RIP Speedy West

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 15 Nov 2003 10:22 am

Sometime Saturday morning
See Our Extended Family

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 15 Nov 2003 11:11 am

As it is with all the true greats, there will never be another like Speedy West. Sadly gone, but never to be forgotten.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 15 Nov 2003 11:16 am

This is truly a sad day.

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 15 Nov 2003 4:27 pm

With the years going by, this is the sad new we all new we had to look forwarward to.
It's a great lost to steel guitar and PSG but more so a great human loss.
I was just starting out on steel (no peadals, no tuning, no clue) when a friend guitar player came to my home waving an LP record with a B&W cover full of Fender (non-edal-) steels and a smiling face on the top corner on it... "you wanna listen to this.." Listening I did, again and again... an then I proceded to try to do it... I didn't know he had pedals.... and then it was too Speedy anyway... I've never had the pleasure to see him play but a couple of years back I was in Dallas... it was just about lunch time and I was sitting in the hall way... and there he was with his wife and friends and I just couldn't resist looking over... in fact I must have been staring, because after a while HE got up and walked over to sit next to me... we talked for hours just like the best ol' friends... and this is whom I lost today... a heroe friend... and now I'm crying...

... J-D.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 15 Nov 2003 4:42 pm

This is truly a sad day for all of us. I only met Speedy at the convention, but from the few conversations we had, he seemed like a very nice man who was eager to help all steel guitarists with advice.

The convention will never be the same without his warmth and humor,

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 15 Nov 2003 6:50 pm

We had a benifit for Jimmie Bryant out here in the early 80's. He was then still able to drink a beer and play a little. Now both are gone. It is our loss, indeed.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 15 Nov 2003 7:28 pm

We all feel saddend by Speedy's leaving,but
Speedy had a great sense of humor right to the end.

I called him a few days back as I would usually call him once a week or so.I didnt want to bother him otherwise I would have called him more often.

I spoke with him for a while and we were speaking of old times,I mentioned that I was
planning on going to St.Louis come next September and asked if he was planning on going as well,he said I dont think so Jody, I have a debt to collect.

I waited for a moment and said debt? what debt? He said well you see Roy Lanham owes me $50.00 bucks from a card game years back and I'm looking to collect that.

I laughed and said,you dont need the $50.00 dollars now Speedy,he said no, but I dont want to see ole Roy get away with it,,he then started laughing,.

I told him that if I was asked to play,I would play a few of his tunes and dedicate them to him,and he said,well Jody you had better practice up a bit,I dont want people to think I played lousy

and he laughed like the devil.

I will miss him as all of you do,but he knew
the end was near and yet his humor was still
there,I idolized him as a player and as a human being as well.

Dont feel too bad for Speedy, he's collected
the $50.00 bucks from Roy by this time,,feel sorry for me, I have to try to play good and not make him look bad.

Rest In Peace My Friend. I know you are seeing this..God Rest His Soul.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 15 Nov 2003 7:38 pm

Rest In Peace Dear Speedy.
Paul & Oleda Franklin
Gregg & Theresa

John P. Phillips · Post by **John P. Phillips** » 15 Nov 2003 8:05 pm

SPEEDY WEST. A name that forever belongs to Steel Guitar !! He influenced me more than i had realized.

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JUST 'CAUSE I STEEL, DON'T MAKE ME A THIEF

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 15 Nov 2003 8:44 pm

We lost another great one today.......al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Buck Grantham · Post by **Buck Grantham** » 15 Nov 2003 9:35 pm

Speedy is well loved and will be sorely missed. Three years ago when I got sick in Tulsa ,Speedy and Mary tried to get Mitzi and I to come out and stay with them until I got well. He called a number of times to be sure I was getting better. I wish we had gone out to his house to visit. He was a great friend and we will not forget him. We love Speedy and Mary a lot.

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 16 Nov 2003 12:03 am

I'm sad about that....
-John

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 16 Nov 2003 2:16 am

Thanks for the great music Speedy!

Emmett Roch · Post by **Emmett Roch** » 16 Nov 2003 2:42 am

I only had one short conversation with Speedy in St Louis a few years ago, but it's a treasured memory. I'd bet he's already stirred up the Heavenly music scene with all his old friends up there...imagine what a jam session those guys are having right now.

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GFI S-12 extended E9

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 16 Nov 2003 4:37 am

This is sad....Speedy's life was about many things. A few that stand out at this moment are how he helped folks, his laughter, his aggressive playing. I will miss him.

Paul

Geoff Cole · Post by **Geoff Cole** » 16 Nov 2003 3:00 pm

A very sad day indeed. My privilege to have met you.
R.I.P. Speedy.

Chris Scruggs · Post by **Chris Scruggs** » 16 Nov 2003 8:10 pm

Let's not forget that Speedy was the first country player to use pedals.

Speedy, thank you for your innovation and creativity!

Chris

Graham Griffith · Post by **Graham Griffith** » 17 Nov 2003 2:58 pm

I had the pleasure of meeting Speedy at Zane Beck's in 1978. I heard him play jazz standards and all sorts of stuff removed from his stage persona. What a genius and legacy giver ... a great man.

Graham

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 17 Nov 2003 6:01 pm

One of the first steel players I ever heard- and for my money, one of the original rock musicians! The things he did on the instrument have never been duplicated. Truly unique and amazing.

Germany's Bear Family Records did a beautiful 4 CD boxed set that collects most of the best Jimmy Bryant/Speedy recordings, with a beautiful booklet as well.

Bob Taillefer · Post by **Bob Taillefer** » 18 Nov 2003 1:11 pm

A great loss! Sincères condoléances! Bob

Rusty Walker · Post by **Rusty Walker** » 18 Nov 2003 7:27 pm

I never met him,but he sure gave me some things to think about the first time I heard him.I think my favorite was" West of Samoa".

RickRichtmyer · Post by **RickRichtmyer** » 19 Nov 2003 4:55 am

What a tremendous loss! He was a great player and a great guy.

R.I.P. Speedy.

Mark Tomeo · Post by **Mark Tomeo** » 19 Nov 2003 6:35 am

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 19 Nov 2003 8:31 am

That says it all right there.