The very talented Barbara Mandrell

Dave Magram · Post by **Dave Magram** » 13 Aug 2019 7:37 am

Check this out...

Barbara Mandrell Pickin'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nYvDTi_u9s

Banjo, dobro, E9 pedal steel on Foggy Mtn Breakdown, and then a very bluesy number on C6 (Milk Cow Blues??), after which she switches to sax on the same tune!

Amazing!!

- Dave

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 13 Aug 2019 11:03 am

No fiddle ?

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 13 Aug 2019 12:51 pm

My Brother took a tour of her home in Nashville (Fontanel) and said they announced that she is the world's foremost Pedal Steel Guitarist.

Poor Buddy was knocked off the throne.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 13 Aug 2019 1:06 pm

I saw her play that live (same routine, same instruments) at a fair here in Massachusetts back in the 1970s. I was impressed!

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 13 Aug 2019 5:12 pm

And Norm Hamlet, Haggards steel player was her steel teacher. The girl is above average and loaded with talent.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 13 Aug 2019 9:28 pm

is that Cookie Jones she kicked out of the steel chair?

two great pickers, but not my favorite tone on that Emmons.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 14 Aug 2019 2:02 am

As talented as she is lets not forget she was not hard to look at either. Barbara plays about anything she picks up.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 16 Aug 2019 3:37 am

I first met Barbara, she was 12, My dad built her a Monster Steel...it was bigger than her!!!...A true super talent..Just remember, Steel Guitar took her to being a star...))))

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Aug 2019 7:29 am

And three finger picks!

Erv

Don Crowl · Post by **Don Crowl** » 16 Aug 2019 12:02 pm

I recall seeing one of her shows where she did vocals, steel, etc. & one sister fiddled while the other sister was on drums. A huge super talent.
As David mentioned the steel made for her [a Wright Custom?] in her early days dwarfed her. That also showed up in the movie of her life. Mr. Hamlet taught her to play some hot stuff at a young age & she was a quick learner. Looking at her right hand [for one thing] she learned excellent technique.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 17 Aug 2019 5:11 am

The 'blues tune' starts out as 'St Louis Blues'., I think.

Was she using a Stevens bar on PSG? I can't quite make it out.

She's more than competent on each instrument. It's a slick routine.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Aug 2019 7:04 am

No, it's a bullet bar.
Erv

Michael Sheehan · Post by **Michael Sheehan** » 17 Aug 2019 10:12 am

I like how she pulls off one boot when she gets to the pedal steel, but leaves the boot on that operates the pedals!

Greg Forsyth · Post by **Greg Forsyth** » 9 Sep 2020 2:54 pm

Here's a short video of Barbara Mandrell showing her talents on steel guitar. Anything known about the steel she's playiing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iskLvDD4ccY

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 9 Sep 2020 3:41 pm

I agree with Roger, it started out as " St Louis Blues".

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 9 Sep 2020 4:49 pm

I remember, at one time, I heard that her game plan was to go to Nashville to play Pedal Steel. I used to watch her show, Barbara Mandrell Show, just to watch her play her Pedal Steel. The Steel Player does look like Cookie Jones. I met him at one of her shows. Heck of a nice guy.

Randall Palmore · Post by **Randall Palmore** » 10 Sep 2020 3:14 am

Greg- I think that the guitar in that short clip is a Mosrite?

The Steel Guitar Forum

The very talented Barbara Mandrell

The very talented Barbara Mandrell

Young Barbara Mandrell playing Slippery Elm

Barbara