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Topic: Current Asleep @ The Wheel steeler? |
Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2004 1:09 pm |
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| I haven't seen them for a long time but just heard from a friend that the steeler really stole the show. Who might that be? |
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Larry Schoppe
From:
Lake Jackson, Texas, USA
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Rick Garrett
From:
Tyler, Texas
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Posted 17 Oct 2004 4:29 pm
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I saw them here in Tyler a few weeks back. Eddie Rivers is their steel man and he played a Fender Stringmaster. Sounded real fine too. Really great Western Swing.
Rick |
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Mark Krutke
From:
Tomahawk, WI USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2004 7:55 pm
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There's quite a story to Eddie's remarkable ability:
Eddie is a humble man. In the early 70's he tried out as a steel player for a good local band in the Fond du lac, WI area, and knew the old Hank Williams licks quite well, but that was about the majority of his knowledge at that time. He wanted to be a part of the group....They said thanks, but no thanks.
This made Eddie VERY determined to be a better player insomuch that he started taking lessons from Ralph Hanzel of Milwaukee, and searched out and executed many licks and phrasings of lap and pedal steel, from Byrd to Boggs to Emmons (calling some of them up asking them "how did you do that lick"), to create a style that will certainly compliment The Wheel.
Eddie practiced heavily throughout the 70's and 80's (to the point where his blocking ring finger would have to heal because it became raw and got infected from continuous woodshedding). He blocks with the first knuckle of the ring finger, hugging the 4th finger against the ring finger. His bar slant capability is astounding.
His specialty and favorite type of music is Western Swing, and he came to the pinnacle of that venue when Ray Benson asked him to join the group. He thought it was a prank phone call when Ray called, and mentioned to me that his wife was very influential in his going with The Wheel. Jim Lutz, who posts here occasionally, also played with Eddie up here in Wisconsin.
I'm so glad Eddie's in the mainstream, so many more people can hear his Western-Swing steel!
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www.authenticrecording.com |
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Tom Moorman
From:
Decatur, GA USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2004 7:00 am
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| I heard Eddie Rivers on Wayne Hancock’s Swing Time live CD. He blew me away. He is all over this recording. I checked out Asleep at the Wheel’s site to see when thy might be heading my way. I was pleasantly surprised to see Eddie as the current steel guitarist. Another great in a long line of great steel players for the Wheel. |
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John Poston
From:
Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2004 11:14 am
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| I saw the Western Box Turtles a few years back at the Bayview Bandwagon. It was a fantastic show and one of the best times I've ever had seeing live music. |
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