Was Billy Walker a Steel Guitar Lover?

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 22 May 2006 11:00 pm

You bet he was! Several years ago I saw Billy hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree after the opry on WSM Radio. That night, Billy had the legendary Jimmy Day playing Steel for him. Talk about getting goose bumps. . . . when Jimmy played the kickoff for "As Time Slips Away" you could just see & feel the sensitivity. I could tell Billy loved those crying steel licks & fills as Jimmy played behind him.
Over the years Billy Walker had many great Steel players who worked for him. He loved our instrument and I can't help thinking that deep down he would have loved to be able to play one himself. Billy had visited my Radio Station numerous times and I got a chance to get to know him. I do know Billy was extremely fond of Bobbe Seymour. He told me a few times of the friendship & respect they had for one another.

Yes, we've truly lost one of the greats in country music. Billy Walker was a terrific entertainer, fine Christian person, and just a great all around human being. Billy, we'll miss you & you'll never be forgotton. Nick [This message was edited by Nick Reed on 23 May 2006 at 07:59 AM.]

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 23 May 2006 4:49 am

What I would like to know who was the steel player with Billy on his European trip in the summer of 1988. We were on a tour in Germany then and leaving home at the Hamburg airport, just standing by the terminal entrance with our guitar cases when a car pulled on front of us. Out stepped two guys, one somewhat familiar looking and the other carrying a steel guitar case. It was Billy and his steel player and we changed a few words, Billy was surprised to hear that a band from Finland was on tour in Germany and played classic honky tonk and hillbilly country. Incidentally on the same tour when leaving from Helsinki to Hamburg, we bumped into James Brown at the Helsinki airport

( but James had no steel player

)

Billy Johnson · Post by **Billy Johnson** » 23 May 2006 5:20 am

I was playing guitar with Billy at that time. Gene Oneal did some work with Billy at that time. We did a package tour with Wanda Jackson in Germany.
Hal Rugg did a weekend with us when Billy was in need of a sub. That was a ton of fun.
Stu Basore worked some too.
Ron Hogan did most of the steel gigs while I was with Billy. Rick Kornacker did a lot too.
Billy played the Willie picnic in 99 and Jimmy Day was there and played Billys set with us. (as did Willie)
Yes, Billy was a lover of the Steel.[This message was edited by Billy Johnson on 23 May 2006 at 06:21 AM.]

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 23 May 2006 6:41 am

A few years ago a promoter here in northern Indiana passed away. His name was Henry Aide. He was a great pedal steel player in the style of the late Curly Chalker. He and Billy had been friends for years and as I understand it, had promised each other years ago that whichever one passed first the one remaining would deliver the euology for the other. The family opted not to have the normal organ music played during the services and asked if I would play steel. It was one the hardest things I've ever done, but quite an honor. Prior to the services begining, Billy discussed with me his plans for delivering the euology and the songs he would sing at the close. Just him playing flat top and singing, with myself playing fills. It was a very powerful presentation.

I left there that day knowing in my heart that Billy Walker truly loved steel guitar and that he was a man of his word who was absolutely true to his friends.

Tommy Minniear

Ray Riley · Post by **Ray Riley** » 23 May 2006 7:07 am

Thanks Guys for sharing this , H e trully will be missed, but not as a lot of folks, forgotten. Ray

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 23 May 2006 7:24 am

Zane Beck also played steel with Billy years ago. I remember Zane talking about it, and I got a chance to talk with Billy once in Nashville early 1980s. I think Zane might have played steel with Billy while he done his national television show "The Billy Walker Country Carnival."

Sad news and yes Billy Walker was a Great Country Singer!

GOD bless and comfort his family and friends!

Terry Wood

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 23 May 2006 7:58 am

I found out several months ago Billy Walker had Pete Drake play on the tune "Faded Lights and Lonesome People" (from about 1964). I always wondered who did the steel on that tune becuase it had a unique style.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 23 May 2006 at 08:58 AM.]

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 23 May 2006 2:02 pm

I'm not really sure if Billy was a steel lover or not, but he treated steel players like kings, with great respect, but he did this with every everyone, regardless of the instrument the person was playing. I know Billy Johnson was one of his favorite lead players in the last years and loved his stage personality. Glenn Bryan was another favorite, but then again, Billy seemed to love all players that worked with him at all, and remembered them all by name. Must have been hundreds over the years, from the fifties up.

Nick Reed, Thank you for your statement about Billy, yes, we were very great friends, for 40 years.

Bobbe Seymour,

PS, treat everybody you know as good as possible,
You just never know,

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 23 May 2006 4:43 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>PS, treat everybody you know as good as possible,
You just never know,<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Such true words, Bobbe. Words that we all would do well to live by every day.

Terry, I don't know if it was Zane or not, but I remember watching that show on Willie Nelson's "Outlaw Music Channel", and Billy's steel player played a Sho~Bud steel.[This message was edited by Lem Smith on 23 May 2006 at 05:45 PM.]

Jack Shults · Post by **Jack Shults** » 23 May 2006 7:45 pm

My good friend, Elmer Laurance, from Mineral Wells, Texas used to play steel for Billy and they remained good friends through the years.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 23 May 2006 8:32 pm

Jerry Byrd did an album with him. He was always a great singer of great songs and one of the last olde time names at the Opry.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 24 May 2006 9:15 pm

I'm not sure about Billy being necessarily a steel-lover either, however; after finishing a show somewhere, he sent the rest of the band home and asked me to accompany him on to La. where I backed him as a Special Guest on the Louisana Hayride! Another great experience!
I worked with Billy for (2) wonderful-yrs. (’71 & ’72)
------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 25 May 2006 at 11:35 PM.] [This message was edited by John Bechtel on 25 May 2006 at 11:37 PM.]

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 25 May 2006 3:01 pm

Thanks for all the great responses, time for me to relax and take a aspirin for this headache. Nick[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 26 May 2006 at 09:44 PM.]

Bob Simmons · Post by **Bob Simmons** » 25 May 2006 7:35 pm

I played with Billy on two TV specials and he treated me great even tho I was nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! He was a real class act!

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 25 May 2006 8:39 pm

Nick, what we are all saying is Billy loved his fellow musicians (steel players) much more than the instrument itself. Billy loved the business, the people in it, and most of all, the great fans he had.
Relax Nick, take your medicine and come and see me.
Your buddy, Bobbe