William Litaker

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 7 Apr 2022 8:31 am

I was speaking with a friend this morning and learned of Williams passing in March. While I didn't know William personally I do know he was a fine player and offered excellent teaching material . He was a positive influence for Steel guitar players of all ages.

RIP William

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/na ... d=33608567

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 7 Apr 2022 9:47 am

Same here, Tony. Thanks for posting.
RIP Mr. Litaker.

Larry Hopkins · Post by **Larry Hopkins** » 7 Apr 2022 10:04 am

Wow !so sad to here this ,never met WILLIAM in person ,but talked with him on the phone a number of times,used his tablature and his YOU TUBE,sessions,but had not spoke with him in a few months,we kinda got into a lil squabble about the tablature,he’s a great player,and most of all a great person,gonna miss his funny you tube classes.RIP WIILIAM,gonna miss you
Larry

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 7 Apr 2022 11:10 am

I enjoyed William's posts for many years. RIP

Doug Taylor · Post by **Doug Taylor** » 7 Apr 2022 11:21 am

I sure hate to hear this, I signed up for his Steel guitar weekly before I got my steel. I emailed him many times and he was so very kind and helped me going as far as answering my question on his weekly broadcast. I miss his wit and humor each week!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 7 Apr 2022 4:46 pm

Very sorry to hear this. Condolences to his family and friends.

George Buechley · Post by **George Buechley** » 7 Apr 2022 4:47 pm

I was saddened to hear about William after hearing about his passing last week. I will miss his weekly Techniques and YouTube lessons. He was very helpful to me. I remember him calling me up to ask me to put a YouTube song of his on the Forum to get interest in his weekly broadcast. He was like your own personal answer board. Sad

admin · Post by **b0b** » 7 Apr 2022 5:07 pm

So sorry to hear this. He was an active member for many years, and a prolific source of pedal steel arrangements.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 7 Apr 2022 6:38 pm

Wow that was unexpected news. Very sad to hear of his passing. My prayers for the family and friends.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 8 Apr 2022 4:06 am

What a shock! William was such a great asset to the steel guitar community. My thoughts are with his family and friends. RIP William. You will be missed.

Morton Kellas · Post by **Morton Kellas** » 8 Apr 2022 10:18 am

May our good Lord bless William and all of his grieving loved ones.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 8 Apr 2022 6:57 pm

I'm sorry to hear this sad news. My condolences to his friends and family. I enjoyed watching several of his videos over the years.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 9 Apr 2022 7:32 am

I remember when William started the online steel guitar instruction business 10-12 years ago. It was not as easy then as it is now and I remember him putting a lot of work into setting it up. Like Jeff Newman, William was not only an excellent player, he was good at marketing his product. William knew a lot of steel licks and was good at teaching.

I had not talked to William in quite some time and obviously didn't know he was sick. Very sorry to learn of his passing. RIP my friend.

RC

Richard Keller · Post by **Richard Keller** » 9 Apr 2022 3:03 pm

My condolences to his family. William was a fine steel player and teacher. I will miss him. .

Lee Barber · Post by **Lee Barber** » 9 Apr 2022 6:50 pm

RIP my friend. This saddens me, so many I know are leaving us.
William and I talked often.
A lot of times it wasn't about steel guitar, but some it was.
William and I were friends and I was planning to go see him.
Another friend called me and told me of his passing today.
He had problems in January with his system at least that is what he told me, the last we talked. Called in February, but he didn't return it, guess I know why.
never mentioned anything about health.
Goodbye my friend, this stings.

Lee Barber · Post by **Lee Barber** » 10 Apr 2022 4:45 am

Williams sister wrote.

Yes he had the covid he got pneumonia and it killed him. It happened fast we are still in shock

Kenneth Caine · Post by **Kenneth Caine** » 10 Apr 2022 4:10 pm

This is shock! I enjoyed his lessons for a few years. He will be very missed. Glad I got to know him through his lessons. Always enjoyed his 'monologue' at the beginning of the lessons.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 12 Apr 2022 9:12 am

Sad to lose another fine instructor. RIP and condolences to his family, and students.

Joe Cook · Post by **Joe Cook** » 15 Apr 2022 2:34 pm

I subscribed to William's lessons for a couple of years and I learned a lot. He sometimes would go off on little tangents that were informal and informative. He was a very funny and talented guy. Sad to hear this.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 15 Apr 2022 3:19 pm

Very sad to hear this. He was a great teacher on PSG. I enjoyed his tunes he pick out.
Prayer's are sent to family.
P.w

Parnell Flynn · Post by **Parnell Flynn** » 20 Apr 2022 6:42 pm

Very sad news, RIP William. Thank you Larry for letting me know.

After hearing the news I went back and re-watched the first class I took from William. William started that class by playing "Sing me back home". It was really amazing the way that he improvised over the track. It made me want to learn that song and more importantly, be able to play like that. After he finished he talked about how much he loved the melody of the song. This was one of the greatest things about taking lessons from William, his love of the music was exhilarating and contagious. I will forever be in his debt and I miss him very much.

RIP William,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TERI6jf-qMc

Robert Herr · Post by **Robert Herr** » 27 Apr 2022 3:09 am

I spent 3 years looking forward to William’s weekly lessons. I always learned something new. RIP !

Howard Steinberg · Post by **Howard Steinberg** » 5 May 2022 10:07 am

I just learned of William's passing. Condolences to his family and the steel guitar community.

This August would have been 8 years that I had been studying with William. We spoke many times and he was always available to answer and questions that I may have and help me with my PSG journey. I will be eternally grateful for the knowledge and ability that he helped me to develop. Rest in peace my friend.

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 9 May 2022 6:46 am

Totally missed this, so shocked to read about his passing this morning. Always found what he did interesting and the joy he seemed to have for teaching, was a testament for his love of the instrument and sharing what he knew with others.

Bill Sutton · Post by **Bill Sutton** » 13 May 2022 6:26 am

Im still not over William's passing. I will miss William...He was my friend for 47 years. We had some great times together picking our Steel Guitars. I miss going to William's house to work on his guitar...If he had a problem with his guitar...He would always call me...and if he ordered new parts...He would always order some extra for me. He was A great friend. My most deepest and sincere condolences to Williams family. RIP William Im gonna miss you.

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