Any steelers in the Champaigne/Urbana illinois rea ?

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 30 Jun 2014 6:29 pm

Sometime in the middle of July, I will be visiting family in that area, and was curious if there is much steeling going on in that area. If you are playing out somewhere, let me know, or if you would just like to meet for coffee, that will work for me too. thanks in advance.

Jack Harper · Post by **Jack Harper** » 30 Jun 2014 7:30 pm

terry sneed is probably the absolute best pedal steel player in urbana. he plays a mullen.
he might be the only onr there.
you can probably ask anybody down at the gas station where you can find him. I'm sure he's ready to play at the drop of a hat. everybody in urbana know's 'im.
urbana, Arkansas ain't no big town. least it didn't used to be. like in the words to the song, "everybody know's everybody"....
I do understand that he's not much on champaigne tho'.

country....

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 30 Jun 2014 7:51 pm

I think he means Champaign-Urbana, IL. I'll be playing a duo with Mike Miller July 18th at Black Rock Pizza in Urbana. Mike and I play in a "trop-rock" band called the "Boat Drunks" but most of our gigs are out of town with that band. Other local players would be Bob Watson and Jerry Erickson, they both work at my music stores please stop by Corson Music and say hi.

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 1 Jul 2014 5:42 pm

Yes i should have said illinois...thanks for the heads up...i will wander into your store...my niece lives in mahommet, which is close

Alan Tanner · Post by **Alan Tanner** » 1 Jul 2014 5:49 pm

Back in the 60's and 70's I played all around that area. Prolly everyone I knew is either gone home or in a nursing home. When Chanute was there, a lot of music got played in that area.....

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 1 Jul 2014 6:07 pm

Larry, Mr. Scottie Baker lives there in Champaign and plays a left handed Justice I built for him.
I don't know if Scottie is still playing out or not, Dyke Corson could problebly answer that for you.

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 2 Jul 2014 2:54 pm

Confusing, so many Larry's and so many Bakers??

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 2 Jul 2014 9:23 pm

Larry, I'm playin' at the Champaign Eagles on July 12th with a cool C&W band from 7:30 pm to 11 pm. I will also be working at Dyke's music store in Urbana. Stop by either store, we love to talk shop. Fred, Scottie doesn't play out anymore but he still jams with friends quite often. Scottie was an inspiration to all of the Steel players in the area when he was playin' out.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 3 Jul 2014 7:28 am

there is a guy name john ??? that plays with his brothers band in that area. plays a black zum d-10
does anybody know of him??

p.w

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 3 Jul 2014 7:53 am

Darrell Cummins also lives around the Decatur area.
Darrell plays a Zum as well.

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 3 Jul 2014 11:07 pm

Paul you are talking about John Sawyer from Lerna, IL. He and his brother Harold have a band called the Sawyer Brothers. John is a GREAT steel player and real good guitar player too. Unfortunately they rarely play in Champaign-Urbana

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 4 Jul 2014 4:12 am

ha dyke,

thanks for the info about john sawyer. rack my brain trying to think of his last name

yes, a great player
for sure. saw him once at the wisconsin steel show

p.w

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 23 Jul 2014 6:14 pm

Just as a follow up, i enjoyed my visit with bob watson on tuesday...really an interesting man and had lots of good stories to tell about steel players...i am sure he had tons more

Thanks for taking the time to talk steel with me., bob, i have been traveling this last three weeks and no one to talk steel talk with until him

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 1 Aug 2014 10:48 pm

Larry, it was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for the kind words. Ive always felt that there is a brotherhood amongst steel players and it's always a good day when you meet another one and share knowledge and talk shop. Who else would know what " right knee left" would mean?