Terry Bethel R.I.P.

Bill Bailey · Post by **Bill Bailey** » 17 Jun 2019 9:55 pm

I got to see and hear Terry play at Scotties, Billy Jo Spears sang her hit song Blanket on the Ground, with Terry backing her, and he played Somewhere Over The Rainbow, most beautifully. Rest in peace Terry.

Neil Flanz · Post by **Neil Flanz** » 17 Jun 2019 9:57 pm

I was very saddened to hear of Terry Bethel's passing and send my condolences to his family. I considered him a dear friend and a great steel player. I will miss him.

Neil

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 17 Jun 2019 11:54 pm

I am bummed about this,I met Terry in Phoenix years ago and was blown away by his incredible musicianship and his incredible wonderful personality.My condolences to Terry's family.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 18 Jun 2019 2:21 am

This is a great loss to the steel guitar community. Terrys passing will leave a huge void in many lives. Prayers for his family and friends.

Clark Connell · Post by **Clark Connell** » 18 Jun 2019 3:08 am

Rest In Peace Terry. Thank You for all of your many contributions to the world of pedal steel guitar. I will always remember watching you when I was a kid on television with Mel Tillis. You were an inspiration.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 18 Jun 2019 5:06 am

very sad to here terry passing. i got see and talk to him at I.S.G.C in st louis he once sent me a tape of him in the house band in Vegas . prayers are sent to fmaily..

R.I.P Terry

p.w

Roy Heap · Post by **Roy Heap** » 18 Jun 2019 6:58 am

Very sad, I am sorry. Condolences to his family. The legends are getting so thin on the ground.

Milt Quackenbush · Post by **Milt Quackenbush** » 18 Jun 2019 4:48 pm

So sorry to have to say goodbye to my special mate, and mentor, Terry Bethel. Terry and I were roommates on the road with Mel Tillis for many years, and he is the reason I play pedal steel guitar today.
I am so glad we spent 6 weeks together when he came and stayed with us in Australia last year. It was a very special time, with a lot of pickin' and grinnin', and endless hours reminiscing about old times on the road etc. Our longtime friend and fellow picker, Waz (Warren Neilsen) brought Terry out. His health had failed, so he could no longer travel to the USA for the steel guitar shows, but he wanted to hear Terry play again, so he made it happen. But sadly, Waz passed away 3 weeks before Terry arrived in Australia. Rest assured, they will be making music together now though.
R.I.P. Count. I'm going to miss you. Love you brother.
Condolences to the Bethel family. Our hearts are with you all.
Milton and PJ

Ed Javner · Post by **Ed Javner** » 18 Jun 2019 5:57 pm

I remember him playing the Flame Cafe in Minneapolis as just a young man in the early 60s. Oh what time does to people.

Bob Taillefer · Post by **Bob Taillefer** » 18 Jun 2019 7:14 pm

Debra and I are very saddened by his passing. May you rest in peace kind soul.
Bob T.

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 18 Jun 2019 7:59 pm

Its hard to believe Terry isn't around to talk to anymore. Anytime I called him it was a thrill. He was always encouraging and a joy to talk to. I loved that man. I am so proud he called me one of his friends. A true mentor.
The few times I sat steel to steel with him are still ingrained in my head. I still practice what he showed me when I try to regroup my chops.
He will always remain in my heart.
RIP Terry my friend.

Dean Holman · Post by **Dean Holman** » 18 Jun 2019 11:12 pm

I met Terry almost 29 years ago. He was with Mel and they played at my hometown. I got re-aquainted with Terry when I moved to Branson. He has been like a second dad to me. Iâ€™m really going to miss him badly. Just to call him and hear his voice and advice, would always make my day. I was excited to get to see and talk to Terry. He always made me feel so comfortable and welcomed when I went to his house. My heart is broken. Please keep all of Terryâ€™s family and friends in your prayers.

