Johnny Cox OPRY Tonight.

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 18 Jan 2003 7:32 pm

I am lost for words, Johnny Cox out did himself tonight. I know for sure i want one of those monster steels now with the word M.S.A. on the front. Man Reese, can you put one back for me, Ha Ha

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 18 Jan 2003 8:08 pm

Gary,

Do we know he was playing the Mellinium? He surely sounded awesome, whatever he was playing. It was incredible. I heard him behind Connie Smith. And it was crystal clear. Each note was like an individual bell.

Wow.

God bless Johhny,

carl

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 18 Jan 2003 8:33 pm

Great shots of Johnny playing Tommy's MSA - and he played beautifully! Well done, Connie Smith, too - singing great AND giving a big name check to JC!

Sidney Malone · Post by **Sidney Malone** » 18 Jan 2003 8:33 pm

Johnny was definatly playing Tommy's Millinium!! I just caught the second showing on CMT and there were some great close-ups of that beautiful red MSA.

Johnny and the MSA sounded outstanding as did Connie Smith. My only complaint is they didn't do the whole televised portion.

Once again great job Johnny, Connie & MSA!!!

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 18 Jan 2003 8:40 pm

Yes Carl, I was looking right at him. He plays that steel everywhere and on the opry a lot from what a very close friend of Tommy's and others tell me. A guy from Cleveland area is probably coming to my house the middle of the week to let me play his new Millenium. I cant wait. Hey Carl how would you like to buy my Excel with the new de-tuning device and move your to a new home, Ha Ha TOOO beat this another friend not far from me has a new M.S.A. Millenium coming real shortly alsoand said i can play it also. This kinda reminds me of West Virginia ALMOST HEAVEN. These guys are just making my week. I have sold that Orange Williams twice in the last month for two different guys. Now i gotta sell mine. Nothing wrong with the guitar. One guy wanted a cross-Over and the guy that just recently got it has Mike Siglers Mullen and he not long ago got a nice SuperPro like new and that Willy with 9+10 was to much for him. The Willy went out to Scotty's part of the Country. I'm done now!!

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 18 Jan 2003 10:32 pm

Any time I have ever caught Johnny on the Opry backing up Connie Smith he has been the epitome of taste and tone, to my ears...
and I don't say that lightly.
-John

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 18 Jan 2003 10:39 pm

It would have been fantabulous to hear Connie Smith on the entire televised segment!
And her steel player was truly refreshing. He displayed great phrasing with the melody line and all of his playing was in the best of taste and is what steel guitar playing is all about. A great performance and mighty fine camera work also!

Al Burk · Post by **Al Burk** » 19 Jan 2003 5:27 am

Was that Johnny's MSA or was it Tommy White's MSA? I know that Johnny is a part of MSA Team Millinium and was suppose to get a new MSA Millinium. No matter, he was great!!!!!

Al Burk

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 19 Jan 2003 6:51 am

Connie Smith has always been one of my top favorites. Johnny Cox did a great job backing her up on that New MSA. Sounded great to me!.....al

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 19 Jan 2003 6:57 am

Last night's TV portion of the Opry was one of the best I've seen in a loooooong time!
Connie, Johnny and the MSA sounded GREAT! Wish we could hear more like that!

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 19 Jan 2003 8:47 am

That was Tommy's guitar.Johnny's is on it's way i hear. L@@K at Johnny with Connie smith, he kinda reminds me a little bit of Don Helms sitting there on the opry on playing.
1/17/03

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 19 Jan 2003 8:50 am

Yes, it was a most excellent show...Johnny sounded great, and Connie did too. The music balance seemed better on this show than most, but I don't know why. One thing for sure...all the instruments were heard when it was their turn to play. (Usually they "miss" turning up the feed on one or two when they do a solo.)

What happened to Rhonda? She sorta "lost it" at the end of her last song...guess she broke a string or something!

In the "constructive criticism" department, they really overdid the 'verb on Clint's songs...the slow one sounded like he was singing the National Anthem in an empty stadium.

