Article on the Pedal Steel Guitar

Alexander Zaalberg · Post by **Alexander Zaalberg** » 14 Feb 2003 11:34 pm

Pedal-Pro Universal
playing the universal pedal steel guitar
<a href="http://www.pedalprouniversal.com">URL:http://www.pedalprouniversal.com
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In our website we need a few large articles on the steel guitar. We already have an article on the lap/hawaiian steel. Lorene Rumar, author of the book -The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians- wrote a great article on the hawaiian steel for us. (This link brings you directly to the mentioned page: GoTo Lorene Rumar's article). Our Request: Does anyone of you knows a very lot about the history of the pedal steel and finds some time to write an article on -The History of the Pedal Steel Guitar- to be published in the PPU site? Start where (in the timetable of events) Lorene ended. Lorene stopped when pedal were introduced. We already asked Tom Bradshaw and Scotty, but they lack the time (although they liked the idea). Hope someone of you can help us out.

Thanks in advance

to Email us:

alexander-zaalberg@planet.nl

Alexander Zaalberg
webmaster
Pedal-Pro Universal

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 15 Feb 2003 6:23 am

Alexander,

Thank you for publishing the article.

There is, however, a glaring factual inaccuracy in the second sentence of the second paragraph.

Captain Cook did not "discover" Hawaii. Obviously, the Hawaiians discovered Hawaii. Captain Cook was the first Westerner (White Man, whatever) to stumble upon some real estate that others already had "discovered."[This message was edited by Alan Kirk on 17 February 2003 at 06:35 AM.]

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 15 Feb 2003 9:20 am

To Alexander: A good place to start for PSG history is the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. There you will find the FIRST pedal steel guitar encased in a glass cabinet--designed and manufactured by Alvino Rey and a machinist, made in the early 20's. Last summer, there was a long article in the Nashville Tennesean on pedal steel guitar written by staff writer, Craig Havigurst. I wrote him a 2-page letter inquiring about his obvious near-sightedness and total lack of primary sources in his article (wonder what school of jouralism he attended, if any?. His interviews went no further than the Nashville city limits; needless to say, I never received a reply; anyway his research was non-existent or completely misguided. Also at the Country Music Hall of Fame, beneath the photo of Web Pierce, there is an article about his PS guitarist that states--in 1953, no one knew what to do with the pedals on the steel guitar until his steel man, Bud Issac, came along! I hope that the next person who writes of the PSG history will say something provable and based on genuine research!! ...Hugh Jeffreys

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 15 Feb 2003 12:57 pm

Hi Doc
You are right on. I saw an old movie years back where Alvino was using a plastic or glass type cabinet.

There was a great shot of Alvino taken from the underside of the glass guitar where Alvino's smiling face was as big as life and filled the movie screen.

I thought it was a "gimmick" until you confirmed what it was in fact the real deal.
Thanks for the info,you always add much to this Forum.

Jody

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 15 Feb 2003 7:09 pm

Dr.Hugh was absolutely correct on both counts.
I wish these guys would get something straight too.

Alvino Rey started the commercial pedal playing. Some of us old timers copied him and were pushing pedals way before we ever heard of Webb Pierce's "slowly".

I agree with Dr.Hugh Jeffreys , and Jody who knows their history.....al

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 16 Feb 2003 1:51 pm

In the early '20s? Given the common knowledge that the electric guitar pickup wasn't invented until the mid-30's, was Alvino Rey's first pedal steel acoustic?

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Bill Stafford · Post by **Bill Stafford** » 17 Feb 2003 4:57 am

I just want to extend my thanks to Alexander for his major efforts in publishing Pedal Pro Universal. Great job!
And, I want to also thank (again) Bob Maickle and PSGA, New York, for my receiving their prestigious 1989 Appreciation Award. I have no words to fully express my thanks - and to have this award presented to me in company with the great Alvino Rey was stupendous for me. Thanks guys. And thanks again to Alexander for all the articles, interview and the recent inclusion of words from Scotty about the Jerry Byrd Award. Thanks to Scotty also. See you all in Dallas.

Bill Stafford