The Unplayed Pedal Steel

Larry King · From: Watts, Oklahoma, USA

First off, I'll admit that I don't know where this belongs....I watched the Christian Country Music Association Awards show tonight, anticipating more than what was delivered.....two full hours of looking at a Sho-Bud on stage and not once did I see it get played. Just wondering how many others might have watched this and wondered the same thing. Yes, there was some reso but give me a break.....the unplayed steel at a Country show....there goes the neighborhood.

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I don't know where it belongs either, so it stays here.

I seem to remember seeing a unplayed Steel on the Opry stage on many telecasts too.

Bill Myrick · From: Pea Ridge, Ar. (deceased)

Well, at least someone showed good taste in the display, huh Larry ??? -

Rick Garrett · From: Tyler, Texas

I watched the first 30 minutes or so and I was eye balling that same Shobud wondering when someone would set down to play. After the first few songs I gave up and turned the channel.

Rick

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Larry, I travelled with a Christian Country band for a little while. The Manuel Family Band was the name even though Mike Manuel is the only one singing now and with tracks. He was here in town 2 weeks ago and it just was not the same as it was seeing him with a band. I too see the same thing, seeing a steel set up and no one ever playing the guitar. Makes you wonder if it is just there because the music is country. The main reason Mike went to tracks was a lack of money to pay a full band. For some reason people that want gospel music cannot justify paying $1000 for a concert. They feel it is too high. I have been there and I can run up $1000 in 10 seconds. So now I will not go to a concert and pay any money if I know ahead of time they will have no band or steel player.

Larry King · From: Watts, Oklahoma, USA

To Rick.....you were smart..it just got worse including some horrendous pitch problems.....To Paul......I too cut my musical teeth in gospel music....worked for Jimmy Snow when Carol was still there. She now has the Carol Lee Singers, a vocal back up group at the Opry...we started with a weekly T V show called "This Is Gospel Country"on WSM......our T V band consisted of Weldon Myrick, Joe Edwards, D J Fontana, Jerry Whitehurst Robert Worthington, Carol on organ, and Jimmy, Carol, and I on vocals. Then we would book a known name in country as a guest. It was fun. As to sound tracks.....I understand. I've had a Flxible take more than one paycheck as we struggled to make ends meet out on the road.

I was just disappointed in last nights' production and in the performance of some of the artists...several of them needed a pitch correcter.....and then, for it to be billed as "Country Gospel" with a Steel set up just begging for someone to play it?! I don't get it.

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Back in the 70's, before I got my first steel, some friends took me to see "America" (the band) for my birthday. Not my favorite band, but I was thrilled to see a (non-pedal) steel setup on stage, and couldn't wait to hear it. Stage left, up at standing height on it's legs, with a spotlight on it for most of the show, it was very visibly not played until the last encore song, when the guitarist went over, strummed a chord, and did an octave slide. Twice. And that was that. My disappointment overshadowed eveything else about the concert. Would have been better left unplayed!

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

KENNY KRUPNICK · From: Columbus, Ohio

Hi Paul King. I used to play with a group that was a member of the same guild that Mike Manuel was.I have Mike's CD's,and some are with his brothers,and the whole group.Is there a picture of you on any of the covers?
Mike has some great songs.

Stephen Winters · From: Scobey, Mississippi, USA

I saw the Sho-Bud sitting there. I told my wife about 3/4 the way throught the show "there is a sho-bud sitting there and has not been touched". I watched the whole show and nobody ever played it...

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

There was a tribute to Hawaii and its culture on TV a while ago and I watched and watched, thru the hula dancing and the uke playing etc. while a lonesome Stringmaster sat untouched. I'm certain that the show was an edited composite and that the steel segment was edited out. Which is actually worse than just sitting there unplayed.

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Kenny, I did not play for a few months, so the Riding High project that has the band photo does not have my picture. Maybe they thought I might mess the camera up so it was just as well. I have played those songs many times in concert and sure miss the quality of the music and musicians. I am wondering who you played for. You have my curosity up.

Sam White R.I.P. · From: Coventry, RI 02816

I once went to see a band play in Smithfeild N.C. and there was a nice Black D-10 Emmons sitting on that stage and it was not played all night until the last song and I beleave the song was God Bless America.I don't beleave I sat there for four hours and did not hear that steel.I will walk in to hear a band and if there is no Steel I tell my Wife lets go we are out of here.
Sam White

KENNY KRUPNICK · From: Columbus, Ohio

Paul, I played for Greg Caracofe & Promise. A country gospel group from Columbus,Ohio. We were a member of the Country Gospel Music Guild that is headed by W.C.Taylor from Missisippi.
Sadly to say, the group has totally disbanded,and Greg don't go to church anymore.He needs your prayers. If you type in Greg Caracofe And Promise,and hit search, you still should be able to access the web-site that the group had,and listen to some sample song bites.I believe that we had a pretty tight sound,and we were nominated twice for band of the year award.
I am currently playing for The Murphy Family from here in Columbus.
Another forum member is still with the CGMG,as far as I know,and that is Gene Crain.
Gene has won the instrumentalist award on several occasions.

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The direction this topic has taken has earned it a transfer to the MUSIC setion.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

No doubt that somebody played that Sho~Bud, but those "whiney country sounds" were probably edited out so as not to offend the public by those who are peddling Christian and gospel music. "We don't want them people thinking we're hillbillies!"

Almost nobody wants to be associated with those red-neck, hillbilly types today. Why, just look what they done to NASCAR!

ajm · From: Los Angeles

"...were probably edited out so as not to offend the public by those who are peddling Christian and gospel music."

Sort of unrelated, but a couple of years back I happened to catch a Sunday afternoon religious show on a PBS station. It was sort of break time, where they show a film of the host riding a horse through the country with a phone number at the bottom of the screen to call up and give your dollars to. Of course there was music playing in the background. What was it, you ask? "More, More, More", a pop hit from the 70's by the Andrea True Connection. The funny thing is, this religious program was using a song done by an ex-porn star to gather pledges.

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Artie McEwan

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

In the band I play in, sometimes there will be an 'unplayed' Sho-Bud onstage ready for action on a moment's notice. And when it does get played, its sound is about as far from 'whiney country' as possible.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

What...no "A" and "B" pedals?

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Yes, A, B, and C pedals for the chord changes and while picking. But it dosen't whine, thank goodness.