Robert Randolph on Leno

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 6 Aug 2004 11:32 am

I guess the real fallout will come when Robert Randolph is nominated to the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame...

YEE HAA!!!

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Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 6 Aug 2004 12:42 pm

RR's playing sounds like Pedal Steel Guitar to me.
A killer sounding Pedal Steel Guitar being played by a guy who is totally rippin' it up!

Disclaimer:
I missed the Leno spot.
'Seen him mostly live.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 6 Aug 2004 1:00 pm

Right on Carl. Its The Emperor's New Clothes.

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 6 Aug 2004 2:24 pm

To like or dislike R.R.? I saw the Leno show-It was not the most impressive performance by R.R. of the few times I have seen him on the tube-But I went out and got the latest issue of Guitar Player Magazine (in which R.R. is the featured artist on the cover) to read more about him-On the way out of the Guitar Center the young man at the door had to stamp my receipt for the magazine-He saw what I bought-Have you ever seen R.R. live? The kid asks me-Well no only three or four times on TV I said "I have seen him six times-He's Awesome" The kid says-I would have never guessed the grunged out looking punk had any concept of what pedal steel guitar is but he did because of R.R.!

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 6 Aug 2004 2:30 pm

"rock and roll will only last for six months,it's just another teenie-bopper fad"

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D.S. Rigsby
Carter Starter and various six string toys

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 6 Aug 2004 5:30 pm

I have been away from the Forum for a while but, all I can say is that a friend of mine who went to see Clapton at Madison Sq. Garden was really exited about RR. Most opening acts get Boo-ed off stage, Robert got a Standing O, and in front of a NY crowd that is impressive. He made a fan of my friend. Lighten up guys. Craig

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 6 Aug 2004 6:27 pm

One thing about RR's music to remember, it could be way worse! It is actually played by players with a fair amount of skill...not sampled or programed or homogenized or pro-tooled to death. You don't have to like it, but compared to so much other stuff on the radio and MTV, it's a breath of fresh air. Have you listened to other teen ($$$) music lately? Have you listened to Gangta Rap? Death Metal? Neo-Punk? The new Disney stuff? NCS? (just kidding

)

I can't help but wonder if some of our veneralble and highly respected pundits had the same misgivings when they saw the Beatles or Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show? I know my parents did, and they we're HIGHLY musical artist types. Eventually, they both came around to a more tolerant outlook, and they never lost touch with the music that meant the most to them.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 6 Aug 2004 7:00 pm

Chet Atkins, Jimi Hendrix, Django, Wes, Jimmy Bryant, Jim Hall, John,Paul, George,Blood Ulmer, Sting, Joe Pass, Woody Guthrie, Lemon Jefferson--thousands of others--all played the guitar. All are accepted and revered for their contributions. The guitar is just a common denominator for all of them, and it played so differently by all of them.

Alvino, Emmons, Franklin, Tharpe, Chuck Campbell and the rest of those out there in that so called SG Hall of fame,and thousands of others AND Robert Randolph play the steel guitar. It would take a person with a pretty narrow outlook to discount any one of these players just because of what they think a steel guitar is SUPPOSED to sound like. All bring something viable to the table.

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 6 Aug 2004 7:10 pm

Well said there Wild Bill!!

Doug Brumley · Post by **Doug Brumley** » 6 Aug 2004 7:26 pm

But why can't it still sound like the steel guitar we love.

I'm sure to Robert Randolph it sounds just like the steel guitar he loves--with a passion equal to your passion for the "traditional" sound. He's probably been wondering why more pedal steel recordings can't sound like the music ingrained in him since a young age. There's no one true style, and innovation is a good thing. You may not like what Robert Randolph is up to, but perhaps his art will speak to and inspire someone else to create a sound, song, or style that you will absolutely love. Meanwhile, continue to celebrate and preserve the works and tradition you see as vital to the instrument, insuring that those that come later will have the opportunity to hear everything the steel guitar has to say and determine for themselves what is beauty and what--if anything--is garbage.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 6 Aug 2004 7:30 pm

I was just over on the "big island" where I finally managed to snare the issue of Guitar Player that everyone has been talking about. A fine interview with, to all appearances, a fine young man, with lots of solid information about his guitar, his amps, his tuning, his technique and where he comes from musically and spiritually. Congratulations to Robert, and of course to Jerry Fessenden, who received some much-deserved exposure for his great guitars. If we don't have room in this old world of ours (not to mention our hearts)for guys like RR we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 6 Aug 2004 7:40 pm