But overall, it was a great show...it was good to see Andy Griffith, too. He's a real American treasure.

Keith DeLong · Post by **Keith DeLong** » 19 Jan 2003 10:01 am

Connie did sound great, as she always does--I also heard her on the Friday night opry, she did 3 songs, so that was a special treat.She puts so much feeling into her singing, and with people like Johnny Cox playing with her it must be a pleasure to get up on that stage and sing.

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 19 Jan 2003 11:25 am

Don't forget to mention Rick Wright's "twin" work with Johnny!

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 19 Jan 2003 12:13 pm

Sorry bout that Rick YES he is a killer guitar player. You can tell he loves what he's doing!!

Gary Steele

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 19 Jan 2003 1:32 pm

This love fest is making me nauseous. Why don't you guys get back to bitching at Gaylord for not booking Lulu Belle and Scotty?

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 19 Jan 2003 2:20 pm

Thanks guys and gals for such kind words. Working with Connie Smith is truly a steel players dream job. She is so respectful of musicians and she allows everyone in the band to be up front with her, not just nameless backup musicians. Playing on the Opry is still the most rewarding thing I do musically. I recently celebrated thirty years at the Opry and I still get nervous when that curtain goes up.
The MSA Millennium performed flawlessly last night, as it has the past few weeks that I have played it at the Opry. Thank you Tommy for loaning that wonderful instrument to me. And thanks Reece, Kyle, Sonny and everyone with Team Millennium for designing and building The New Standard in pedal steel guitars.

Johnny

------------------

Johnny Cox
MSA Customer Service
www.msapedalsteels.com
www.thetimejumpers.com

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 19 Jan 2003 2:25 pm

That was one of the best I have seen in a long time. Johnny did sound great with Connie-and she has been a long time favorite of mine. I also enjoyed Rhonda and wondered too what happened at the end of the song. I video taped it and have watched it several times and couldnt figure out what happened. It didnt take away from her performance though, she did a great job too. I am a big fan of Rhonda and have seen her perform several times in person and she and her band always do a great job !! Kenny is one of my favorite banjer players !

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 19 Jan 2003 3:22 pm

Did Tommy play the MSA, too? I caught him playing with Jack Greene on the way home from the gig, but it didn't sound like the MSA. Just wondering.

Butch Foster · Post by **Butch Foster** » 19 Jan 2003 6:33 pm

Johnny and Connie Smith, it just dosen't get much better than that! Connie's voice blends with a pedal steel better than anyone I've ever heard. Rhonda and the Rage are an awesome bluegrass act.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 19 Jan 2003 10:36 pm

Connie Smith and Johnny Cox rule! Real country music lives![This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 19 January 2003 at 10:39 PM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 20 Jan 2003 6:13 pm

Did Tommy play the MSA, too?

There was another steel with a black cover on it beside the red MSA that Johnny played. Since it was in the spot where Tommy normally sits, I assume it was the guitar he played, although I've never seen his guitar covered except after the entire Opry show was over. Johnny, you were there, what's the answer?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 20 Jan 2003 6:51 pm

I just fast forwarded through the show again and just before Johnny's solo I paused the tape and could see enough to count 9 pedals on the "mystery guitar", which matches Tommy's setup. Then during Clint's solo number, there was a shot of the steel from behind with the cover off. It seemed that the knee levers were folded up

but it looked like his black Sho-Bud to me. I'm sure Johnny can give us the definitive answer.

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 20 Jan 2003 7:36 pm

Jim, the guitar Johnny was playing is Tommy's. Johnny was thanking him on another post for letting him play it. Johnny will get his a little later, probably shortly i would think. A close friend of Tommy's close to me is getting his this week. I played one all day today, WOW. I'm getting ready to post about it now.
Gary Steele

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 20 Jan 2003 8:02 pm

Gary, I know Johnny was playing Tommy's MSA. I'm asking about the guitar beside the MSA, in Tommy's spot on stage, that had a cover on it while Johnny was playing.