Lets induct the "Hippie" Steelers into the SGHOF

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 7 Feb 2004 9:01 am

Cage will never be in the hall of fame because of his own attitude. It takes more than playing ability and experience to be there, and rightly so. Maybe he could come on
the forum and talk to some of us little people sometime instead of using JB Arnold as his psychic medium. That would be a start. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 07 February 2004 at 09:07 AM.][This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 07 February 2004 at 09:15 AM.][This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 07 February 2004 at 09:15 AM.][This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 07 February 2004 at 09:22 AM.]

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 7 Feb 2004 9:50 am

No, the HILT is gone-never really been any trace at all, not even a sniff. Buddy is still looking at several designs and considering which way he wants to go.

Kevin-there are MANY HOF members who do not participate in the forum. And a few who have someone else post for them. Buddy's not alone there. He doesn't join because a)he's the kind that would get hooked and be here hours a day b)see all the reasons why many of the larger names don't actively post. Are you sure this isn't a personal issue having to do with Buddy backing away from that fund drive?

For the record, Buddy's not hiding from anyone. If you've got a question or a comment he's very personable, and can easily be reached by e-mail at buddy@buddycage.net. He's always glad to talk steel music in general, and share his experience. (FYI, he neither reads nor writes tab, so you'll get a referral to either myself or Dick Meis for tab questions or requests.) He loves to meet folks at his gigs, ESPECIALLY forum members, as I think you'll find from anyone who's ever been to one of his shows. (Do not request Steel Guitar Rag!

) I think as with all folks, if you give him an attitude, you'll get one back. That's no different from anyone else around here either.

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

[This message was edited by JB Arnold on 07 February 2004 at 09:56 AM.]

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 7 Feb 2004 1:27 pm

Let's not forget Herb Steiner's work with Micheal Murphy"Cosmic Cowboy"Jerry Jeff Walker Etc.Herb was an idol to all off us young steel players living in Austin at the time.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 7 Feb 2004 1:32 pm

Still is!!

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 7 Feb 2004 6:06 pm

I was thinking about Steiner today---that whole-"Smoke-this-we're-from-Texas" crowd of musicians were ALL first rate.
And an old girlfriend of mine, back in the early 80's, turned me on to an album by a band called "Timothy P. and Rural Route 3," with Forumite Jerry (Muttonhead) Erickson on steel. What a great band that was!

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 7 Feb 2004 6:13 pm

Didn't Hank DiVito play steel for Emmy Lou Harris? I always liked the steel playing on her albums. I think it was Hank DiVito...any help?

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 7 Feb 2004 8:30 pm

Mark, yes it was Hank DiVito on the earlier Emmylou albums - later on Steve Fishell joined the Hot Band.

Neil Flanz played with Gram and Emmylou on the "Fallen Angels" tour. There is a live cd from that tour that is a "must have" - Neil just played the heck out of that gig.

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 8 Feb 2004 8:26 am

Gee Whiz, I think anyone from my age bracket(late 40s} would pick Buddy Cage hands down. It s only here among other steel players that the story changes. Hes the most famous steel player that I know of. Bob (just my 2 beans)( I dont know if the Hall of Fame is really about having been famous though? )

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 8 Feb 2004 2:57 pm

Hi Bob
No, the HOF is not about being famous, not at all really. One of the major criteria is what impact you've had on the instrument and what you've done to advance the "cause" if you will. Cage's impact on the instrument is undeniable, he was an absolute groundbreaker in the country-rock genre, in fact participated in it's birth, and the word "visionary" is not out of bounds. he took the instrument to a lot of new places, such as Sly Stone's band, not to mention Dylan.

Advancing the cause-well he clearly brought steel to the attention of a huge group of players who otherwise would never have heard it, and inspired a whole new generation of players. The HOF committee asks about courses and conventions tho, and Buddy really does neither. His contributions are outside the insular convention world-but he sure brought a lot of new folks into the tent.

He doesn't play the conventions because he won't play the same old stuff everyone else does, ("anything I would play Charleton has already done better.") and when he plays what he wants-something off the beaten track-there's a ruckus. He prefers, if he goes, to just listen.

Does he belong? Yes. When you open the doors for the country rockers, he ought to be the first one in. Can we pull it off? well, maybe. Politics will have something to do with that, although Cage has more respect than you might think.

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 8 Feb 2004 6:39 pm

JB, I agree that he DOES belong. Your description is accurate. He is what you say, a tremendous influence on a generation of steel guitarists.

Post by **Joey Ace** » 8 Feb 2004 6:48 pm

"The HOF committee asks about courses and conventions tho, and Buddy really does neither."

The same is also true of "Santo and Johnny" who were inducted in 2002. IMO, Cage deserves it, so does Jerry.

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 8 Feb 2004 7:58 pm

Ya know, I hadn't thought about that Joey, but you're right. On Garcia tho, I don't think even Cage would agree with you.

