Steeler on this fantastic Gene Watson song.

[Dave Alfstad]

Anyone know who the steel player is on this song? To my ears, the tone and the licks sound like Sonny Garrish from that time, but I thought that it might also be Pete Drake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TI5sXVBQPc

[David Zornes]

It sounds like Pete Drake.

[Dave Alfstad]

That's what I thought the first time I heard it. However, I know that Sonny Garrish played on a lot of Gene's tunes, and I could hear that in-your-face tone in this recording that Sonny had in his early recordings with the Po' Boys, so it made me second guess myself.

[Erv Niehaus]

If I was to guess, I'd guess Sonny Garrish.
He is on a lot of Gene Watson's songs.
Erv

[Ricky Davis]

Lloyd Green was on a lot of Gene's early stuff. He and
Sonny G swapped sessions in Nashville and were both on some early Gene Watson Albums.
Ricky

[Ricky Davis]

Ok I knew my good friend Lloyd Green would come through; and I was only 7 years old then, so how would I know....ha...LOL
This in from Lloyd >

Hey Ricky,
The early Gene Watson tune arousing a little curiosity, “I’ll Run Right Back To You” was cut in RCA “B” on April 25th, 1969 (which is what my session log book indicates). Jack (“Cowboy”) Clement was the producer. A little detective work will show it was a 1969 release, not 1967.
I did all of Jack’s sessions in those days. He was, coincidentally, Charley Pride’s producer.
As far as I can tell this was the first time Watson shows up in my session books. Once Russ Reeder became his record producer I recorded most of Gene’s records until after we cut “Farewell Party”. I think that was when he started using Sonny Garrish, but that was in the late 1970s.
I don’t think Sonny was even a session player when we cut this record. He was Bill Anderson’s road guy. I had never heard of him in this era.
Additionally, Tiny Olson certainly recorded some with Watson and maybe others.
Anyway, it is a good record and one I had never heard since we cut it, he sang incredibly well, and I was playing my Sho-Bud “Lightning Bolt” with my Fender Twin!
Lots of information here…but factual.

Lloyd Green

That is just some incredible history stuff I LOVE TO HEAR AND LEARN....Thanks again Lloyd(hope you're feeling better and better).
Ricky

[Larry Dering]

Some real country Honky Tonk music. Of course Lloyd would be front and center making those strings sing. Great stuff and cool history lesson.

[Ricky Davis]

ok Dave; David and Erv, ya'll are done guessing now???..ha...LoL
You're welcome.
....and Lloyd Thanks you Larry.
Ricky

[Marco Schouten]

Here's another nice one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3oDotq-nOs

[Dave Alfstad]

Ricky,
Thanks for delivering the message! I love it when the legendary steel players answer the question definitively. Also, being a huge Lloyd Green fan, (I named my favorite dog after him.) I can't believe that one got by me. I know that Lloyd played on Gene's early stuff, but for some reason, the playing on this track didn't hit my ear as being Lloyd. Seeing how this may have been his first track with Gene, that makes a bit of sense. Now when I listen to it, I can hear some of the Little Darling kind of tones as well. (Maybe I'm just hearing what I want to hear.)
At any rate, thanks again for getting this one nailed shut!

[Roger Crawford]

Wouldn’t Lloyd’s session log book be a hoot to read!

[Ricky Davis]

Dave; my pleasure and naming your dog after Lloyd is a memorable, respectful great thing to do on your part...way cool.
Listen to that clip Marco just put up from Gene Watson; with the "Great on Fire" pedal steel intro by Lloyd Green.... !!!! I mean WHO THE HELL PLAYS LIKE THAT.....
Lloyd just dropped me a line when he saw/listened to that, as that put some delightful fire in the man. He was excited to hear that as it was on his Sho~bud right after the Lightening Bolt Fingertip and Right before the newly made LDG...so right when they were starting on the "Love in the hot afternoon" album(early 70's). Lloyd calls this Baldwin Sho~bud his favorite sound he cut and was the introduction to the idea of the LDG Model when Shot removed the back neck and mechanics to lighten the "Carrying a steel in and out of 3 sessions a day"...EVERY day..
OH HERE's That Very Sho~bud baldwin now and yes Fender amp.

Ricky
P.S. Thanks Lloyd; love ya....