Canadian Pickers

Matt Perpick · Post by **Matt Perpick** » 5 Sep 2018 4:51 pm

Checking in!

Terry Winter · Post by **Terry Winter** » 5 Sep 2018 8:39 pm

Yea I'm here in SW Saskatchewan.......Not many of us here in this corner of the province.....

Dean Owen · Post by **Dean Owen** » 7 Sep 2018 1:11 pm

Canadian Country Music Association just announced some category winners for 2018 ...

https://www.ccma.org/cgi/page.cgi/_arti ... &zine=show

Mitch Jay won for steel guitar - here is an article about Mitch from 2016

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-e ... -1.3745376

Here is the only video I could find - if anyone out there knows of a better one to showcase his playing, please share
https://youtu.be/K7jZjdj7wBs

And this one
https://youtu.be/6e0cua0E8RM

A few years ago CCMA wanted to drop the steel player category from their awards. Needless to say the protests from country and steel fans changed their mind. Mitch seems to be an example of the â€˜nextâ€™ generation player to keep the instrument alive.

Stephane Morency · Post by **Stephane Morency** » 20 Sep 2018 5:59 pm

hey count me in !

Rene Brosseau · Post by **Rene Brosseau** » 20 Sep 2018 7:55 pm

Hello from Chatham,On...southwestern Ontario

Dennis Saydak · Post by **Dennis Saydak** » 21 Sep 2018 5:59 am

Greetings from the great metropolis of Anola, MB. I'm mainly a closet picker and occasional jammer at my age. I love my instruments.

Allan Kirby · Post by **Allan Kirby** » 22 Sep 2018 3:48 pm

Hello from Al Kirby in eastern Ontario. I've been playing steel for about 40 years. My focus is performing and recording with independent singer/songwriters and my music preferences are eclectic fusions of folk, jazz, rock, and country. I work about 60 gigs a year. Two years ago, I recorded a five tune instrumental CD based on some old folk-song and fiddle melodies that I could not get out my head. My pedal-steel allows me to create and improvise like no other instrument can!

Len Ryder · Post by **Len Ryder** » 24 Sep 2018 9:56 am

Retired 'bout three years back after over 60 years behind a Steel.

Doug Johnson · Post by **Doug Johnson** » 25 Sep 2018 2:45 pm

Just so you know I haven't fallen off the planet.

Dale Rivard · Post by **Dale Rivard** » 27 Sep 2018 8:39 am

Doug, You will never be forgotten! Many musicians in Canada are aware of Doug Johnson's talents. Being the humble, nice guy that he is, some of you may not be familiar. Not only is he one of the best steel players in Canada but he is one of the best to ever play the instrument. Doug, you are one of my heroes! Really enjoyed seeing and hearing you play this summer. As a side note, Doug, did you happen to leave a tuner and some picks on a stage at the plowing match last week? One of the organizers was asking.

Larry Ball · Post by **Larry Ball** » 28 Sep 2018 1:12 pm

Well I will join the list. I live in Airdrie, Alberta, I am just getting into it ( 1 yr.) "Mullen SD10"so I will class myself as an apprentice picker.

Yes there are some great Steel Pickers in Alberta and they have been named. I love the Forum as it has been a great help to my advancement. I have played lead guitar for 50+ yrs. plus which also helps.

Some "Great Players" I try and follow is Joe Wright, David Hartley (from the UK) Michel Rose from Australia. John Lacey from Southern Alberta.

Peewee Charles · Post by **Peewee Charles** » 2 Oct 2018 8:36 am

Hi Everyone, The old dude is steel here after all these years.......Blessed to have had such a wonderful music career.....Studied with Reece Anderson in Texas in 1971..when I returned Ian Tyson asked me to be a part of his National TV show...with the Great Speckled Bird....sessions with Anne Murray....asked to join Lightfoot band and toured world and recorded for 16 years....sessions with so many Canadian Artists and honoured to win CCMA Steel Player of Year 5 times and inducted in to Hall of Honour with some amazing musicians....pretty honoured....So excited about our Swing band. Www.thewesternswingauthority.com real Country music..... here's a link to new cd and vid.... https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/th ... gauthority
and with so many special guests....and my special guests...Legends Bruce Bouton & Buddy Spicher.....Keep steelin everyone...love ya all....Ed

Dean Owen · Post by **Dean Owen** » 2 Oct 2018 11:56 am

I'd like to add Blair McNutt to the list. He doesn't have much access to the internet these days. I've known Blair for years and have always liked his style. When he lost the tip of his right index finger in an industrial accident many years ago, he just moved the picks to his other fingers and kept on playing. That's true grit! He lives in Red Deer Alberta and goes home to Saskatchewan occasionally to play with his brother. Just south of Yorkton I think. He plays an older MSA D10 but recently took to playing this GFI S12.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 3 Oct 2018 4:58 am

I'm still around and playing with a lot of different artists in Western Canada.

Gabriel Edell · Post by **Gabriel Edell** » 27 Jan 2019 9:23 am

Hamilton, ON here.

Nicholas Thomas · Post by **Nicholas Thomas** » 14 Feb 2023 6:29 am

I think i'll revive this thread and make myself known haha. I'm originally from a small english fishing town in eastern Quebec and relocated to Newfoundland to study Marine Engineering to work on lake freighters, during my first year I re found my love for country music and decided to build my self a steel guitar to learn, well, 4 years later and a couple DIY projects under my belt, I guess I can classify myself as a steeler. Currently living in St. John's NL.

Mike Holder · Post by **Mike Holder** » 14 Feb 2023 7:46 am

From Toronto via Nashville;…Why did I ever start playing this instrument?.. Why did I ever stop??..well, I’m giving it another try, what a great invention!

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 14 Feb 2023 8:59 am

I just rejoined the list in Victoria.

George Webb · Post by **George Webb** » 16 Feb 2023 7:30 am

Good to see this post again.

50 years a weekend warrior ... now in the basement since 2019.
Can't stay away from a steel guitar!

George Webb

John Cadeau · Post by **John Cadeau** » 16 Feb 2023 9:11 am

John Cadeau,Surrey British Columbia.

Tommy Mark · Post by **Tommy Mark** » 8 Mar 2023 3:42 pm

Wow, I cant believe this thread still lives ! Thank you all for commenting. A couple of fellows that need mentioning are the late Gary'Spike'Spicer of Family Brown fame, and Pat Thompson who is from my home town. And countless others who have come in to it in the last 20 years. God bless you all !

Allan Revich · Post by **Allan Revich** » 12 Mar 2023 11:20 am

Lap steeling away in Victoria, British Columbia.

Neil Degraw · Post by **Neil Degraw** » 12 Mar 2023 3:42 pm

Hay Tommy, I remember when I 1st met Gary’Spike’Spicer, he was with Myrna Lorrie, but she was doing TV tappings so her band had Joe Payne from Wheeling West Virginia fronting the show and were playing at the Belvedere Hotel in London Ont. Sipike came out to my home and showed me how to set up my Fender 400 to an 8 string E9th tuning, and we became good friends. He went on to play for Julie Lynn and then play for Family Brown. Spike was a great steel player but also a great lead guitar player. I owe a LOT to Spike.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Canadian Pickers

CCMA steel player of the year

Canadian

Doug Johnson

Howdy all....

Canadian Pickers

Another Canuck