Earliest Memories About Pedal Steel

Dave A. Burley · From: Franklin, In. USA

As I sit here today, my mind wonders back many years to my earliest memories of the pedal steel guitar.
Leroy Kocher of Muskegon, Michigan had a Multi-chord. When he first hooked that up, I thought that I was hearing music from heaven. I had never heard anything so beautiful in person.
This was the late fifties.
As time went on in the late fifties and early sixties, the first pedal steel player's I heard were Ron Lawrence and Bill Kennedy, both pedal steel pioneers in the Muskegon area.
MId-sixties found me playing around with a
Fender 400 at Larry Updykes house. Gees...I sure liked it and it came fairly easy to me on a very amateur scale.
I had a chance to trade my stratocaster for a 400, which I did, and I took the steel on my gig that weekend, using it full time. I'm not too sure that the band members appreciated it but I sure did.
I recall Frank Rogers father, Frank Rogers, Sr., calling me a poor man's Pete Drake. I really took that as a compliment. Frank Sr. was a very good guitar player and influenced many guitar players with his inovations and playing in the sixties and seventies.
Oh if we could only have some of those days back, the days spent at the Rogers Music Store in Muskegon in Mic McClains little mall.
Everyone hung around there enjoying the impromtu jam sessions by anyone that had the desire.
I recall Frank starting on the steel playing pedal steel with no shoes. BOy he's come a long way.
Thanks for the memories, Evelyn, Frank and the rest of the Rogers family from that era.
Dave Burley

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

Seeing Rusty Young playing in a mid 60's Denver teen club in Denver. He was playing "lead" guitar on steel in his band, the "Boenzee Crique".

Whoa...trippy!

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Jimmy Day on the Everly Brothers records "Lucille" and "I Wonder If I Care As Much".

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

OFF TOPIC:

Dave - I wonder which is worth more now. That old Strat or the old 400.

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

Korea, 1968--2nd Division, north of Seoul--I was at the service club and, after getting a book, went to find a quiet room. Opening the door, here was a buddy of mine, one Dave Woury, with an old Fender cable-drive rig.

Forgot the book immediately.

James
SB LDG

Ricky Littleton · From: Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Cocoa Beach, Florida USA

in the mid 1960's. At the Alabama state fair in Birmingham, Country Boy Eddie (WBRC channel 6) and his band were playing in a tent. The guy playing the steel was Dobro Dave. I had never seen one for real before and my little eyes were transfixed. My Mom told me that was a steel guitar and the prettiest sound a musical instrument could make. I sat there for the longest and she just sat there with me. There were hay bales around and the crowd was small so we just sat there and she just sat and watched me watch this dude play this remarkable gadget.

I know now it was a Sunburst Fender and everytime I see one on Ebay or anywhere, I can see my dear Mom's smile. It took a lot of years, but she finally watched me play. She knew she had planted that seed and patiently waited until I did something with it. The first song I ever played for her was "Faded Love". She was born just outside Texarkana in Redlick Texas, so what else could I do but play that one for her.

While I was learning, she'd sit there and you'd would've thought I was the Grand Master by the look on her face

When I play, no matter when and/or where, I play for her.

Gotta love them Momma's!!!

God Rest Her Precious Soul...

Ricky...

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Boss Comp./Sustain, Ibanez Auto-Wah, PX4 Pandoras Box

[This message was edited by Ricky Littleton on 19 November 2004 at 01:20 PM.]

Dave A. Burley · From: Franklin, In. USA

Lee asked:.....OFF TOPIC:
Dave - I wonder which is worth more now. That old Strat or the old 400.

