Neil Youngs Steel man

Barry Yasika · Post by **Barry Yasika** » 22 May 2023 7:29 pm

who's Neil Young's steel player. Such beautiful phrasing. SO original.....love it.

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 22 May 2023 9:59 pm

Ben Keith played with Neil Young for many years on his records and tours

Barry Yasika · Post by **Barry Yasika** » 22 May 2023 11:29 pm

Then I put Ben Keith up there with Garcia and Caldwell. Those guys were pioneers in the country rock scene back in the day and if they aren't should be put in the Steel guitar hall of fame with Emmons, Day and all those guys. Love guys who can think outside the box. Love them all.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 23 May 2023 2:23 am

Yes Bill Keith. One exception: Ralph Mooney played on Youngs "Old Ways".

Diane Diekman · Post by **Diane Diekman** » 23 May 2023 3:48 am

Ben Keith. He first made his mark as one of Faron Young's wild Country Deputies.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 23 May 2023 10:40 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:Yes Bill Keith. One exception: Ralph Mooney played on Youngs "Old Ways".

NOT "Bill" - it was "BEN"!

Different guys.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 23 May 2023 12:12 pm

I'm a huge Ben Keith fan. I was able to see him play live with Neil a couple times here in the Bay Area. The last time was a number of years ago with Neil's ex-wife and also now deceased Pegi Young.

No disrespect intended to the memory of Pegi, but the reason I made sure to catch her set one year at the huge Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco was becuase I knew Big Ben was in the band.

Ben of course could play all the classic E9 country stuff, Faron Young mentioned above and of course he played steel on one of the most popular country songs in history, Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces."

But his playing with Neil was a little outside the box, like other great steel players who take a different approach - Sneaky Pete, Greg Leisz, and Russ Pahl come to mind.

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 26 May 2023 8:34 am

Ben Keith was an amazing player.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 May 2023 4:12 pm

Pardon my ignorance but which "Caldwell" is being mentioned here..?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 26 May 2023 4:19 pm

I'm sure he's referencing Toy of the Marshall Tucker Band.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 May 2023 4:24 pm

Jerry Overstreet wrote:I'm sure he's referencing Toy.

Oh thanks, Jerry. I didn't follow MTB or much of Southern Rock at all (though I certainly was aware of "Can't You See", which he wrote) and wasn't familiar with him. Thx for setting me straight.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 26 May 2023 4:26 pm

Fire on the Mountain is the one where Toy is featured most on pedal steel guitar.