Who is this player?

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 27 Mar 2014 11:10 am

Bill McKillop from Scotland emailed this photo of a steel player that he took in Tootsie's in Nashville in 1996. It looks like an early JCH steel, through a Nashville 400. I am not sure who it is, but if anyone can shed some light on the matter, Bill would be a happy chappy!

(I have told him who I think it may be, but I am not confident that I have got it right)

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 27 Mar 2014 11:51 am

I'll answer my own question. I have just spoken with Buck Reid on the telephone, and he thinks (the JCH connection) that it's a guy called Randy Hess. Not the person that I first thought it was.

Chubby Howard · Post by **Chubby Howard** » 28 Mar 2014 6:02 am

My friend Randy Hess plays alot with Pam Tillis!

Bill McKillop · Post by **Bill McKillop** » 28 Mar 2014 1:32 pm

Thanks Ken,
I should have put it on the forum myself but I thought I'd give you guys a try first.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 28 Mar 2014 2:24 pm

Chubby Howard wrote:My friend Randy Hess plays alot with Pam Tillis!

Chubby
Are you the Chubby Howard who played with Box Car Willie at a country music festival in Switzerland in the early '80's?

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 28 Mar 2014 8:12 pm

That's definitely Randy Hess-he still plays a black JCH

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 28 Mar 2014 8:46 pm

Thanks Brett - you sure know your steel players.

Chubby Howard · Post by **Chubby Howard** » 31 Mar 2014 11:07 am

Yes Sir that was me!

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 31 Mar 2014 1:37 pm

Was that country music festival put on by Cowboy Kurt?

Chubby Howard · Post by **Chubby Howard** » 31 Mar 2014 1:39 pm

sorry do not really remember. He was so popular overseas. Thanks for remembering!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 31 Mar 2014 9:11 pm

The festival was put on by Englishman Mervyn Conn.

Chubby
After the show, which I also played on, a lots of the acts came back to our hotel afterwards and performed an informal jam. It was the Hirschen Hotel, Zurich, and Tammy Wynette, Billie Joe Spears and Box Car all came back and performed, and I remember you playing there. It was a great night.

Randy Hess · Post by **Randy Hess** » 3 May 2014 1:40 am

Good gawd!!! That's me alright. A long time ago & a lot of hair ago. And yes, I'm still playing that same JCH. Cool pic!!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 3 May 2014 1:55 am

Do you have a more up to date pic of you with the same guitar Randy?

Roy Peterman · Post by **Roy Peterman** » 3 May 2014 3:41 am

Hey Randy,

I didn't recognize you in that picture, although I thought you looked familiar when I first looked at it. Hope you are doing well. I see your brother Glenn and his son Dan quite often. Hope to see you one of these days. Take care.

Roy

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 3 May 2014 7:13 am

interesting to hear the switzerland connection. i played the fruitigan singer songwriter festival in switzerland earl 80's with jjwhite. others on the bill were brooks and dunn, little texas, rusty weir, jim lauderdale, leroy parnell....and more. also played in geneva and austria the same trip.