Age & Playing music---especially STEEL???

Ed Prosser · Post by **Ed Prosser** » 11 Jun 2004 10:26 am

Hi Folks, I have been wondering how many of you out there have the same problem I have getting playing time. I'm 63yrs. young and I mean a young 63! I have played lead guitar for 42 yrs. and pedal steel for 32 yrs. Have played in bands for 40 yrs. so there isn't much I haven't been through as a musician and everyone else out there that has played for a long time hasn't had to put up with!!! Ecample: A month ago a young man, 38 yrs.old, and his 3 piece band were playing in the town where I live. When I was playing 4 nights a week and he was only 16 we would get him on stage and have him do some singing. He was good but didn't know where to start as to getting exposure so did that for him. All that said, I called him to see if I could sit in with his band and play steel. Now he hasn't heard me play in 20 yrs and he said how old are you now? I told him my age and he said I suppose we can do some old songs that you would know. That rubbed me the wrong way. I'm not bragging but I can play anything including the new country and rock and roll, some jazz and what ever! I didn't go where they were playing. This is not the first time it's happened. It must be an age thing. Just wondering how many of you out there are facing the same problem? Thanks, Ed

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Billy Woo · Post by **Billy Woo** » 11 Jun 2004 11:42 am

Hi Ed

I guess 'Age" does factor in the general scheme of things but in "Country music" I think it depends on the locale and what folks want where you (steel players) live, I used to work 6 nights a week playing Rock & Top 40 when I was 19 and probably did it for 10 years then got a straight job (with insurance)& family to boot and now @54 yrs old, just play occasional gigs at the American Legion, we do get to play Country but the crowd out my way also wants to dance and so we accomodate and play R&B and Classic Rock..Clubs and clientele are a fickle business but these days, IMHO bands need to be flexible to stay working and that's just cover stuff at that..Again things might be different in Texas as supposed to Washington D.C. or Los Angeles

Bronco Billy
Zumsteel

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 11 Jun 2004 11:49 am

Age definitely factors into it but I say that with a different meaning than you might expect. I'd think at 38 one would be more respectful, appreciative and intelligent. You had every reason to feel insulted. You probably know at least half of his set list better than he does.

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HagFan

Ed Prosser · Post by **Ed Prosser** » 11 Jun 2004 12:41 pm

Ron, your right. If I would have been asked if I had kept up with the new country and what I had been doing now in music, that wouldn't have bothered me. I told him I didn't expect any money to play, just to have some fun. I think I would have made them sound better, but steel guitar always makes a band in my opinion. But then again, what do I know?????

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Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 11 Jun 2004 12:47 pm

Hey Ed a great man once said he would not let his opponents youth and inexperience affect him or something to that effect, maybe you should have hit him with that.
[This message was edited by Ben Lawson on 11 June 2004 at 01:49 PM.]

Daryl Stogner · Post by **Daryl Stogner** » 11 Jun 2004 1:58 pm

I was told long ago by my Dad, that when you are going up the ladder, to be sure and NOT step on anyone's fingers, cause there'd be a day when you have to come back down that same ladder.

Sounds like the kid in your story didn't have anyone tell him about those little tidbits, or someone needs to step on his fingers some.

I'd bet he missed the night of his life by not jumping at working with you that night.

It always amazed me how guys would let some gal get up on stage to sing, and she couldn't tell the difference between pitch or tempo. And the pace of the song would change every two or three lines in a verse.

I got to the point where I'd just shake my head and try to slow a song back down to where it started, never mind trying to get her to follow the changes.

Still, by golly let's not let someone good get up on the stage. They might outshine someone.

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Daryl Stogner
My email: dstog@hotmail.com
My Website: www.dstogner.com
Dave's Website:www.davestogner.com

[This message was edited by Daryl Stogner on 11 June 2004 at 03:00 PM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 11 Jun 2004 2:48 pm

So...let's see. I think I got this straight.

By the time you've learned everything you need to know, they think you're too old to do it?

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 11 Jun 2004 3:01 pm

We live in a land where discrimination, prejudice and bigotry is scoffed at from North to South and East to West. Where it has become politically correct to not even allow a hint of it in any way, any where*.

Any person who is seen or heard doing it is immediately scoffed at; an some are cursed for it; or run out of office without remorse. Or fired from a career, etc, etc.

Yep, sooo true. All true. Well....All true with the exception* of the oldest form of discrimination probably known to man; and that is age discrimination. Jesus said, Honor thy Father and thy Mother". But he went on to say, "There will come a time when children will sue their parents".

