Steel Players

Bob Gondesen · Post by **Bob Gondesen** » 30 Jun 2021 8:44 am

HEY GUYS
I JUST TURNED 90 YEARS OLD , AND STILL LOVE PLAYING
PEDAL STEEL . I STARTED AT AROUND 8 YEARS OLD .. I WOULD
LISTEN TO THE OPRY , READ TABS , PRACTICE WHEN I COULD
AND LISTENED TO OTHER PLAYERS .
I HAVE FEET NEPHROPATHY , WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO
PLAY, BUT I TOLERATE IT . I PLAY EVERYDAY ALSO I TEACH
SOME ALSO .
I HOPE TO PLAY ANOTHER 90 YEARS , HAHA .

BOB GONDESEN
LA MARQUE , TX

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 30 Jun 2021 9:18 am

Bless your heart!

Erv

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 30 Jun 2021 9:57 am

Bob, happy 90th birthday and may you have many more! I am a mere kid of 72 but I sure do wish I had started steel at age 8 like you, instead of after I retired. I commend you on enjoying every day of life you are given - I'm sure your upbeat attitude and positive outlook have something to do with your long life.

Keep on playing!

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 30 Jun 2021 12:05 pm

Bob that's wonderful and still playing. Like Don I'm a young 72 year old player. I played guitar since my teens and pedal steel in my late 30s. I also play daily. Keeps us young. Happy birthday and many more to come.

dlayne · Post by **dlayne** » 30 Jun 2021 1:42 pm

Bob, youâ€™re an inspiration to us all, God Bles and many more licks to be played, Dan Layne

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Jun 2021 2:08 pm

Best Wishes and Happy Birthday Bob. Keep on pickin'!
ðŸŽ‚ðŸŽˆðŸŽˆ

Roy Rosetta · Post by **Roy Rosetta** » 30 Jun 2021 7:18 pm

Happy 90th Bobby !!! You still play like a "champ" and will for another 90 years. Barbara sends her best to you and Elaine and we must get our plans together for that lunch in Galveston we've been talking about.
Later my friend,
....Roy and Barbara

Wesley Medlen · Post by **Wesley Medlen** » 1 Jul 2021 4:51 am

Happy birthday Bob. I started on rythum guitar at 10 yrs. of age. I started on lap steel in 1950. Was 85 in April still set down and practice with cd's. Been in a cowboy church band 111/2 years keep up it keeps us going God Bless Wes

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 1 Jul 2021 5:18 am

What an inspiration you are, Bob! I am a mere stripling of 77 but I enjoy playing more than ever--now that I don't have to make a living from it. I'm a part of a roots / fusion / Americana band; a Western swing group; and play guitar for a husband and wife group who sing in 8 languages. Plus I have been doing more recording lately that ever.

An advantage of playing for a long time is that we have many decades of experience to draw on. But yes, we do have to work around conditions like your neuropathy--and my thumb arthritis.

But that just makes me play simpler and with a more positive attack. Hey: let the kids shred!!

Chris

Bruce Blackburn · Post by **Bruce Blackburn** » 1 Jul 2021 1:17 pm

You have just joined with one of the best groups of folks on the planet; and me. Happy birthday! Hereâ€™s to many more.

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 1 Jul 2021 8:37 pm

Happy Birthday Bob.
Carrying all that equipment keeps a man in shape for sure. Happy Steelin another 90 years.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Jul 2021 12:03 am

Thx for the post Bob, happy B-Day, keep pickin , you are an inspiration

!

Shorty Smith · Post by **Shorty Smith** » 2 Jul 2021 1:33 pm

Happy 90 birthday Bob, I'm right behind you at 89 and I play app. one hour every day at home, My last gig was February 2020 at the VFW in Phenix City, Al. due to the Virus.I hope my next gig will be soon, Shorty

Ray Mangrum · Post by **Ray Mangrum** » 3 Jul 2021 5:27 am

Happy Birthday Bob, you are certainly an inspiration to me.

Bob Jennings · Post by **Bob Jennings** » 4 Jul 2021 1:34 am

Bob,

Happy 90th. Alvino Rey played steel guitar in his 90's. He had pedals but for changing keys--and also had a talking steel. Look up his vinyl long play and buy one--there is a lot of info on him on the cover.

Again, Happy 90th---another 90 and you'll really be famous--you'll be the oldest steel player around--I'll only be 168 and still a wannabee peddler.

A few years ago, my Wife and I were visiting friends near Houston and we went to a place that had music--I got to sing a couple old Country songs with the band and Keith Gilley was playing Sax in the band.

Bob Jennings

Bob Gondesen · Post by **Bob Gondesen** » 11 Jul 2021 8:57 am

HEY GUYS
I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE KIND WORDS AND ENCOURAGEMENT
YES , IT HAS BEEN GREAT , I THINK I WILL JUST HAVE TO
TAKE YOUR ADVISE AND LIVE ANOTHER 90 YEARS PLAYING
STEEL .

THANKS VERY MUCH GUYS
BOB GONDESEN
LA MARQUE ,TEXAS

Bob Jennings · Post by **Bob Jennings** » 11 Jul 2021 10:41 am

Bob,

If we get to Houston sometime next winter, I'll look you up...I play good Barre Chord Rhythm on a Gibson L50 with a DeArmond Pickup thru a Fender Deluxe 112 Amp--we could do some old Country songs.

Bob Jennings

Southern Indiana

Aaron Marshall · Post by **Aaron Marshall** » 11 Jul 2021 1:10 pm

Happy Birthday Bob!

Thanks for all of your years of dedication to the steel guitar. That is great and such an inspiration to the rest of us players. Let's keep it going!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 14 Jul 2021 3:13 pm

Happy b'day Bob! I always enjoyed the dinners the gang would have after the Jamboree, and I'm looking forward to doing the same with you again sometime.

Jody Cameron · Post by **Jody Cameron** » 14 Jul 2021 10:29 pm

Happy birthday Bob!

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 16 Jul 2021 9:57 pm

I will be 90 in a short time if
I live to see it.

The reply function just now came back up Tracy

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Happy Birthday YOUNG MAN

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Bob Gondesen

Right behind you bob.