Two steel players in the same band?

Reece Anderson · Post by **Reece Anderson** » 18 Feb 2004 1:45 pm

Dale B....To my recollection I never had the pleasure of meeting Fred Gamble, but I certainly heard about him. Joe Andrews, Roy Claybourn and Luke Wills were singing with Bob Wills when I was with him.

I of course know famous Amos Hedrick, what a great fiddle player.

I too hope we have the opportunity to meet in the near future.

Arty Passes · Post by **Arty Passes** » 18 Feb 2004 8:11 pm

John Macy and Ed Steeves in Boston in the mid 70s were a great inspiration to me.....

Arty

Garth Highsmith · Post by **Garth Highsmith** » 18 Feb 2004 8:45 pm

.[This message was edited by Garth Highsmith on 12 January 2006 at 09:33 AM.]

Mylos Sonka · Post by **Mylos Sonka** » 19 Feb 2004 12:14 am

Hey Longhead--

I was the lucky guy on rhythm guitar sitting next to Pee Wee and Bobby on that Sacramento show. What a thrill.

Mylos

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 19 Feb 2004 4:51 am

I was in a 5 piece band and all played steel. The others played various instruments. People would say to me it must feel great to be the best and play steel while the others had to move to different ibstruments. The truth was that I was the worst but since I could didn't have enough smart to learn another instrument I had to play steel by default. Reece, Jerry told me that years ago you, Tom Morrell, Bud Carter, and I believe one other steeler were in the same band and every little flub on steel was met with a loud "BOO".

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 19 Feb 2004 7:36 am

Being the Hawaiian buff that I am, I will digress this subject from country/western to the field I know best. Probably one of the longest running shows in radio history was "Hawai'i Calls"....1936-1974 (plus the revival years into the mid eighties after Webley Edwards had passed on). Now, as I understand the story, Webley Edwards for many years depended upon the great David Keli'i on steel guitar. Later, when David left the show, Webley hired a replacement to David. Apparently, Webley was faced with the problem of an ill steel guitarist at one point and had to act fast. From that time onwards, Webley always used TWO steel guitarists on this memorable radio show. The last two being Barney Isaacs and Joe Custino if I am correct.

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 19 February 2004 at 07:37 AM.]

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 19 Feb 2004 8:48 am

Sometime about '74, Jim Ed Brown had two steel players for a short time. It was just before Hank Corwin left to pursue session work. As I remember it (and I sometimes remember incorrectly) the new steel player was Mike Smith.

That was probably the Late Gary Boggs, Earl Erb would know for sure, He was the Bandleader.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 24 Feb 2004 11:21 pm

I played a number of dates with a country band in CA with Bobby Black. As well as a forgettable night with the New Riders of the Purple Sage.

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www.tyack.com

Bob Miano · Post by **Bob Miano** » 26 Feb 2004 11:29 am

Thanks Stu,
That's it. ED BLACK and DAN DUGMORE.

Bob Miano

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 26 Feb 2004 4:53 pm

I shared steel space in my first band with Tom Stolaski, which was a big help to me as he was 9 months or a year ahead of me. He just recently sent me a CD of our circa '75 noodlings and it's fascinating how different our styles were right from the beginning. I still sound exactly the same, unfortunately...

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Wally Giffin · Post by **Wally Giffin** » 27 Feb 2004 2:28 pm

My wife, Judy Kuneman-Giffin, said to me a few years before she passed away from colon cancer that her hearts desire was to be on the bandstand with just two steel pickers, a drummer and her playing bass and singing. I told her she had mentioned that to the wrong person, so----
On the Saturday night dance we had for the last Northwest Pedal Steel Jam we picked seven of the best steel pickers in the area plus eight of the best vocalists who were available that night. We also were lucky enough to have David Wright come up here as well, along with several vendors, including Carter, Tom Bradshaw, Sierra and more.
So two good steel pickers, two good singers, a bass and drums, for each of the four sets. And we only had 15 min breaks between them. We even had a lead picker on standby just in case---BUT he did not get to pick very much.
What wonderful music that 20 string cheese cutter can put out and it doesn't make any difference that it is backup or lead or what type or kind of music it is. That night was devoted to stricktly backup--Something many closet steel pickers never get to hear live.
I would like to try that again sometime, except that it would much better to have more than 93 folks come in the door when you've paid $500 bucks just for the room for one day.
Some of you guys might try it that way sometime. Won't make any money, but you'll get to hear the best of the best.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 27 Feb 2004 7:16 pm

That was a great idea, Wally, and it was an amazing night. I loved playing with Larry Behm, but my only regret was not playing with you and Judy. BUt I have done that before and since, so I guess I have no complaints...

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www.tyack.com

Bill Plemmons · Post by **Bill Plemmons** » 28 Feb 2004 7:30 am

Had the pleasure of hearing Reece Anderson and I believe, Gene Crownover with Bob Wills at the NCO Club, Clinton Sherman AFB OK in the early 1960's. What a night!! That's when I really got hooked on steel guitar. Reece was playing a single neck guitar that night with more pedals and strings than I had ever seen. And I might add played it well.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 29 Feb 2004 2:40 pm

Here's a FINE example of our local "Emmons Contingent". I could never understand it myself, but I guess they only made so many Sho~Buds....

Harley James, my personal local idol, sitting in in Doug Jones' (Larry Jeff's) Band Renta.. er Renegade, with the incredible DJ, and Larry Jeffers and Judy Lynn singing their hearts out on the BEST shuffles (and Horseshoes (for the dancers)) that I know of around here. Incidentally Larry has been a stable bass player for our local Steel Conventions in the years I can remember, and I think it's about getting to be time for one here again ( hint hint...).

Pictured also is someone I haven't seen MANY Years, Dana Kelly, the not so young protege of the Late Richard Edge. Last time I'd seen him was around 20 years ago blasting out telecaster and fiddle through the world's hottest Princeton next to Little Richard in Amarillo in 87. I hope to see more if him when I fill in for Doug later in March.

All in all a FINE show, and if they'd have caught me slipping in, I'd have gladly paid the cover charge.

Not many outfits I'd do that for where the acts wear clothes.

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 29 February 2004 at 02:41 PM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 29 Feb 2004 5:05 pm

I have some LPs of "The New Hawaiian Band" that include Jerry Byrd and Barney Isaacs Jr. playing together. I'm not sure if it was ever a performing act, though.

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Will Yardley · Post by **Will Yardley** » 29 Feb 2004 11:06 pm

Two of the guitar players (Rich Gilbert and Dave Philips) for Frank Black and the Catholics play pedal steel (both play steel on "Show Me Your Tears", which also has a lot of cool steel guitar pictures on the album art). I don't think they usually both play steel at the same time, though.