Stars Who Can Play Steel

Larry Johnson · Post by **Larry Johnson** » 22 Feb 2023 11:53 am

I just saw a You tube video On Marty Robbins playing steel guitar. Here are some others I know of, Buck Owens, Johnny Paycheck. Can you think of any others?

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 22 Feb 2023 12:10 pm

Barbara Mandrell is definitely one and made it part of her act.

then there's rock stars who also dabbled in steel: Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Page, Steve Howe, Ron Wood, David Gilmour, etc.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 22 Feb 2023 12:22 pm

Steve Wariner plays steel, in addition to guitar and other instruments. Steve actually has a Rickenbacker lap steel, a Sho-Bud pedal steel, and an Emmons pedal steel. Hank Junior played "Cowboy" Eddie Long's Sierra steel on a live version of "Born To Boogie" at a live show in 1989, playing a few bars of "Steel Guitar Rag" and also, he sang "Your Cheatin' Heart" while playing lap steel on Austin City Limits". I watched a video where Vince Gill said he tried to play steel but he couldn't handle it because he thought the strings were too close together, so he decided not to play steel. I've talked to country singer Anita Cochran, who, in 1997 had a hit song called "What If I Said" and not only is she a great guitarist, she also plays steel-she plays a Sho-Bud.

Larry Johnson · Post by **Larry Johnson** » 22 Feb 2023 2:09 pm

Wow that is impressive. I had no idea. I thought of Justin Trevino also.

Paul Hutzler · Post by **Paul Hutzler** » 22 Feb 2023 5:21 pm

Daniel Lanois plays a sorta avante garde non traditional pedal steel style. Daniel Lanois is a famous producer who did a couple of records with Bob Dylan, U2, and others. You can see him play steel if you look it up on Youtube.

Dan Rollans · Post by **Dan Rollans** » 22 Feb 2023 8:11 pm

Mike Judge, cartoonist and creator of Bevis and Butthead, King of the Hill….
Old friend of Bobby Seymour. Previous thread in archives

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 23 Feb 2023 7:31 am

Identical thread in the "Stories" section, almost 50 replies so far.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=381717

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 27 Feb 2023 3:25 pm

There was some astronaut that played steel. Can’t recall name.

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 27 Feb 2023 3:38 pm

Henry Matthews wrote:There was some astronaut that played steel. Can’t recall name.

That would be Steve Robinson.

Eddie Rabbit, Joe Walsh, Johnny Paycheck, Keb Mo, and Hoot Gibson also played steel.

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 27 Feb 2023 3:45 pm

Bobby Flores also played fiddle

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 27 Feb 2023 8:50 pm

I saw a picture of Roy Clark with some of his guitars several years ago and there was a Fender 1000 set up in his music room. I don't know if he played it or not but I'll bet he did.

Darrell Criswell · Post by **Darrell Criswell** » 28 Feb 2023 6:27 am

Sheryl Crow

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 28 Feb 2023 7:08 am

Doug Sahm and Duane Eddy

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 1 Mar 2023 11:29 am

Chuck Berry played a Fender 400 with 4 pedals.
PRR

Larry Johnson · Post by **Larry Johnson** » 1 Mar 2023 12:21 pm

I got the wrong guy. I meant to say Bobby Flores not Justin Trevino. Justin is a Great Singer, as Bobby Flores. Sorry!

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 1 Mar 2023 1:11 pm

Also, the car guy Dennis Gage. Supposedly, his band opened up for Charlie Daniels once.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 1 Mar 2023 4:00 pm

Is Carolyn Wonderland a "star?" We think she is. In any event, she rips on her early postwar 'Zoo.

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

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 1 Mar 2023 7:59 pm

Larry Johnson wrote:I got the wrong guy. I meant to say Bobby Flores not Justin Trevino. Justin is a Great Singer, as Bobby Flores. Sorry!

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Justin can play steel also. I think he plays about everything, and he knows country music in and out.

RC

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 4 Mar 2023 8:32 pm

Wayne Newton...

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 4 Mar 2023 11:11 pm

Zane King is teaching Peter Frampton.
Peter has two 6 string Jackson pedal steels plus this wrist leaver version stand up model.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 5 Mar 2023 5:10 am

scott murray wrote:Barbara Mandrell is definitely one and made it part of her act.

then there's rock stars who also dabbled in steel: Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Page, Steve Howe, Ron Wood, David Gilmour, etc.

For a "dabbler", Jerry recorded one of the most iconic steel parts of all time, copied by thousands and never duplicated. Not to mention studio credits with other great recording artists of the day that some "real" steel guitarists would give anything to claim... bob

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 5 Mar 2023 10:15 am

he's the main reason I started playing steel, but Jerry would likely be the first to classify himself a dabbler. he gave it up after 4 or 5 years because he said he would need another lifetime in which to master it. Bob Weir called those years Jerry's "flirtation with pedal steel"

didn't stop him from being voted "best steel guitarist" in polls throughout the 70s, which probably embarrassed him more than anything.

Floyd Lowery · Post by **Floyd Lowery** » 5 Mar 2023 10:17 am

I worked a show with Bobby G Rice and he played the Steel Guitar Rag on my steel on the show.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 6 Mar 2023 9:55 am

Rock guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter also plays steel-he worked with the Doobie Brothers and was the steel player on "At This Moment" by Billy Vera and the Beaters. On some YouTube videos, Jeff is seen playing a Sho-Bud Super Pro with The Ventures

Gary Peaslee · Post by **Gary Peaslee** » 6 Mar 2023 11:07 am

Don Felder of the Eagles played a Mullen steel on “The Girl from Yesterday” on Hell Freezes Over reunion concert.

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