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Topic: Have you ever.......................? |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 23 Jan 2014 9:37 am |
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As a steel player I've had points in my life where I came just short of sawing my Bigsby and/or others in half.
Listening to such great artists as Byrd, Green, Emmons, Hughey and countless others and realizing I would never be able to walk in their footsteps, at times has really dropped me into a musical depression. The disappointment in this realization
was almost too much. Finally knowing that I'd never grace the stage at the Ryman Auditorium or cut a record with one of the great vocalists was a hard fact for me to accept.
Have any of you other elderly steel players ever experienced such a frustrating event? |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 23 Jan 2014 10:12 am
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| I have, Ray. I think as we age, many truths become more evident and this is but one of them. I draw some consolation from the fact that a thousand years from now I don't think any of this will matter anyway, so I just shrug it off and do the best I can in spite of it.. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 23 Jan 2014 11:43 am
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If someone had whispered in my ear as I sat at my desk in Grammar School sixty years ago that I would earn my living by playing music I would never have believed it. I would, however, have settled for that being my life's path.
Such has proved to be the case and I still enjoy most of it. There are a million players better than me and quite a few who are wealthier, but I consider my life to have been a success story - so far, anyway.
There is, however, still time for it to go pear-shaped! 
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2014 4:29 am
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| Just wait..........one of THOSE nights will come along and you will fall into the zone and all the joy will be there.......then you won't care about the other things. |
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Erik Alderink
From:
Ann Arbor Michigan, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2014 4:42 am
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| But Ray, you forget that so many of us young guys are fans of your playing... |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 24 Jan 2014 10:43 am THANKS for sharing your tho'ts.
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I appreciate the views expressed here. Many thanks to you.
Many thanks to you Erik. Very nice of you. |
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Fred Glave
From:
McHenry, Illinois, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2014 11:48 am
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I've heard some of your playing Ray, and you have a lot to be proud of. I know that I will never master the fine points of the steel. I Just keep things simple with my playing so I fit in, and try to improve as I muddle along. Sometimes I wish I took better advantage of the talent I have when I was younger, but I am thankful for what I have now.
_________________
Zum Encore, Zum Stage One, Fender 2000, Harlan Bros., Multi-Kord, |
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Bill L. Wilson
From:
Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2014 1:57 pm The End is Closing In.
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| I always wanted to be a big star, and a recording genius, but reality set in. Being around good musicians helped my playing, but the talent just ain't there. I've said this before, "If you're Buddy Emmons, my steel playing stinks" If you're not a steel player, you'd say, "He's Fantastic". I'm so blessed, that I don't worry about what I could've done or been. I'm the guy who spent 22000bucks on a van, 2500 on a steel, 1400 on amps, and 500 on a pedal brd. To go play a 30buck gig, and drive an Hr. or 2each way. And it's still fun! |
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Bo Legg
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Posted 24 Jan 2014 2:18 pm
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Ray It's has nothing to do with the way you play.
It's all about the last name.
Example: If Buddy Emmons and Paul Franklin hadn't had the same last names as famous Pedal Steel Guitars we would have never known who they were. |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2014 5:51 pm
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| I have to side with Bill L. Wilson |
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