Remembering Al Bruno, Archie Francis, Rod Culpepper & many

Obituaries and remembrances
of steel guitarists, their friends and families

Moderators: Donna Dodd, Lori Lee Smith

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LJ Eiffert
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Location: California, USA

Remembering Al Bruno, Archie Francis, Rod Culpepper & many

Post by LJ Eiffert »

Southern California Country Music Musicians are not the same these days like it was with these brothers and many others. ... R.I.P.
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John McClung
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Post by John McClung »

Amen to that, brother Leo.
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
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Barry Blackwood
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Post by Barry Blackwood »

Tell it like it is, Leo.
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Jerry Hayes
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Post by Jerry Hayes »

Tell it like it is brother Leo, I'm glad I was around in those days....... How 'bout..

Tony Treece
Art Sanchez
Billy Mize
Cliff Crofford
Red Simpson
Major Simpson
Teddy Bear
Hank Cockram
Princess Ramona
Billy Tonneson
Gene Davis
Jack Tucker
Johnny Davis
Danny Michaels
Sammy Masters
Jack Laux
Glen Garrison
and my old partner Robert G. Shamblin AKA Bobby Ray..

So many of our old compadres and fellow pickers have passed on it's almost impossible to name 'em all...JH
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
LJ Eiffert
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Post by LJ Eiffert »

Tell it like it is Jerry

Jerry Cole Danny Martin Buddy Christie Bill Norman Kenny Pride Jimmy John Fumlinger Robert Dunaway Larry West Billy Smith Lou Martin Dave Austin
Bill Huffman


I bet you could add a lot more names Jerry?
Herb Steiner
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Post by Herb Steiner »

Norm Cass (Kastner), Hoss Huffman, Marian Hall, Al Petty, Wayne Moore, Gib Guilbeau, Johnny Meeks, Garland Frady, Red Rhodes, Jerry Inman, Ron Still...

I hadn't thought of Princess Ramona in 50 years, but her image came back instantly! Thanks! :)
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
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Jerry Hayes
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Post by Jerry Hayes »

Herb, how 'bout Ramona's husband Buddy Kay. Then there's Cindy Carson, Marie Laswell (my ex wife) and a bunch who's faces I see but can't remember their names. Carl cody is one if I didn't mention him already. And my old drummer Buddy Banks, I've heard rumors that he died but I can't confirm it. Also John Leighton, The Dancing Bear (from the Foothill Club), Teddy Wilds, Bonnie Price, Kenny Cox, Lee Ross, Biff Collie, the Squeakin' Deacon, Dick Haynes & "Frosty Harris" AKA Frosty the Show Man.....JH

Leo, do you know if our old Trumpet player Gino Cirriano is still living?......JH
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
Skip Edwards
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Post by Skip Edwards »

Gene Hoover... one of the best guitar players I ever had the pleasure of working with, and a mentor to me...as well as someone who could make a Jazzmaster with a floating tremolo bar & a vp sound like Buddy on a wraparound. No BS...
Herb Steiner
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Post by Herb Steiner »

Jerry Hayes wrote: Lee Ross, Biff Collie, the Squeakin' Deacon, Dick Haynes & "Frosty Harris" AKA Frosty the Show Man.....JH
Larry Scott told me that he felt there was something in the KFOX building that had asbestos or something, because of all the DJs that came down with some form of cancer... all those you mentioned, plus Hugh Cherry.
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
LJ Eiffert
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Post by LJ Eiffert »

Jerry,Gino Cirriano is gone too. I still talk to his old (Chicken Bones) friend, Ms. M.
Buddie Hrabal
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Post by Buddie Hrabal »

I didn't work in California but I think Bobby Wayne was from there?
1975 Emmons P/P D-10, Sierra Sesion D-10, Dekley HS-210, Sho-Bud "Blue Darlin" V, Evans FET-500HV amp,Goodrich L-120 pedal
Fred Jack
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Picker

Post by Fred Jack »

Jimmy Bryant, Ralph Mooney, Noel Boggs, Q. Murphy , etc.
George Duncan Sypert
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Post by George Duncan Sypert »

Is the Johnny Davis mentioned above a pedal steel player who played a Fender 1000 and came to Colorado Springs with Jim Murphy and Pat Price (drummer). On or about 1968.

If it is I think he wound up in Denver and worked in the plumbing trade. Never saw or heard of him after the left the Springs.

Lots of great players listed above.

George
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Jerry Hayes
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Post by Jerry Hayes »

Hey George, the "Johnny Davis" mentioned played pedal steel very well but electric guitar was where he really shined. Most of he steel playing was done on an old Fender 400 steel with four pedals and no knee levers. About the time I left SoCal (1985) or so I had seen a Fender 800 ten string steel with 8 floor pedals and no knee levers at Blackie Taylor's Music Store. I told Johnny about it and I think he bought it. In the old days I'd seen him playing next to guys with double tens on his single 8 string Fender and he'd put 'em to shame.

One of his old deciples (Al ?) is on this forum and could let us know of Johnny's copedants if he sees this.........JH in Va.
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
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Stu Schulman
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Post by Stu Schulman »

Carl Walden,Carl West?
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
Fred Jack
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steeler

Post by Fred Jack »

Is Blackie Taylor still with us and if so is he still in business?
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Barry Blackwood
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Post by Barry Blackwood »

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Jerry Hayes
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Post by Jerry Hayes »

Stu, I think Carl Walden is still around. I jammed with him back in Oct. of '05 in Santa Ana at an Elks Lodge when he was playing with Sammy Masters. I haven't heard any word of his passing...JH in Va.
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
John Alexander
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Post by John Alexander »

One of you California steel guitarists of that era, or one of your colleagues, came to Jackson Wyoming as part of Larry Booth's band in 1978 or 1979, and spent an afternoon visiting with me at my place. Regrettably I've forgotten your name, but I greatly enjoyed the visit and the performances.

Al Bruno was one of my biggest influences as a guitarist, although I only heard him play on two occasions, both short segments on the Cal's Corral television show, where I also first heard a pedal steel guitar be played the way it should be played - by the late great Red Rhodes.

I also remember Carl Walden from Cal's Corral - as I recall he played a number of different instruments in addition to steel.
Carl Walden
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Location: Diamond Bar,Ca USA

Post by Carl Walden »

Hi..So many great musicians and friends have passed on and I miss them all. What a wonderful experience it has been to have lived through all of the fantastic music in California back then and still be here to remember it.

Carl Walden
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Stu Schulman
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Post by Stu Schulman »

Wow,Apologies to Carl Walden,and Nice to see that you're still kickin'
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
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