"He WASN'T a very good steel player. But he WAS Garcia, and he was able to do some things that really shone"

and

" If I HAD been the one who taught him how to play, he'd have been a much better player..."

I don't think even the most rabid Deadhead, and I'm one, would suggest Garcia belongs in that company. It wasn't his primary instrument, mostly a hobby he had to give up to go back to his day gig. If you want to put garcia in a hall of fame, the one he belongs in isn't even guitar, but Banjo. Few remember, that was really his primary instrument, and he was at one time considered the best young talent in the country.

------------------
Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 8 Feb 2004 8:14 pm

Maybe there should be another category for 'promoter of' or 'major influence', it would open up a long list of other people, especially B0b!

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Regards, Craig

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 8 Feb 2004 9:59 pm

First, regarding Jerry Garcia, (seriously this time), he was a great guitar player, and an icon for hundreds of thousands of people, but he was not a great steel player, and he himself was the first to admit it. He got the CSNY session because of his other accomplishments, not because of his steel playing.

He acquitted himself well on TYC, but I think he did so because being the fine guitarist he was, he instinctively had a gentle touch and was able to produce a good sound and play with a degree of feeling, regardless of the extent of his knowledge of our instrument. I also think that what he did on the tune probably represented the total extent of that knowledge.

Second, regarding Buddy Cage, he DID play at the convention a few years ago. He came with a rock band and performed at midnight so the people who didn't want to hear him could leave. Consequently 90% of the attendees walked out on him, and Scotty received all sorts of complaints, including a few demands for refunds from people who were offended because he played rock and roll.

I was one of the about 200 people who stayed to hear him, and he was terrific. The people who left missed something special.

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 9 Feb 2004 7:36 am

That was the ruckus I mentioned. That kind of attitude among the masses is why it will be hard to get him in. It will take a little courage on the part of the Committee to do it. But I plan to put together a package to give them a chance.

JB

------------------
Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 9 Feb 2004 7:53 pm

JB, I will support your effort with Cage in any way that I can.

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 10 Feb 2004 7:13 pm

Thanks Kevin

I'm going to talk to some folks in Dallas and see what I hear. I'll let you know.

JB

------------------
Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Rick Lane · Post by **Rick Lane** » 10 Feb 2004 7:45 pm

ONE MORE,
JOHN McFEE
From the DOOBIE BROTHERS,SOUTHERN PACIFIC
He plays a great version of "STEAMER LANE
BREAKDOWN" and "SOUTH CITY MIDNIGHT LADY"
on the FAREWELL TOUR LP

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 10 Feb 2004 7:53 pm

"anything I would play Charleton has already done better."

There aren't but "one" players that couldn't say that, if that many...

EJL

Incidentally, I'd support Mr's Cage Garcia, Young, or other "hippy steelers" for the HOF.[This message was edited by Eric West on 10 February 2004 at 07:56 PM.]

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 10 Feb 2004 9:01 pm

Jerry Garcia and Rusty Young.

Pat Burns · Post by **Pat Burns** » 11 Feb 2004 10:44 am

...I don't know about Hall of Fame, but what the "hippies" did was to crossover into another genre and influence people who otherwise wouldn't have been exposed to steel guitar, because they were breaking new ground outside of established country or western swing music...

...Al Perkins certainly belongs in this company...

Chris Erbacher · Post by **Chris Erbacher** » 11 Feb 2004 2:47 pm

i don't really know the formal definition of a "hippie", but i'm told i am one. that being said i think i qualify to add to this discussion. if it were up to me: jerry garcia, john mcfee, buddy cage, ben keith, rusty young, and tom brumley would be on my list. lately i have really been digging ben keith's playing on neil young's harvest album and tonite's the night. really sweet stuff.

Nate LaPointe · Post by **Nate LaPointe** » 11 Feb 2004 10:58 pm

Yes, Al Perkins for sure, his work with Gram and the Burrito Bros. was big introducing me to steel.

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 12 Feb 2004 7:22 am

Yeah, Al Perkins! I would about as soon hear him play as anyone. Recently (well, within the last 10 years...)he did some great playing on Jon Randall's CD, especially on "To Pieces". I hope none of these guys take any offense at the hippie steeler term. I doubt they would. Maybe "steelers from the hippie era" would be a better way to say it.

Pat Burns · Post by **Pat Burns** » 12 Feb 2004 6:48 pm

...maybe "alternative" steel players, since what they did was an alternative to Nashville country or Texas western swing when they were introducing it to all us alternative type people...

...Young, Cage, Keith, Bobby Black, Garcia, Sneaky Pete, JayDee, Pete Drake and others are what I heard, I wasn't into Nashville or swing as a young man...

...but it was Al Perkins with Steve Stills and Chris Hillman that really hooked me on the sound of the steel guitar...