Carl, I appreciate many of your contributions to the Forum, especially on the mechanical aspects of the instrument, but to say that someone's music is "garbage" and then to say that you are not "bashing" him certainly does sound a little (hmmm, what's the word?) disingenuous? Sure you don't "care for" his style or approach to the instrument you love, and perhaps he doesn't "care for" the style you love. So what? No one "owns" the instrument or has a "prior claim" on it. Let's remember that the sacred steel style evolved in parallel to the country and western swing steel styles, and actually did so in church, as opposed to in taverns (for those who care about such distinctions). Neither group of musicians had much, if any contact with the other for decades, and so the two styles went their own separate ways. Hooray for that. Let's also recall that, as a church-derived form of gospel music, it evolved as a form of praise-music. To call that "garbage" is tantamount to calling someone else's religion garbage, and I'm sure you wouldn't do that. You don't "care for" that style of music. Fine, it wasn't intended for you (or me, for that matter)anyway. What's the big deal? Now, can we move on?

Rich Weiss · Post by **Rich Weiss** » 6 Aug 2004 8:17 pm

Should we have to sucuumb to noise called music in order to become accepted? Including playing the instrument in a manner that does not even sound like a steel guitar?

ahem...

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 6 Aug 2004 9:25 pm

Hopefully I'm not being redundant on any point here. It seems that most every post here is a legitamate pro or con to Robert. At a Christian's viewpoint his music has a religous overtoned name called "Sacred Steel", but much of his music seems to appeal to the flesh, not much different than the blues of secular musicians (certainly not discounting the fact that he might perform more soothing melodies somewhere in his playing).

Anyhow, one has to admit that if the steel were restricted to one type of music, say 70 years ago, and THAT style went by the wayside about 65 years ago, many of the 50 to 70-year olds today wouldn't even have to worry about posting a protest or a praise on this forum.

The steel would be in a little novelty corner somewhere, needing a real souped up search engine to find something about it. My opinion.

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www.authenticrecording.com

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 7 Aug 2004 4:43 am

Amen, Jim C.

"There ain't no good guy,
There ain't no bad guy.
There's only you and me and we just disagree."

Rick

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 7 Aug 2004 6:14 am

I love Johnny Smith, James Burton, Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Larry Carlton and many more, but I could never enjoy Jimi Hendrix - I tried, believe me, but I couldn't get comfortable with the wild abandon, and the resulting occasional flaws, in his playing.

Yet Jimi is an innovator in the world of electric guitar (my disapproval didn't seem to make any difference

). So far, I feel the same way about Randolph - but it sure is great that there's a steel guitar on the front cover of 'Guitar Player'. I'm going to buy it on my way to work today, and read it between songs in the orchestra pit.....

RR

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 7 Aug 2004 8:37 am

Rick, was that Dave Mason?

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 7 Aug 2004 8:45 am

Jim Cohen, an others,

If my referencing the term "garbage" when I gave my personal opinion of RR's playing is unacceptable to you, then I feel badly.

I feel this, not because I have changed my opinion; rather because it appears that when a devout Christian gives his opinion, there are always those that feel, he is less than honorable to his faith because he may choose to use those words or phrases that others might not care to hear or agree with.

My final comments on this subject and on this thread is: I only wish you had been as quick to condemn those who would call all playes who feel simarly; "narrowminded"; "70 year olders", or any other negatively discriptive euphamisms, as has permeated this forum since its inception.

Let the chips fall where they may, I STILL do not care for RR's playing and I still agree with the first person (it was not me) that referred to it as "garbage".

I also believe with every fiber of my being that IF RR had been born with the color of my skin, he would NOT have been on the cover of that magazine; he would not have been on the Jay Leno show; he would not have been labeled the "greatest steel guitar player" by that highly missinformed author; and he would not have even received honorable mention on this forum.

(Note: I wrote NO letter to that author.)

And I believe with all my heart that the absolute proof of that is that Buddy Emmons was not on the Jay Leno show; nor was he on the cover of that magazine; nor was he labeled by that highly missinformed author "the greatest steel guitar player".

And I stand on that professed absolute. I will state BE HAS been lauded incredibly and often by many on this forum. I only wish that he could have been lauded even higher by this forum; by NOT degrading him for the sake of someone PURELY because of the color of their skin!

Now if you or anyone who ever reads this, wishes to use this to label me a racist, So be it. But you will be dead wrong!

Truth is truth and I will not shy away from it, regardless. John the Baptist didn't. Neither did Jesus Christ. NOR shall I in trying (failing miserably of course) to walk in his holy footsteps.

