Lets induct the "Hippie" Steelers into the SGHOF

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 5 Feb 2004 3:25 pm

This is a continuation of a reply I put to the topic on John David Call. I am 55 & was totaly into rock & roll in my high school & college days. It wasn't until "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" that I even became aware of what a steel guitar was, & never saw one until I saw The Flying Burrito Brothers & Poco. My Hero's of the steel & the ones who got me to play were Rusty Young, Sneaky Pete, Jerry Garcia, Buddy Cage, Bobby Black, Red Rhodes, Tom Brumley & Buddy Emmons, but I only heard all of these guys because of the COUNTRY ROCK records they played on, not the country records. So I say, lets come up with a list of this group of players & submit them all to the SGHOF & get them all inducted together. I think they represented the second golden age of steel players & probably got more guys playing the steel than any other player or group of players. In addition, both Rusty Young & Sneaky Pete used effects pedals to give their steels totally different sounds than the typical Nashville steel stylists. I encourage everyone to print out that form, fill it out & send it to Scotty.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 5 Feb 2004 3:35 pm

Amen, brother!

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 5 Feb 2004 3:39 pm

I'll join this bandwagon. These guys got me
interested in pedal steel.This would be a fitting thank you to them.

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 5 Feb 2004 4:14 pm

Last year Bobby Black was barely edged out by Santo and Johnny. The forces are still at work. I believe Mr. Black is to be honored in St. Louis this year. BW

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 5 Feb 2004 4:32 pm

Bobby Black was (and remains) one of my biggest influences. I had never heard C6th at all until I heard him with CC&LPA on the "Truckers Favorites" LP. I wore that album out. Plus his E9th playing was sooooo tasty!

Calling him a "hippie" steeler is a bit of a stretch, though. Yeah, CC&LPA was a hippie band, but Bobby played with a lot of different folks before and since. He's more of a swing/Hawaiian player than anything.

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Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 5 Feb 2004 7:49 pm

I agree with this sentiment. I don't agree that all should be inducted in one lump sum. Each should be individually submitted like any other player. It is probably true that more beginning steelers were influenced by the country rockers than the generally acknowledged icons of the instrument. My personal vote goes to Buddy Cage who I think was the most important player of the country rockers in terms of influence and in terms of his originality. He invented lines and single-note stylings that are played to this day and his style of playing is fresh to this day and very adaptable into the styles of todays country pop/rock edged top 40 tunes. He also had an unparalleled sense of syncopation and spacing in the lines of his playing that was distinctly NOT country and totally original. Anyway, the reality is that it's extremely unlikely that the SGHOF will recognize these qualities as being something worthy of membership. But it's nice to acknowledge them nonetheless. Thanks for the thoughtful topic.

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Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 5 Feb 2004 11:42 pm

Yeah... I can dig it... all my heros! I played a gig at a big club on the Long Island Sound many years ago.. It was my band opening and the New Riders headlining. I was wailing [hacking??]on my white MSA S10 5+4 during our set,and Buddy Cage walked in with the rest of the band and he was REALLY checking me out. Anyway I spent quite a bit of time talking steel with him between shows and he was a nice guy. He was HEAVY into Emmons guitars at the time and tried to SELL me one!!... he said "Bob, you REALLY should be playing an Emmons guitar" and it just so happens.... etc ect.. I didn't buy his Emmons[too poor] but it ws fun talking to him and John Dawson and David Nelson... One of the heros of my youth tried to sell me a steel.... Buddy has a cool style that still makes me smile when I hear it... its a HAPPY steel sound! bob

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 6 Feb 2004 2:48 am

What about Neil Flanz,who worked w/ Gram Parsons & the "Fallen Angels",& Emmy Lou Harris,when she was considered "folk-rock"?

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David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 6 Feb 2004 3:29 am

Yes to all of the above.

Without these guys, the steel guitar might be nearly dead right now. With classic country... as so many are moaning these days.

They opened up an entirely new world for a lot of players, who really had no interest in what Nashville was putting out song wise at the time,
so never got to hear and appreciate so many of the great steelers there at that time.

I don't think this tangent, from what was at the time the mainstream of steel guitar, should be left unrecognised or appreciated for what it was.
A true sea cxhange in the steeler demographic, that resonates to this day.
And a boon for traditional country, because these are the people who have countinued to stay country, whikle having a wider view for old AND new in the genre.

I met Neil Flanz in the van ride out to the airport at ISGC and we had a nice talk.

I definitly think Buddy Cage is a great choice, and Sneaky Pete another innovator.

Thes guys have really kept the steel alive for so many.

