Steel Players in Richmond, VA

Bob Lancaster · Post by **Bob Lancaster** » 28 Feb 2015 6:09 pm

I'm very much a beginner steel player (i.e., about 8 years). I took lessons from Don Fulmer for about 6 months when I first bought my GFI from (where else) Billy Cooper. I've been unable to reach Don, and hope he's doing well.

I'm looking for other steel players in the area that would be interested in just getting together to play and/or giving lessons.

Regards,
-Bob

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 1 Mar 2015 4:39 am

Dave Nugent is in Gum Spring.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 1 Mar 2015 4:41 am

Robert...I am located in Goochland and would enjoy meeting you. I am working with a group this Saturday night at the 'Arrowhead Grill' located on Route 60 in Powhatan (heading West,shopping center on right around two miles past the exit off 288). If you are free and can make it, stop by and say Hi.

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 1 Mar 2015 4:55 am

Okay, Goochland.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 1 Mar 2015 5:10 am

Steve...Thank you for the post. Sorry for the confusion concerning location, felt that Robert may be more familiar with Goochland, (Gum Spring is actually a part of Goochland County, one of those,"Tiny post office and one convenience store, blink and you've missed it" locations).

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 1 Mar 2015 6:01 am

Stephen Kuester, a very fine Richmond steeler and a member of this Forum, is yet another neighbor of yours. He picks with a group known as Jackass Flats.

Bob Lancaster · Post by **Bob Lancaster** » 1 Mar 2015 3:18 pm

Thanks for the replies. David, I'll put it on my calendar and try to come by the Arrowhead Grill. I have not had the chance to see Jackass Flats live, but they're an awesome band and very well known.

By the way, my Dad grew up in Shelfar VA, so I'm very familiar with Gum Springs.

-Bob

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 2 Mar 2015 7:27 am

Being from Charlottesville, as a kid we would make occasional trips to the Richmond area to visit family and friends. And I'm talking in the pre I-64 days on old route 250! When we would pass through Gum Springs my dad would holler "Any of you kids want to stop and get some chewy water? And of course we would roll our eyes and do a fake yuk yuk!

Late when I took up the steel I played regularly in the Richmond area. There were some great steel players that played around there then. Bruce Bouton, Tommy Hannum, Jay Jessup, Bucky Baxter, Sid Hudson, Don Fullmer, Teddy Lloyd, Ryland Tinnell, etc.

Sorry if I drifted OT while negotiating Memory Lane

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 2 Mar 2015 10:28 am

Tommy, etc would include Ray Garrett...BTW, Jay and Bruce shared a house in Midlothian amongst other muZac type folks when I lived around Richmond. Do you recall visiting us at Wasted Acres? I think Bruce moved in when Jay moved out...must have been my banjo....

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 2 Mar 2015 10:31 am

Don't believe I remember Ray...vaguely perhaps...Don't think I ever visited Wasted Acres. But some of those years are a bit blurry

Bob Lancaster · Post by **Bob Lancaster** » 2 Mar 2015 6:11 pm

My local pedal steel idol was Bobby Lawler, who played with my brother's band, Blue Ridge. I used to sneak into The Pass when I was 17 to hear them. They were around in the late 70's.

I regret not picking up the instrument sooner!

-Bob

Bob Lancaster · Post by **Bob Lancaster** » 18 Mar 2015 5:09 pm

Dave, I enjoyed hearing you play with Southern Ambition a couple of Saturday's ago at Arrowhead Grill. Your playing and steel guitar sounded awesome, and always a good addition to any band. Sounds like you keep a very busy schedule, but hope we can catch up sometime.

Still looking to connect with some other local steel players in Richmond. Let me know if anyone has contact information for Don Fulmer. His old number is no longer in service. Maybe he retired to Hawaii!

Regards,
-Bob

Teddy Lloyd · Post by **Teddy Lloyd** » 20 Mar 2015 9:41 am

Robert Give me a call at 804 527 1033 and I will tell you where most of the players are playing.I live in Glen Allen. Teddy Lloyd

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 21 Mar 2015 5:55 am

Tommy Detamore wrote:Don't believe I remember Ray...vaguely perhaps...Don't think I ever visited Wasted Acres. But some of those years are a bit blurry

Tommy,
Ray and his brother Dave ran Metro Music on Hull Street in the early to mid 70's which at the time was the center of the steel guitar universe to me. That's where I first ran into Bruce as we were both taking beginner steel lessons from Teddy Lloyd.
You'd remember Ray if you ever heard him play, a big Curly Chalker fan but he was missing his thumb and index finger of his right (picking) hand so played with finger picks on his last three fingers and played really well.
I bought his old custom Sho-Bud Pro III from him a couple of years ago not too long before he passed away. As a dealer he could order what he wanted from Shot so he asked for a longer scale and hotter pickups than an Emmons. So that old green pro III has a 24 and 3/8" scale and pickups wound to 24K if you can believe that!
Jay

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 21 Mar 2015 9:26 am

Teddy Lloyd wrote:Robert Give me a call at 804 527 1033 and I will tell you where most of the players are playing.I live in Glen Allen. Teddy Lloyd

Damn Teddy, I thought you were dead! Great to see you're still out and about.....JH in Va.