Sad but true.

Oh well,

carl

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 11 Jun 2004 4:34 pm

I am your age and play lead guitar and steel in a band that can play classic rock or country all night, whatever the people that hire us want. I'm about 10 years older than the rest of the guys
Lately we've been mostly hired by people wanting rock.
I told my son that I was beginning to feel a
bit long in the tooth to be playing 3 Steps, Hey Joe, Long train runnin' etc. and he said,"Dad your people invented R&R, Play it and have fun!" And I am.
Out of the mouths of babes. (35 year old ones at that.)

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 11 Jun 2004 4:38 pm

You should just go and blow them away with your playing. There's few things more satisfying than proving you can when people say you can't.

[This message was edited by Chris Lasher on 12 June 2004 at 06:04 AM.]

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 11 Jun 2004 8:17 pm

Ed.Truth be known they may have been afraid you would want to play something they are not able to handle the chords.In my humble opinion if you can play one of the new songs that come out now days you can play them all as they all sound alike.And you would have to be young now and play guitar hanging just below the knees , look and dress as if you had just came off a three week drunk.A girl singer would have to dress like a hooker and run all over the stage (and excuse me if i gag when using the word singer).Now i am talking about what the young crowd buys and listens to and the radio and tv stations cater to.Now this is only my opinion ,but i still believe there is a demand for music because when George Jones,or the hag plus many others play here in Ft.Worth and all over the U.S.they sell out yet the radio stations refuse to play there music.Tracy.

Bob Wood · Post by **Bob Wood** » 11 Jun 2004 9:37 pm

Daral S.

I have a friend that wrote a song entitled: "Be Kind to the little man on your way up, cause you might meet him on your way down!" I can relate.....!

Bob
[This message was edited by Bob Wood on 13 June 2004 at 11:25 AM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 12 Jun 2004 2:16 am

Pretty curious response from the fella about "we could play some old songs".

Me, at 55, also playing since 12 or 13..I wouldn't have let it go..

Although his ego came front and center I would have put it in it's place..

I probably would have responded with..

"That would be nice, we can play some old songs if YOU know them, but I would prefer to play some of the current songs, DO YOU know any ?" ..

This guy is a legend in his own mind and at some point he should be told what he did..and put in his place with respect.

I play in a band with 2 that are under 20..both very talented, ( no EGO's to speak of) they know plenty of old songs and plenty of new songs..but they still don't know all the songs I know..and they won't for about another 20 years !

Last night we played " Kiss an Angel Goodmorning"..before they kicked it they looked over and asked me if I knew it..bless their hearts..

I said" You mean the Charlie Pride song with Loyd Green on Steel that goes like this ?" .. "Never heard of it"..then proceeded to double the intro with the guitar player. When the song was over they laughed and asked how long had I been playing that song..I said "longer than you have been living! "..But I did tell Matt that the last time I played it he wasn't born yet.We all laughed..

Ed, maybe the next time you should just show up with your Steel in hand or in the car and ask to sit in..if the guy says something off color you can just hang your head and tell him that you'll do the best you can and try to keep up...

then show em' how it's done...maybe play Harbor Lights, I guarantee the crowd will all run to the dance floor..lets see if he can keep up..oh wait , what am I thinking..Kenny Cheesy does't sing Harbor Lights.It's not in any current songlist anymore..more than 2 chords..forget it..

as always..actions speak louder than words..oh and bring a loud amp...

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 12 June 2004 at 03:25 AM.]

Buddy Emmons · Post by **Buddy Emmons** » 12 Jun 2004 4:07 am

Edward,
You’ve enjoyed playing music longer than he’s been around. You have the experience of sixty three years to draw from and guide you for the rest of your life. He won’t be able to say that for twenty five more years, and he’ll have to get there to do it. I’m 67 and one of the world’s oldest teenagers, so enjoy being a young 63.

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 12 Jun 2004 4:44 am

....You are so right Buddy.....I've been listening to you play for over 50 years myself, and you get better every year! I'm 66 and I'm pickin' tonight with some of the younger guys.

Buddy Emmons · Post by **Buddy Emmons** » 12 Jun 2004 5:08 am

Thanks Roger. I’d tell you to say hello to the boys tonight but they’ve probably never heard of me.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 12 Jun 2004 6:04 am

Buddy..you're 67 ? How did that happen? why it seems like just yesterday you were 20ish..

