Marty Neer imterview

[Larry King]

One of the veteran players I always look forward to seeing
and hearing is Marty Neer....his vast knowledge, experience,
and ability makes him in demand more than most of us . He's
got to be one of the busiest players around . Marty comes to us
from Coffeyville , Ks and started playing 6 string at age 7,
was in several garage bands , and finally took the plunge in
1980, when he bought his first pedal steel, one he describes
as a well worn Clark D-10 . As I mentioned before, Sonny
Curtis who worked with both Tammy Wynette and George Jones
played a Clark.

It was in the 80's that he sat in front of the turntable,
continually raising and re-setting the needle while he
woodshedded , learning licks from his influences like
Rusty Young and Tom Brumley . Traditional country was
making a comeback , spurred on by George Strait , Randy
Travis , and Ricky Skaggs.

It was about that time that Terry Day told him about the
OSGA . He'd already been playing Opry shows around home
and Grove Ok as well as Webb City but that expanded his
contacts in the Steel Guitar world . Marty is adamant about
how he looked forward each year to Scotty's show in St
Louis where he could see and meet the HEROES....Lloyd Green,
Buddy Emmons, Jimmy Day , Herby Wallace...it was like going
to the World Series .

I definitely wanted to honor Marty . He mentioned that he
had far too many guitars . I know that feeling...got basses
out the ying yang. I have always heard that one of the largest
collections of wrap arounds are in Coffeyville . By this time
Marty has become a pretty good mechanic and recently rebuilt a
MCI that he had at our last club jam , but when you get right
down to it , if his guitar was a K Mart brand , you'd stil
recognize his sound .

Because I had so much material on Marty , it was difficult to
keep his interview short . You too, can hear and meet him in a
couple of weeks at the OSGA annual convention which will be
held in the fellowship hall of Saint James Presbyterian located
on So Elm , Jenks Ok starting early Friday June 24 and 25. So
we honor Mr Congeniality Marty Neer

Marty Neer will be performing at the OSGA show in Jenk, OK, on June 24, 2022.

[Paul King]

I remember Marty as being a great player with great tone as well. I look forward to hearing him again.

[Larry King]

I mentioned how Marty looked forward to the International Steel Show
in St Louis each year. I would like to challenge you to go to You
Tube and type in Laney Hicks with Buddy Emmons and you'll know that
you're seeing the World Series and Super Bowl in one place. Some of
you are too young to have had the opportunity to attend , others
perhaps had constraints put on them from their jobs , or perhaps
financial constraints , or maybe {just maybe} you had a
wife like me who didn't approve. Whatever the case, watch
the YouTube ,feel the energy ,check out the size of that crowd, and
then see all of your heroes in one place.

I'm just going to type their last names only....hopefully you'll
enjoy a look back . Some of these players are no longer with us.
Here goes...Helms , Hughey, Wright , Sweeney, Sasser , Elliott ,
Jernigan, Beavers, Cox , Hicks, Emmons, Rugg, Green, Day, Crawford,
Newman , and Brumley . I'm sure I missed a few but my point is that
if we all stay involved , we can build our crowd numbers up to the
former days. I am passionate about the OSGA and its success....if
Nashville has its way , your steel will be replaced by a synthesizer.
I couldn't check the spelling cause mu dictionary was too old to
have that word . Your bars and picks will be replaced by a computer
programmer....the steel player is the first to get cut in a road
band. So....I'm putting out a Call To Arms.....Steel Players in
America UNITE !!!! Can I get a witness ? Anybody ?

[Larry Dering]

I first seen Marty in Branson at many of the Ozark Steel Guitar shows and Christmas dinners. I was immediately excited by his playing style. Marty is a humble individual who won't take credit for his incredible talent. I look forward to seeing him play the shows.

[Marty Neer]

Thank you for the kind words Larry, been an honor to play with you and for you at several gigs. I must confess that I didn t do the rebuild on my little MCI guitar. I bought it with frozen knee levers that I was able to free up and change the strange copedant on. I kept it for a couple years and recently had Billy Knowles tear off the back neck and make it a player grade guitar. After putting a s/c Emmons p/u in it turned out to be a nice little unit.

[R Crow]

Marty is Mr Smooth. The best bar hand you will find.

[R Crow]

TTT