 29 Jul 2012 8:13 am

What Pete said. Thanks!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 29 Jul 2012 8:50 am

Musicians are musicians, regardless of the venue, and they share a common interest.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 29 Jul 2012 9:31 am

Pete, I snagged that one off of Facebook. There were more shots from that concert and I remember stumbling across one of Jerry on steel playing through a ShoBud amp. I don't think I grabbed it though...

What I like about this shot is that it's something you don't see much here, steel players assembling their rig.

My other favorite shot is of Ralph Mooney carrying his assembled steel in a parking lot somewhere in Vegas or LA in the 60's.

Sorry to stray off topic...

Bud Angelotti · Post by **Bud Angelotti** » 29 Jul 2012 10:06 am

What a great shot Dave! Thanks! That photo tells a story, regardless of who it is. The man, with the smoke, working, being watched by the kid in the upper right-hand corner.
Mucho Gracias

Olaf van Roggen · Post by **Olaf van Roggen** » 30 Jul 2012 3:20 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SynF5nOq ... re=related

...there's a photo of Jerry Garcia behind his steel somewhere in the clip.

Marc Muller · Post by **Marc Muller** » 31 Jul 2012 5:58 am

Buddy Cage mentioned to me Garcia was big into Mooney. No matter who influenced him though, you can hear 2 notes and know it's Garcia, whatever instrument he's playing, love or hate him. 2 notes out of Miles, Jeff Beck, etc, same thing. Instantly identifiable. That's success to me.

Fish · Post by **Fish** » 31 Jul 2012 12:52 pm

Scotty,
Thanks for sharing your story...it's one of the very best posts I've ever read on the Forum!
Steve

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 31 Jul 2012 1:23 pm

yeah...neato!

good pic dave..

even legends put their steels together one leg at a time!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 31 Jul 2012 3:07 pm

chris ivey wrote:yeah...neato!

good pic dave..

even legends put their steels together one leg at a time!

"...only difference is (voice of Christopher Walken as "The Bruce Dickinson" on Saturday Night Live), once legends put their steels together, they make GOLD RECORDS!"

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 1 Aug 2012 3:26 am

When I spoke with Bananna( Youngbloods) I asked HIM the same question and he told me that he really didn't know how to play much at all, Jerry showed him a few things , AB Pedals in and out, and that's what he played. I recall he told me Jerry gave him the Fender Steel, Bananna played it until it was stolen in NYC and he never replaced it. He too told me it was a very difficult Instrument to improve on without tons of practice...just like what Jerry was quoted as saying way above. I am thinking Jerry was Bananna's influence ....they were obviously very good friends as well.

I am in the camp that Jerry and Bananna were both extremely influential to many of us who were NOT focused on country music back in the day...we were listening to Rock and Roll, California Rock and Roll and all of a sudden we heard this "THING"...Bananna was the very first Pedal Steel player I ever saw, actually his Pedal Steel was the very first Steel I ever saw , there were not many bands coming through Westport Ct in the mid to late 60's with Pedal Steel Guitar players !

Thanks Jerry and Bananna !

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 1 Aug 2012 12:58 pm

It can appear to be pretty bizarre, even mystical, if you've only heard the name or only see it on stage from a distance - you really have to get behind one to realize - it's really bizarre. Why fat men wiggle their legs like Elvis, but they're still sitting down....

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 1 Aug 2012 1:29 pm

I've always heard Mooney in his playing, especially the early stuff with that great ZB sound.

I was at the sound check for a Crosby/Nash show hanging out with Dean Parks (the guitar and pedal steel monster). Graham Nash walked up, and Dean introduced me as a steel player. It was the day after Mooney passed away, and Graham mentioned his passing. Dean and I explained to him that the solo to 'Teach Your Children' would never have happened if it weren't for Moon. His response: "cool"

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 1 Aug 2012 3:14 pm

Today, Aug 1st, is Jerry Garcia's birthday (he would've been 70 today).
Jeeeeeerrrrrrrr-Aaaaayyyyyy!!!

Here's the one that got the The Wheel rollin' for 'ol Jer on Pedal Steel:
Together Again:
Album cut:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb0zWgfxPqo
w/ TB live:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYKVb7T1n2I
Is this JD??? (about the 1min mark)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hp1niLsTgU

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 1 Aug 2012 3:49 pm

I had the privilege (or really just the 'dumb luck') to have attended a few of those jam sessions with the Dead in Scotty's Music back in the '70s. At the time, I was attending college in St. Louis and had recently stumbled into Scotty's myself and bought my first steel. I don't remember how I first heard about the Dead coming over but somehow I caught wind of it and cut classes for the day and hitchhiked out to Scotty's. I remember being squeezed into that little store with dozens of people, packed in like sardines, listening to Buddy Cage, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and the rest of the gang jamming all afternoon on the day before their evening concert (Fox Theater?) It was an amazing experience. I got to chatting with Buddy Cage, who was very kind and offered me and my buddy two backstage passes for that evening's concert, so we went and had a blast. I remember attending two such Dead jams at Scotty's. What a time!

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 2 Aug 2012 8:08 am

Jim, that's about as cool as it gets (for people of a certain age, that is). Great story, great thread.

Elliot Brindley · Post by **Elliot Brindley** » 2 Aug 2012 9:26 am

I'm a HUGE fan of all of the steel pickers mentioned here... Mooney, Brumley, Garcia, Cage, etc. Thanks for the stories and the photo!

Jim Curtain · Post by **Jim Curtain** » 2 Aug 2012 5:57 pm

http://www.adioslounge.com/2008/11/happ ... m-and.html

The Steel Guitar Forum

Who might have influenced Jerry Garcia?

Excellent Post!

I thought it would be good to post this again.