Who was Mel Tillis' steel player in the 70s?

Al Burk · Post by **Al Burk** » 3 Feb 2003 8:06 pm

During setup for a gig this past weekend, one of the other band members was playing a copy of Mel Tillis Live at the Sam Houston Coliseum. I think it was recorded between 1968 to 1970. The steel playing was great, especially on "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town". We must have played it 4 or 5 times. Does anyone remember who this great steel player is?

Thanks, Al Burk

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 3 Feb 2003 8:07 pm

Terry Bethel?

Al Burk · Post by **Al Burk** » 3 Feb 2003 8:16 pm

Thanks Jim

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 3 Feb 2003 8:39 pm

Paul Franklin toured with Mel, but what was the time frame??

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 3 Feb 2003 8:51 pm

I think Paul was with Mel in the mid to late 70's. I think even he was too young to be playing in '68.

As an aside, I read somewhere that when Paul was with the State Siders, he was making a salary of $40,000 per year. That was excellent money back then.

Joan Cox · Post by **Joan Cox** » 4 Feb 2003 5:13 am

Johnny played with the Statesiders also. I think he was with Mel from 1986-1988.

Joan Cox[This message was edited by Joan Cox on 05 February 2003 at 10:37 AM.][This message was edited by Joan Cox on 05 February 2003 at 10:37 AM.]

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 4 Feb 2003 7:45 am

Jim,
I hate to tell you this but,that's pretty good money,even TODAY!!! If you find a job that pays that,& don't want it,CALL ME!!!
I'll come out of "retirement"!!
I've always said that the "music business" (oxymoron),is a "non-profit organization". We didn't plan it that way. That's just the way it turned out!

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 4 Feb 2003 10:35 am

Joan, Did Johnny by chance work with Jim Ed Brown in the late 70's ? Like on Nashville On The Road? Or was that Hank Corwin? I remember hearing a story about a Bud that got bleached out by the sun from all those outdoor shows. Don't remember whose guitar it was. Sorry for the edit. Got to learn to spell.

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Session 500, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

[This message was edited by Craig A Davidson on 04 February 2003 at 10:36 AM.]

Eddie Lange · Post by **Eddie Lange** » 4 Feb 2003 12:06 pm

That record is definetly Terry. I have that one and I have asked him about it before. Yeah, it is a great record.

Pat Carlson · Post by **Pat Carlson** » 4 Feb 2003 12:13 pm

When I asked at Mel's theater in Branson last fall (December 2002)I was told Terry Bethel had been with Mel and the statesiders for 30 years

Sho~Bud LDG Nashville 1000[This message was edited by Patrick Carlson on 04 February 2003 at 12:25 PM.]

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 4 Feb 2003 12:47 pm

I did some road package shows with Tillis around 1977-78, and Bethel was the steel player, Jim Buchanan and Hoot on fiddles, Odell Martin on guitar, Larry Lee on bass, and I forget who was the drummer.

In 1980 I was in Vegas and Terry Bethel and Dick Miller had a twin steels gig at Sam's Town. Paul was playing on the Strip with Tillis at that time.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 4 Feb 2003 7:16 pm

The old Steel Guitar magazine of Tom Bradshaw's which featured Paul Franklin had an in depth look into his time with Mel Tillis so Terry Bethel wasn't with him for 30 years continous and that article was in the 70's... JH

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 04 February 2003 at 07:17 PM.]

Jerry Erickson · Post by **Jerry Erickson** » 4 Feb 2003 9:53 pm

I've got a tape of an Austin City Limits show where Mel had Paul Franklin on steel, Jerry Reid on guitar and Jim Buchanan was one of the three fiddle players. The audio's ok, but the performance is incredible. I'm guessing that it was probably in 1978.

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 4 Feb 2003 10:18 pm

When Terry Bethel and Dick Miller played twin steels, they were working with Terry Richards. Terry used to be a mouskateer on Mickey's early shows (excuse the spelling). Richards was a highly talented entertainer. When I first arrived in Vegas, I got a job with Don Holliman at the Silver Dollar. He told me about their gig. They had knock out arrangements.

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 5 Feb 2003 10:19 am

Mel was doing a show at the Hibbing, MN Fairgrounds in the summer of 79 or 80. I remember when he introduced the Statesiders, he introduced the steeler as "the kid" of the group. I don't remember his name but I do remember he was young and GOOD. The bass player was the band leader (or at least he was the one that called all the shots).

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SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo

Joan Cox · Post by **Joan Cox** » 5 Feb 2003 10:36 am

Craig, Johnny did play for Jim Ed Brown for a short time in the 70s. We were looking at pictures the other day at the house, and there are some of Johnny when he was with Jim Ed. I'll have to ask him about the bleached out ShoBud..it might have been one of his. I'll find out for you. He was on some of the Nashville Now shows I think, and I know he was on Del Reeve's Country Carnival show when he worked with Del.
Joan[This message was edited by Joan Cox on 05 February 2003 at 10:40 AM.]

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 5 Feb 2003 7:41 pm

George. That was Paul Franklin.Paul also played on a live album with Tillis that was done around 1980.Pauls playing was excellent.As a matter of fact. That LP turned me into a huge Paul Franklin fan.--------bb

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 6 Feb 2003 3:08 am

Thanks Bobby.

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SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo

Al Udeen · Post by **Al Udeen** » 6 Feb 2003 1:59 pm

In 79 there was a new show theatre, called The Carlton, here in Mpls " where the Mall of America now stands" & Tillis was the first act to play there, My old friend, Terry Bethel called me & said that he was playing rythym guitar on this last gig & that 23 yr old Paul Franklin was the new steel player, Terry asked if I knew a place to Jam, as Mel was flying back to Nashville to record, during the Sun & Mon, days off from the 10 day gig, Well naturally the 2 day Jam wound up at my house, needless to say it was Increadable! I believe Terry came back with Mel in 90, just before Mel moved to Branson, "Terry"! I hope I got the dates correct! au

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 6 Feb 2003 4:05 pm

Hank Corwin did some of those "Nashville On The Road" shows, but I think he played and Emmons. The Bud must have been Johnny's.

Neil Flanz · Post by **Neil Flanz** » 6 Feb 2003 7:20 pm

In the spring of 1980 I taped Austin City Limits while picking for Joe Sun. Although the shows aired at different times Mel Tillis taped the show that same day and Paul Franklin was playing steel at the time. If my memory serves me correctly during the seventies there were times when Jim Baker would sub for Terry Bethel.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 6 Feb 2003 7:33 pm

I believe Paul was playing with Tillis from around 1978 to 1981.