Lee,
No doubt that Fender would be worth a bit but I wish I had both the guitar and 400 back.
That Fender came back home to me a few years after that trade and it was stolen out of my house.
I had went to Nashville for a few weeks and when I came home, the case was still there. I never thought to look because I hadn't been playing it. I was playing my 1966 Jazzmaster.
When I did decide to pick the ole Fender again, I opened the case and it was gone.
Never did find it and it was an early one.
Dave A. Burley

Butch Foster · From: Pisgah, Alabama, USA

Ricky, I remember Dobro Dave and his dobro and psg playing. Do any of you remember a player Eddie called Joe Kapo(sp.). I thought he sounded real good. A fellow named Lee Hood would do those tear-jerking ballods and IMO Joe did a fine job backing on psg.

Jennings Ward · From: Edgewater, Florida, R.I.P.

First memories of pedal steel guitar, Bud Iisacs playing on Webb Pierce's recording of "SLOWLY". Not long after that Bud had a very big HIT with " THE WALTZ YOU SAVED FOR ME".This was in the very early 50's. the res is history....Bud went on to record for RCA and worked for Red Foley on the Opry and in Spingfield ,Mo. On the Ozark Jubelee...I have several reissue of Buds work that I baught from him and his wife Jerry at the ISGHOF, in St. Louis, No...Let me tell you they are delightfull and lovely people, and his music is just as up todate now as it was almost 50 years ago. Bud WAS, IS , A MASTER, GENIUS OF THE PSG. Jerrys voice in her 70's was as clear as a bell.. I Love both of them. And let me say again, " THANK YOU BUD FOR MANY YEARS OF THE BEST MUSIC AND MUSIANSHIP.......... JENNINGS

WE PLAY STEEL FOR THE BEAUTIFULL ANGELIC SOUND !!!!!!!!!!!!!........

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

1962, I wanted to buy a guitar. my father took me to a store in Fitchburg, Mass. They had a Fender pedal guitar, we had never seen anything like it. We bought a Gibson 6-string Melody Maker, that looked more familiar.

[This message was edited by chas smith on 19 November 2004 at 06:23 PM.]

Ricky Littleton · From: Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Cocoa Beach, Florida USA

Butch:

Yeah, it was always Country Boy Eddie while my dad got ready to go to work. Then there was the "Morning Show" with Pat Gray (sexy weather lady) and Tom York. Sometimes Harry Mabry or Bill Bolen would be there too.

I miss those shows, and this whole thread is really making me think about things.

I also remember my first "big" steel player; it was a guy by the name of "Hughey" playing with Conway Twitty (also at the Alabama state fair). Was years later, but what a treat. Anthony Armstrong Jones was the opening act. During the Conway segment, I was cracking up because of the antics of Conways drummer "Pork Chop". But I stood silent and attentive as John ripped out on "Johnny B Good".

Where'd the time go??? I bet John doesn't remember this...(???) (hoping for a comment here from Mr. JH himself!!!)

Ricky...

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Boss Comp./Sustain, Ibanez Auto-Wah, PX4 Pandoras Box

[This message was edited by Ricky Littleton on 19 November 2004 at 06:56 PM.]

Mike Cass · Posted 20 Nov 2004 7:55 am

1959,sitting in the front seat of my Dad's 54 Ford Sunliner,Robin's egg blue w/white sunroof,3 on the tree,(for you gearheads)

The dashboard radio was playing City Lights by Ray Price. That sound has never left my head to this day. And speaking of Day,

Colm Chomicky · From: Kansas, (Prairie Village)

Think I was maybe 8 years old or so, sometime in the 1960's, either the Johnson or Altoona Pa, TV station had an afternoon country show with a local band. But the steel guitarist seemed to occupy the whole TV screen. In my young mind I could not figure out how that thing worked and wondered if that slinding bar was a big magnet that made the strings play !

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

I remember when I was nine years old back in 1989 and hearing and seeing a steel guitar live for the first time at a show in Myrtle Beach, SC called The Carolina Opry. I sat in front of the steel, it was a Zum, and that's when I started loving the sound. I also remember the year 1996 because I'd gone to a music store when I was still figuring out what instrument to play, and in the middle of the store, sitting side by side, were two pedal steel guitars. I think one of them was a Fender. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10

[This message was edited by Brett Day on 02 May 2006 at 01:20 AM.]