Oh wait..thats me I think..but I can't remember..

To bad youth is wasted on the young..

Oh ..and the "KIDS" I play with have heard of you and think you're pretty good ! Well atually Buddy, they really know who you are and as I was sharing some little phrases I acquired from one of your tunes they commented back that they sure hoped that you played it better than I did !

Geesh..No respect !

happy saturday
t
<[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 12 June 2004 at 07:24 AM.]

Wayne Morgan · Post by **Wayne Morgan** » 12 Jun 2004 6:54 am

"Buddy Emmons",,,,can't think of anyone that wouldn't know who he is, My first time to see and hear "E" was last month in Choo Choo, made my life just a little more complete.
Thanks to Buddy for your music !!

Wayne
PS I even know Roger and Tony,,not proud of that fact<<<<<<<<<<<<<Kidding !!![This message was edited by Wayne Morgan on 12 June 2004 at 07:56 AM.]

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 12 Jun 2004 7:43 am

Buddy can NOT be 67. I have a picture right in front of me with him sitting behind an Emmons PSG, and I could swear he was 19 yrs old!!

carl

Al Udeen · Post by **Al Udeen** » 12 Jun 2004 8:14 am

I have a picture of Buddy when he WAS 19, but he was sitting behind a Sho-Bud au[This message was edited by Al Udeen on 12 June 2004 at 09:16 AM.]

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 12 Jun 2004 8:31 am

I'm 48 and part of the music entourage at our church (I play piano there, not steel). We have three "bands" (called "worship teams": drums, bass, electric and acoustic guitar, piano, synth, singers) that rotate for the morning services. Many other of these musicians and singers are boomers round about my age, but several are also 20-somethings. I'm always surprised that the younger ones all seem to know the music of my youth so well. When I was in that age group, I didn't know much about my Dad's music, really, except for a few favorites that came out of his era. So in this case I give these "kids" a lot of credit....or else that music just has a lot of staying power!

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?[This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 12 June 2004 at 04:54 PM.]

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 12 Jun 2004 11:26 am

I'm 56, and tonight I'm playing with a "metal" band. Steel guitar, 12strings of 5ths through a Vox AD 120 VTX, lots of British metal grind.....[This message was edited by chas smith on 12 June 2004 at 12:28 PM.]

JamesMCross · Post by **JamesMCross** » 12 Jun 2004 1:55 pm

I'm 48. I've played clubs on and off most of my adult life, usually off...!

Some of the guys I've worked with recently actually thought AJ's version of Pop-a-Top was the original.

But, no worries. Whenever I think I'm getting too old to keep up with the younger guys, I take a trip up to NYC to hear Les Paul at the Iridium on Monday nights. He still tears it up - I think he's going on 89?

Then I know I can hang in for a little bit longer...

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 12 Jun 2004 2:50 pm

Ed, sounds to me like this young man has got the big head since he's got his own band now.
heck, you ain't old anyhow.

Mr Buck Grantham played last night at Ronnie Neighbors guitar shop in Hot Springs.
this fellow has got to be pushin 75, and he can still burn the strings off a steel guitar
so your still a young man.

Buddy Emmons 67 ???!!! yikes, I didn't know Buddy was that old!

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84 SKH Emmons Legrand D10
session 400'rd Steelin for my Lord.

Spriggie Hensley · Post by **Spriggie Hensley** » 12 Jun 2004 3:09 pm

Hi Ed,
I know you feel you gave the kid his start but he was young and youth is not to smart, there is a youth saying that goes something like (to late we get smart) for what it’s worth my 2 cents says you should not let the event get to you. You have to be positive and look at things from the both sides of the coin, he may have been intimidated by you, or maybe he knew he could not play up to your speed, also could be he knew his band members were not up to speed.
I think you should go out and listened to his band and see what you were missing. I just do not see anyone refusing to let you play because of your age, I do however see they may not want their show broken up or a new guy just setting in. I to am 61 and know from my years in bands that set in’s are a nightmare period and it’s got nothing to do with age.
Remember a band has to be real tight to handle a new guy out of the box and I think all will agree that a steel player can make a lead guitar player sound real bad if you want to. So when you see the guy ask him straight up about your picking.
I would personally have ask about setting in at a practice set and then maybe pick a night with the band if they ask, you know catch up and get to know each other. Good Picking, Sprig

PS: The guy that gave me my first brake intimidated me till the day he died, and I sure do miss him. (Brother T.)