Tommy Roots Gone But Not Forgotten

Billy Proctor · Post by **Billy Proctor** » 4 Feb 2002 7:53 pm

Just wanted to say I sure miss Tommy Roots and I know he is havin a blast in that Heavenly Jam Session...He was a great picker but more than that he was my friend.[This message was edited by Billy Proctor on 04 February 2002 at 07:54 PM.]

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 4 Feb 2002 8:56 pm

Tommy Roots. Great player, super person, and a good friend. He is missed by everyone who knew him, especially me. Jody.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 4 Feb 2002 9:24 pm

I first met Tommy in Dallas, I was a big fan of his playing, He was a really great guy, and I miss him ...

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 5 Feb 2002 7:27 am

I first met Tommy in 1978 when he was in Los Angeles with the Dekley Steel people promoting their guitars at the NAMM show. I was teaching guitar at Blackie Taylor's Music Store in the daytime and they came by as Blackie was one of their dealers. We went to the NAMM show that year at the Disneyland Hotel and had a great time with those guys. Tommy and his bunch came to the Foothill Club in Signal Hill (Long Beach) that night and he sat in with us for a couple of sets. Jim Bob Sedgwick was playing lead guitar at that time with us and him and Tommy did some great stuff. I didn't want to get back on steel when he got down but I had to do it. I saw him a few more times at Scotty's convention and he always told me what a great time he had with us. I have a video tape of one of his C6th courses and although I don't play that tuning I still like to watch that tape as he had a special talent that few of us have or ever will have. I always wondered where he got his fingerpicks. He had very large fingers.

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Have a good 'un! JH U-12

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 05 February 2002 at 07:29 AM.]

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 5 Feb 2002 1:04 pm

I agree with everyone's opinion of Tommy. I moved to Corpus Christi in 1979 to play steel with Freddy Fender. I met him on the first night I got there and he became a great friend and mentor. Because I came from the North East, there weren't many steel players around -- so when I met Tommy, I couldn't soak up enough of his knowledge. He even recruited me to be a Dekley endorsee. We hadn't spoken in many years, but found each other through the Internet. I was very sad when I heard about his passing. Boo

B Bailey Brown · Post by **B Bailey Brown** » 5 Feb 2002 2:09 pm

What a wonderful player, and person Tommy was! I had heard of him for many years, but never met him, and then early one morning I was in a chat channel on the internet, and there was just me and this other guy there, so we struck up a conversation. At some point he asked what I did, and I said “I sell syndicated radio promotions with a friend of mine, and I play steel guitar in a band on the weekend.” He said, “No kidding!! Well, I play steel guitar too.” He asked what my name was, so I told him and asked what his name was. He said, “Seems like I have heard your name, but I don’t ever remember meeting you…by the way my name is Tommy Roots.” At that point I damn near fell out of my chair! Now keep in mind this was an IRC channel called “Texas”, and it had nothing to do with music or steel. Go figure the chances of that happening!

Needless to say, we continued to communicate, and several months later he was here in San Antonio to play a show at a mutual friends recording studio party. That was when we actually met for the first time. I was so impressed with the way he played, and the guitar he was using, that based on his recommendation I bought one for myself some months later. The friendship continued to grow and lasted until he passed away.

As strange as the above story sounds, it is all true. He was a great player and a wonderful human being. I really miss him.

B. Bailey Brown

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 5 Feb 2002 3:30 pm

I didn't know Tommy real well, but we'd met on several occasions at steel guitar shows. He was always very friendly and I really liked him.

I think his version of "Stardust" on his Uptown Downtown cassette is the definitive steel guitar version of the song.

Louie Hallford · Post by **Louie Hallford** » 11 Feb 2002 9:22 am

Billy ,glad you reminded us about Tommy.Met him 15 or 20 years ago when Scotty first brought him to ST Louis.

I recall several times when he would be at the shows and be playing back in one of the demo rooms. He would set there for hours entertaining the listeners. What I remeber most however was that after he played a juicy lick he would then give a little freebie lesson and teach every one how to play it. He did not have a selfish bone in his body,as far as I knew. Was always sharing steel guitar.

I miss him.

JACK HEERN · Post by **JACK HEERN** » 11 Feb 2002 6:33 pm

DITTO
jp

Duane Dunard · Post by **Duane Dunard** » 12 Feb 2002 5:01 am

I met Tommy at the Tulsa show, where his humor and friendliness left deep impressions. Now, I think of him every time I go there.