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

In the early 60's Lawrence Welk was watched every week at our house (Sunday night I believe). I remember as a young kid being fascinated by all the instruments, but the one that blew me away was the time they featured the pedal steel. I think it was the regular guitar player playing it, and I loved the sound instantly. The cherry on the cake was when he made the steel actually talk!

Seems like steel guitar has always been around in my life. It astonishes me how many people come up and say "What is that thing?".

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Heroes, Buddy, Jimmy, Neil, Pete, Roy,
Jerry, If you need laast names shame on you.
Dad bought me a flat top Harmony mohogany, we put a nut under the bridge, and off to music lessons I went. Some time later a small amp, and a Regal elec. and I was in high cotton. Wiah I knew then what I know now. That is how much I don't know. I think I would have tried harder.

ernie

Dale Thomas · From: West Branch, IA

In the late forties, about the age of 9, I heard Eddy Arnold's "Mommy Please Stay Home With Me" and "It's A Sin." I had to find out what that instrument was. I did,
and was playing one in a 6 piece band at age 12.

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Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Dave Burley-My memories were in Northern Michigan from Traverse City .Petoskey, Conway, Bayview, Harbor Springs
Mackinaw,Rogers City, Afton and Alpena. I played in every one of them towns. Too bad I didn't get to southern Michigan to meet you. But your name does sound familiar from way back in my memory, about 1948 to 1960. Where did the time go? ....al.(

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

In 1959 I joined the Columbia Record Club. One of the first albums I bought was a Ray Price album with "City Lights" on it. At the time no one knew who the steel guitarist was. I didn't hear the name Jimmy Day for about 10 years.

Roger

Ben Rubright · From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA

Tim:

Just for the record, the steel player on the Lawrence Welk show was indeed the guitar player, Buddy Merrill. He left the show for a while and a new guitar player, Neil Lavang, was hired. Buddy later returned, and Lawrence kept both of them...ala Hank Thompson (Bob White and Pee Wee Whitewing)

Ben Rubright · From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA

In the early 50's in western Pa. Abbie Neal and her Ranch Girls had a daily show on WDTV (later KDKA-TV). It is the first time that I remember seeing anyone play a steel guitar. I had heard the sound before, but she brought it all together for me. Not only was she a fine steel player, but she was also a champion fiddle player as well. A fine lady. We lost her this year at the age of 85.
http://www.lou-christie.com/abbie.html

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

Somewhere around the mid 50s my dad put a homemade pedal on his D-6 Fender. I remember playing the 78 record over and over of Jimmy Dickens "We Could" with Walter Haynes,Crazy Arms,Slowly,and Sweet Dreams by Faron Young. At the age of 10 I was hooked on pedal steel. The first pedal steel I sat down to was a friends Gibson. In the early 60s I liked to go watch Sonny Curtis on his Fender 1000 and Jimmy Crawford on his Sho-Bud. What a treat.I finally bought an almost new Fender 400 with 6 pedals.

Scott Henderson · From: Camdenton, Missouri, USA

when I was about 8 i was into bluegrass...i was a banjo player. One day I walked into the local music store and there set the owner behind a sho-bud double neck. I was totally mesmoreized by it. Had to have one. took me six years before I bought my first maverick. been hooked ever since.

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

Gregg Thacker · From: Pasadena, Texas, USA

The Steel Player for Lawrence Welk was non other than Buddy Merrell. He was one of two Guitar Players. They tape a show with a Hawaiian Theme. That is the one where I learned that it was Buddy.

Gregg

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If it don't have a Steel, it ain't real!

Joe W. Gilbert · From: Minco, Oklahoma, USA

In the late 40's, early 50's, lived in the resort town of Medicene Park, Ok. Across the creek from us was the grand hotel which had outdoors speakers. Late at nite, early morning, I remember hearing George Morgan singing "Room full of roses" with the haunting sound of steel in the background. That sound still stays with me. Never knew who played the steel but it was HEAVENLY.
Joe W

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