Can Cindy Cashdollar play pedal steel?

Michael Breid · Post by **Michael Breid** » 25 Nov 2006 8:03 pm

I know Garrison Keilor doesn't know s**t from applebutter about steel guitars(among other things), but just curious if Cindy can play pedal steel? She is always shown as a non-peddler, but I wonder if perhaps in her off time if she's not fooling around with a pedal steel. I know Mike Auldridge the great dobro player is playing pedal steel now. Anybody have any information on Cindy playing pedal steel?

Mike Fried · Post by **Mike Fried** » 25 Nov 2006 10:44 pm

The last time I talked to Cindy she wasn't too interested in taking up pedals, but that was awhile ago, while she was still playing with The Wheel. She said she has her hands full enough with dobro and nonpedal.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 25 Nov 2006 10:47 pm

Mike is my favorite Dobro player,I'm pretty sure he's been playing pedals also for quite a few years.

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 26 Nov 2006 5:11 am

She played pedals on the Ryan Adams and the Cardinals album "Cold Roses".

Adam Davis · Post by **Adam Davis** » 26 Nov 2006 1:02 pm

Along with Cindy Cashdollar, Buddy Emmons has played on Prairie Home Companion a number of times, as has Greg Leisz (who's played pedals and Dobro on different shows.) It seems like Garrison Keillor must know something about steel players.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 26 Nov 2006 3:24 pm

It is correct that Mr. Auldridge has been playing pedals for many years now. If he's still doing it. He is also one of many, including some Hawaiians on the Honolulu shows, who have played on PHC. I'll bet Kiellor has some ideas about steel.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 28 Nov 2006 4:28 pm

About 6 years ago, or so, Cindy's husband Frank Campbell asked me to help him find a pedal guitar for Cindy to mess around with. I never found an appropriate one, and she wasn't that interested in it, actually. At least that's the impression I got.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 28 Nov 2006 4:35 pm

Back to Auldridge: he was recently playing pedals backing up Emmylou.

Got a couple of dobro fans I know slightly upset-they thought they would see Mike mostly on dobro, with a little bit of pedals thrown in, but apparently it was the other way around.

Mike also has an MSA SuperSlide non-pedal these days.

Back to Cindy...

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Mark

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 28 Nov 2006 4:50 pm

You bet Garrison is hep to the steel. He's had plenty of dobro/lap/pedal steelers on the PHC, and always gives them credit.

I recently passed on to him, thru his traveling show's guitarist, Bobby Ingano's 'Steel Reflections' CD, in hopes of getting Bobby on the show next time they do Hawaii.
If that CD doesn't greatly pic his interest in steel, nothing will.

FYI, Bobby's new CD should be out very soon.

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 28 Nov 2006 5:31 pm

I also got the distinct impression from talking to Cindy that she is not too interested in pedals - if you can play dobro and non-pedal like that why bother anyway? On the other hand I got the impression from Mike A. that he has played pedals for a long time.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » 29 Nov 2006 9:53 am

Cindy is so good looking who cares what she pl ayes!!!

Cindy Cashdollar · Post by **Cindy Cashdollar** » 29 Nov 2006 3:34 pm

Thought I'd address the "Can Cindy Cashdollar play pedal steel?" The answer is: "I WISH !!

I played Dobro for a number of years, and took up the non-pedal steel later on, just as a hobby. The offer to join Asleep At The Wheel came along in 1992, and so the timing was right to pursue both a great offer and and the instrument that fit it. There were times that I thought I would try the pedal steel ( as in Herb Steiner's post), but I never could get comfortable with the pedals and levers....it remains on my "wish list" to this day though....it's such an amazing instrument, and there's alot of amazing players out there.

In the meantime, I try to emulate the sound of it when I can, or when it seems appropriate...the Ryan Adams "Cold Roses" double CD was non pedal, as well as past Prarie Home Companion radio shows and the Van Morrison/Rod Stewart gigs this year. Because of the general population's confusion of the instrument, my work is usually referred to as "pedal steel".

Because of my own confusion, it's not!....but, maybe, someday.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 29 Nov 2006 3:47 pm

Thanks for the post, Cindy. A while ago I asked Jon Graboff about a Ryan Adams cut I heard on the radio. I knew he had recorded with Ryan but I had gotten all confused as to what recordings he was on. He informed me that it was you that I had heard which confirmed that I had mistaken your guitar for a pedal steel. I always find it cool when a non-pedal player expands the instrument in such a way (Kayton Roberts comes to mind too).
A few years ago I wrote to Garrison Keillor to A) compliment him on his fine taste for using you as much as he was doing and B) to gently correct him in his identifying you as a pedal steel guitarist. I acknowledged to him that we, as an animal (steelers) tend towards obsessive/compulsive personalities and it was no big deal but just for his information.....
He proceeded to introduce you as a pedal steeler on the next show and the show after that. No big deal.
My best to you.