Mike Headrick · Post by **Mike Headrick** » 6 Feb 2004 5:06 am

Now that JayDee's in, the ball is rolling. I'd at least like to see them in St. Louis.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 6 Feb 2004 5:11 am

Another one for that category although he's already in the HOF is my personal hero Ralph Mooney. I've met folks who didn't like country but loved the hell out of Waylon Jennings and Ralph was a big part of Waylon's sound for many years. I have a friend who played lead guitar in one of the better rock bands in this area. I was at their gig one night and they went into "Rainy Day Woman" and "Ain't Livin' Long Like This". My friend did some pretty good "Moon" licks on the guitar. He told me that he was thinking of getting into the pedal steel some as he loved that sound but hadn't heard it much. He plays a little lap steel and slide guitar. I always thought that Ralph's stuff would have really sounded great on Creedence Clearwater Revival's records as it has that swamp rock flavor. Have a good 'un....JH

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Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 6 Feb 2004 5:35 am

Ditto to all of the above! My personal vote would go to Buddy Cage, of course. A true innovator who ventured into areas where others didn´t dare to go, years ahead of his time, and with impeccable tone and technique. I got into country rock somewhat late, being probably a few years younger than most of the posters here, but it was listening to NRPS with Buddy what finally made me decide to pick up steel myself. He turned me on to other influences too, like Charleton (who was his own personal hero). BC is actually a lot more "old school" than most folks realize, who see him just as the hippie country rock steeler. He´s a lot more than that and will always be my #1 (with Mooney coming to a close second)
Someone mentioned Tom Brumley, another big favorite of mine - IMO for him the country rock thing was more like a period, let´s not forget he had already written country history with Buck Owens. I talked to him in St.Louis about it and he said something like, he just played what the music called for at the time. Anyway, he did it exceptionally well.

Regards, Joe H.

Rick Jackson · Post by **Rick Jackson** » 6 Feb 2004 6:18 am

Red Rhodes was the man that I caught the bug from after listening to Michael Nesmith and The First National Band. i've been hooked since...rj

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 6 Feb 2004 6:58 am

Not to urinate on anyone's cornflakes BUT . . .
. . . WE don't induct anyone into the HOF. All WE can do is nominate.

And, BTW, those are my heros too, but I think it's wise to keep a realistic view on what the Forum or the steel playing public can do or how much influence they can exert on the nominating committee. There is a process. If someone submits a nomination form, that's about all we can do.

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Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 6 Feb 2004 7:13 am

I'd like to add Skunk Baxter with Steely Dan to the list. He's the one that got me hooked.

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Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 6 Feb 2004 7:58 am

Skunk is a good addition as is Al Perkins..

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 6 Feb 2004 9:23 am

Remember the blue album by Judy Collins. When I heard Buddy emmons play "Someday Soon" it changed my life..........

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 6 Feb 2004 9:45 am

I agree with all-but I think Cage is maybe the main candidate of the strictly rock edged guys, mostly because of the influential and groundbreaking groups he played with. He's best known for the NRPS, and Lord knows that would be enough, but many forget that he was one of the true PIONEERS of Country rock with Great Speckeled Bird (Ian and Sylvia.) And prior to that he did 5 albums with Anne Murray, and could easily have wound up as a member of The Band had he not gotten the call from Garcia.

The case against him will be 1: His politics-he's never been afraid to step on toes. Some are still sore. 2: He doesn't work the steel show circuit at all, and does not do instrumentals. He considers himself a sideman, not a soloist per se.

I do intend to start a file to get him nominated, but it will need to be a pretty thourough job, and all of your comments will be needed, so I'm saving this thread, and with your permission will be contacting you later. But if one is going in (aside from Black, who as b0b pointed out wasn't strictly a rocker) Cage I think has a good shot, or at least a compelling case.

JB

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[This message was edited by JB Arnold on 06 February 2004 at 09:46 AM.]

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 6 Feb 2004 11:53 am

All these guys are from a time of awakening for my generation. I'm 52. I use to see Rusty Young playing steel in rock bands in teen clubs around Denver at least a couple years before Poco. Rusty was never my big inspiration to play, but I did see him play steel years before I ever heard a country shuffle. I was 14 or 15.

What the PSG needs now is to have a few young guys bringing it into the music of today's generation. Country influenced or otherwise. I guess R.Randolph is one of these guys.

Yeah I think the "Hippy" steel will definitely go down as a major turning point in the history of our instrument.[This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 06 February 2004 at 11:54 AM.]

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 6 Feb 2004 1:32 pm

Ill second,third,whatever all the above.
They are all my heros and influences.
And FWIW, Neil Flanz gets my vote for all around nice guy!

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Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 6 Feb 2004 8:23 pm

Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. HELP Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. I CAN'T STOP Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia.

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Nate LaPointe · Post by **Nate LaPointe** » 6 Feb 2004 8:36 pm

Some other issue at hand Mike?

David Rupert · Post by **David Rupert** » 6 Feb 2004 10:33 pm

Yes...Hippie Steelers!!!

These guys, are my main influence, for becoming a steel player. I'm 45, so...that explains that.

Ditto...to Jeff Lampert, Joe Henry, JB, etc.

Buddy Cage, is my MAIN influence. I can't think of anyone else...who plays like he does. A totally original player!! Such a great & unique style. Extremely fast, & very tasteful. Yes, he does have a "Happy Sound," as someone mentioned. What a great player...as well as a great friend of mine. JB, do whatever you can...to help Buddy get into the SGHOF. He deserves it!!!

Other main influences of mine are: Rusty Young, John David Call, Bobby Black, Tom Brumley, Dan Dougmore, etc.

Buddy Cage w/The Brooklyn Cowboys, playing his HILT.

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David "DJ" Rupert

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[This message was edited by David Rupert on 06 February 2004 at 10:42 PM.]

Ron Castle · Post by **Ron Castle** » 7 Feb 2004 5:56 am

Yep... If I had a vote, I'd vote for Mr. Cage,
still an incredibly inventive player.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 7 Feb 2004 8:32 am

Did Mr. Cage ever recover his stolen Hilt guitar?