May Jesus right all wrongs,

carl

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 7 Aug 2004 9:05 am

Whoaaaaa

I am dedicating my listening pleasure today to alternating Buddy Emmons and Robert Randolph selections.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 7 Aug 2004 9:55 am

Carl, i believe the term "Garbage" was inappropriate -
there is a more graceful way of expressing displeasure from the Forum Chaplain
i too, dig your contributions and wisdom here and read about every one you write.
Red , Yellow, Black or Tan, makes no difference a man's a man
they'd all live together now, if they could
and the whole wide world would be feelin' good

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 7 Aug 2004 10:05 am

Carl Dixon, I would have never known that RR's music was garbage, or that Jerry Byrd is the "greatest Hawaiian steel guitarist that ever played or will play." I thought it was Sol Hoopii, or Dick McIntire, or even David Keli'i, but I must be wrong. All this from a man who admittedly has tin ears.

You've insulted everyone on this forum by insinuating that "IF RR had been born with the color of my skin, he would NOT have been on the cover of that magazine; he would not have been on the Jay Leno show; he would not have been labeled the "greatest steel guitar player" by that highly missinformed author; and he would not have even received honorable mention on this forum. Yes, it must be true we all like him because he's black--like a novelty, I guess--because you say it's true. What world do you reside in? Is a black artist's expression only valid if it's within the realm of your acceptable art? Is his spirituality any less valid than yours?

Your opinion means nothing to me, but someone may actually read it one day and ascertain that it's the right way to think.

[This message was edited by Mike Neer on 07 August 2004 at 11:06 AM.]

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 7 Aug 2004 10:35 am

Your opinion means nothing to me, but someone may actually read it one day and ascertain that it's the right way to think.

My nomination for the "Most Profound Quote of the Thread".

Kudos.

EJL

As an aside, after watching the Nick Berg Beheading Video, I'm not sure I'd choose the John the Baptist gig without some extra reflection..

My nail holes are already a constant source of mid-life arthritis...[This message was edited by Eric West on 07 August 2004 at 11:47 AM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 7 Aug 2004 10:56 am

Carl, this has nothing to do with your being a Christian, or anything else. It has everything to do with you believing that only you have a total lock on "The Truth" and that anyone who disagrees with you is either stupid, or just plain wrong. Nice attitood, dood. And of course, you are so presumptuous to believe that John the Baptist, and even Jesus himself, would naturally agree with you. How vain is that? A little humility might look better on you.

And to say that the ONLY reason RR gets any credit at all is because he is black overlooks the overwhelming facts that he is playing to sold out crowds of tens of thousands who love his music, has been handpicked by none other than Eric Clapton for a world tour, etc., etc., etc. If you think all that is ONLY because he is black, man, think again. Did the journalist overstep the limits in calling him the "steel guitar god" or whatever he called him? Sure he did. Big deal. Blame the journalist, not RR.

By the way, BE is also, by far, my favorite steeler (as well as a personal friend and teacher). But I don't think it detracts one iota from Buddy's playing or his legacy that Robert is having the success he is having. For all you know, E. himself might be quietly cheering Robert on from the sidelines. According to your premise, he'd be cheering for garbage. Where does that leave you in your hero-worship?

I don't normally get this exercised about somebody's posting, and prefer to stay on the lighter side, as many of you know. But I'm finding it hard to sit quietly and let someone say that anyone else's music is "garbage" just because it's not what they grew up on and loved. And then to posture that this represents The Truth is not only culturally-ignorant, it is vain beyond comprehension. End of Rant.

Rich Weiss · Post by **Rich Weiss** » 7 Aug 2004 11:19 am

Never mind.

[This message was edited by Rich Weiss on 07 August 2004 at 12:33 PM.]

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 7 Aug 2004 11:21 am

Carl,

I'm a lifelong and devout Christian, but I don't think it's productive when you seek to give your opinion more weight by invoking the Lord's name at the end of your paragraphs.

Also, it's a leap in logic, when you are confronted by someone, to say that you're being persecuted for the faith. There are many devout Christians on this Forum who don't experience that. The problem has more to do with your very human tendency to be outspoken. Everyone is entitled to their opinion; you only get in trouble when you try to equate your opinion with "truth" and "right".

Bones McKinney used to say that it was obvious God didn't care about basketball, for if He had, Wake Forest would've won every game.

I think I'm safe in saying that the Lord Jesus doesn't care about the Jay Leno show or pedal steel guitar either! This ain't a theological discussion (or wasn't 'till now).

Rich, where are you getting your info. about Biblical authorship?

Rick[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 07 August 2004 at 12:24 PM.]