Dick Gordon - Tulsa Steel Teacher

Jim Saunders · Post by **Jim Saunders** » 9 Nov 2004 6:41 am

Dick Gordon has been teaching steel, guitar, and bass in Tulsa for over 50 years and he's still going. I took lessons from him in the 50's and I've come to know several of his former students, including Randy Beavers and Chuck Halcomb. I'm curious who else may have taken lessons from Dick?
BTW, Randy obviously paid more attention to his lessons than I did. Anyone else?

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Emmons Legrande II, D10, Gibson Console Grande D8, Peavey Nashville 112, Peavey Nashville 400.

Earnie Sumerall · Post by **Earnie Sumerall** » 9 Nov 2004 1:30 pm

I was one of his first students when he moved to Tulsa from Oregon around 1947.

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 9 Nov 2004 2:27 pm

We had a family tradition with Dick Gordon. My Aunt and Uncle took from him when they were young. My Dad took from him before he was drafted into the Army. My Sister and I when we were little. I started with him in 1965 when I was 9 years old. Funny thing, he is like Dick Clark. It seems he never ages! It would be interesting to know how many people took lessons from him. I'm sure several thousand have passed through those doors on South Trenton. I can still recall his phone number by memory.

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Randy
http://hometown.aol.com/pulltightb/home.html

Jimmy T. Vaughn · Post by **Jimmy T. Vaughn** » 9 Nov 2004 2:42 pm

I have spent a few years with the humble Dick,love the man, he is one of a kind.
Jim Vaughn

Chuck Halcomb · Post by **Chuck Halcomb** » 9 Nov 2004 2:52 pm

When I took from Dick back in the 50's he also taught my brother who was very short at the time to play stand up base, and he, like me still plays.

It would seem obvious that Randy learned more than I did, but you know after almost 50 years of not playing to be able to get that ol' Console Grande out of the case and still manage to make music is a real testimate I think that that Man's ability to teach steel guitar.

Somehow he managed to teach me to use both my left and right hand to block, to do both forward and reverse slants and he did this without making me self conscious about it. Most impressive considering I was at the time a teenager who knew he knew everything.

Well worth the trip from Sand Springs over to Dick's house in Tulsa. I would say that more than anything this is going to make it possible for me to look forward to my retirement years. I even hear that they will be happy to have another steel guitar player out in Lubbock, Texas where I plan to go when I retire next year.

Hats off to Dick, one of my unsung heros.

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Remington Steel T-8 Steelmaster
Gibson Console Grande

Vic Lawson · Post by **Vic Lawson** » 16 Nov 2004 10:12 am

I took about a year of lessons from Dick in the mid 70's hope he's doing good.

Jim Saunders · Post by **Jim Saunders** » 19 Nov 2004 8:18 pm

I've heard through another of Dick's students that Dicky Overby was also taught by Gordon. Can anyone confirm this?

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Emmons Legrande II, D10, Gibson Console Grande D8, Peavey Nashville 112, Peavey Nashville 400.

[This message was edited by Jim Saunders on 19 November 2004 at 08:19 PM.]

Jim Saunders · Post by **Jim Saunders** » 7 Dec 2004 6:01 am

A present student of Dick Gordon, David Gibson, emailed me to let me know that yes Dick had Dickey Overbey as a student when Dickey was 12. Also Randy Beavers as Randy explained in his post.
Dick had printed out this series of posts and had them pinned to his wall.
Dick has surely taught thousands of steel players, many of whom may not read this Forum, but would want to wish him well.

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Emmons Legrande II, D10, Gibson Console Grande D8, Peavey Nashville 112, Peavey Nashville 400.

[This message was edited by Jim Saunders on 07 December 2004 at 07:18 AM.]

Chuck Halcomb · Post by **Chuck Halcomb** » 7 Dec 2004 8:14 pm

Jim - wouldn't it be great to visit that studio and hear Dick play that steel guitar once again; and listen to him explain just what you needed to do to 'get it right'.

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Remington Steel T-8 Steelmaster
Gibson Console Grande