Bernie Watruba · Post by **Bernie Watruba** » 19 Jun 2019 6:12 am

I first met Terry in 1966 in Fremont Ohio when the Furlin Husky Show came to town. Emmons was supposed to be with Furlin on this show. I was so disappointed when the curtain opened and Emmons was not the steel player. Terry opened up the show with "Almost to Tulsa" , and guess what, a new Terry Bethel fan was born. Also, he was playing a Domland Stereo. The first time Terry played In St. Louis, I reminded him of my disappointment when the curtain opened and Emmons was not on stage, but that a new Terry Bethel fan was born. What a MONSTER player and even a better person. RIP my friend.
Bernie Watrubaa

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 19 Jun 2019 5:12 pm

I'm very saddened to hear of Terry's passing. I loved the man and loved his playing.

I first met him in the mid-late '70s. Did a number of shows with him and always enjoyed hanging out with him and hearing him play. We did shows together when he was backing Mel, Billy Jo and Loretta, he was always absolutely great..!!

An awesome guy. I was truly honored when he came up to me in St. Louis at the Convention in 2006 and had me sign his baseball bat..!! It meant so very much to me. That was the way Terry was.

A close friend of mine and his wife travelled to Branson some 10 or 12 yrs. ago and were going to see Mel Tillis at his theater. I told Terry they were coming. My friend, unknowing, sitting in the theater just prior to the show,,, Terry stepped out from behind the curtain and called out his name. He then invited them backstage to visit and meet the band and Mel. My friend couldn't believe it and never forgot it either. Again, that was Terry Bethel.

My prayers and deepest sympathies go out for Terry, his family and his friends. He'll be so missed, but now he's with The Lord.

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" Olson

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 19 Jun 2019 10:30 pm

I'm sorry to hear this sad news. I had the pleasure of talking to Terry a few times at the St. Louis Steel Convention and he was always very friendly. I always enjoyed his set at the convention. He had such a great command of both the E9 and the C6 neck. My condolences go out to all of his family and friends.

Wesley Medlen · Post by **Wesley Medlen** » 20 Jun 2019 8:31 am

Very sorry to hear this. Great player and gentleman. Rest in peace with our savior. Wes

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 20 Jun 2019 7:15 pm

It was 1977 in Las Vegas at the Frontier casino.....Terry and I were dear friends and spent so many wonderful hours loving music and musicians together along with Jerry Lane Reid..Terry turned me onto Buzz Evans...We were a music loving trio in those days, always listening and learning..That was our journey together in those days out in Vegas...

For a few days we were talking steels and pontificating about how to change the way steels are played for expanding its boundaries....We talked endlessly about soul while listening to everything from Stevie Wonder to Jimmy Day and back again...One night, after the shows, Terry asked me to play him something to make him cry....So I played him this cut, one of my all time favorites. We, upon his asking, kept playing this song over and over from about 2 in the morning until daylight....

I will always remember his tears along with mine as we got so deep into Larry's performance...I thought hearing something and sharing something Terry loved so deeply back in 77 might be the best way to say "It was only yesterday" that your heart walked and played music for us all to love...Goodbye for now....

Please close your eyes and imagine this is a steel guitar as Terry did that night..Put yourself into his heart for a moment as I did upon his passing....This moment immediately came to mind and it is the way I will always remember Terry sharing his feelings about the music he loved..I will never forget Terry saying over and over again," this was the most beautiful melody he had ever heard".....Terry and Jerry worked this up and they played this song together in the room as we would often do when jamming on the road....Terry played this melody with such soul as I suspect they both are now ...Two brothers in arms are reunited once again.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGaU_DDI3dY

I miss them both,
Paul

Bill Bailey · Post by **Bill Bailey** » 20 Jun 2019 7:54 pm

Paul, thanks for the memories of your friend Terry. I listened to the song and found it haunting and beautiful.Thank you so much.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 14 Jul 2019 5:42 pm

Today would have been Terry's Birthday

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 16 Jul 2019 5:01 am

I will once again attend the Branson Super Show this year but with heavy heart as it's the 1st time Terry will be absent. He loved the OSGA Ozark and was our founder and supporter. Nobody worked harder than Terry to make it the great show it is today. God bless you Terry and thanks for the lifetime of incredible memories.

Chance Wilson · Post by **Chance Wilson** » 24 Jul 2019 9:48 pm

One of my first Bigsbys was the Mike Young one that Dick changed to TB. Pretty sure this is him Travis style too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c3-2xaoeis

RIP!

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