Armless Man plays steel with his Feet

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 14 Apr 2006 5:46 pm

Spotted on eBay… bizarre old photo of an armless lap steel player. Anyone know who this might be? The seller of the photo is in Penn.

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Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 14 Apr 2006 6:00 pm

Don't know who he is, however, is that an Oscar Brown pickup on that steel?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 14 Apr 2006 6:27 pm

That's exactly what my lap steel playing sounds like!

"It sounds like you're playing with your feet in there!", she hollered from the next room.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mullen U-12, Excel 8-string Frypan, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 14 Apr 2006 6:31 pm

Feet Rogers? All kidding aside, there used to be a guy around these parts who would play two steels at once. One with his feet and one with his hands. And both feet and both hands were deformed!! His style was blues and he played lead with the hands and strummed a rhythm with the feet. I don't know his name or if he is still around.

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 14 Apr 2006 6:41 pm

wow. thats quite a feet!
probably lots of time to practice when you don't have to worry about the devil's playground.[This message was edited by ebb on 14 April 2006 at 07:49 PM.]

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 14 Apr 2006 6:50 pm

Gives new meaning to the term toe jam. Ain't we awful!

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 14 Apr 2006 7:03 pm

Just in-toe-nation? I'm not surprized that his tuners are pointing up. That's about the only way he'll get her in tune.

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 14 Apr 2006 7:06 pm

and no amplification. what a considerate neighbor

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 14 Apr 2006 7:19 pm

I did a one night fill-in bout 40/50 yrs. ago near Detroit,and the steel player had no right arm.Can't remember how he held the bar,but I think he had a ring on it.He used thumb and finger picks.Seems like he played PSG,not non-pedal.Sounded pretty darn good to me.I have great respect and admiration for people who move on despite a handicap.
Wonder what I might do if some misfortune struck me.Dunno.PJ

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 14 Apr 2006 7:26 pm

if someone still wants to play under these unfortunate circumstances(its not a hybrid zum with a hilton pedal and jagwire strings)then i'm sured they nailed it.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 14 Apr 2006 8:39 pm

I watched this gentlmen work several times back in the late 60's.I was only a kid then.But from what I remember. He mostly strummed the guitar. This fellow also drove himself around the country.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 14 Apr 2006 9:55 pm

Well at last! Something/Someone I am quite familiar with, being originaly from Pa. This man's name was Ray Meyers. In his shows at Hillbilly Parks around Pa., he drove his car around in the park and when on stage he would demonstrate his shaving abilities along with combing his hair and other usual day to day activities. And yes, he did mostly strum the steel. He was very popular around Pa. in the ’50's and ’60's, when I was around that area in my teenage~years!_____________________
[04/15/06] Well, after sleeping onthe subject, I remembered a few more facts about Ray Meyers. _ _ He was billed on his shows as “Ray Meyers, “The Armless Wonder”. He demonstrated his shaving techique, using a straight~edge razor and preparing it with a barber's leather strop.
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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 15 April 2006 at 10:39 AM.]

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 14 Apr 2006 10:06 pm

Wow! John, that's amazing. I had no idea that this man actually performed on stage. One of the photo(s) is signed either Ray or Roy, so this makes perfect sense.

This gentleman was also an avid bowler:

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Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 14 Apr 2006 10:25 pm

Searching the name Ray Meyers (or Myers) produced a lot of results, including this creepy site.

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Lynn Owsley · Post by **Lynn Owsley** » 14 Apr 2006 10:46 pm

Ray Meyers was a regular on the C and W circuits in the 50,60 and 70s in the Northeast.
He also had a house full of children who often came along with him and his wife.
He could saw a 2x4 with a hand saw in seconds then drive 20 penny nails into them,all with his feet.He was also very adept with a knife and fork,and he took great delight in paying for a meal...at the cash register he was amazing when he took out his wallet.
He appeared as a guest on the Grand Old Opry at times as he was a great friend of Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb.He always stole the show....
I think he lived somewhere near Kittaning,Pa.

George Plemons · Post by **George Plemons** » 14 Apr 2006 11:02 pm

I'm about a foot away from being good enough to play like that.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 15 Apr 2006 12:25 am

however, is that an Oscar Brown pickup on that steel

The pick-up is a Charlie Christian on a Gibson EH-185 (Pre 1941)

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Steel players do it without fretting

[This message was edited by basilh on 15 April 2006 at 01:25 AM.]

Jack Latimer · Post by **Jack Latimer** » 15 Apr 2006 5:01 am

This picture is a great motivator. I'm going to post this next to my steel and look at it during those times when I feel like giving up.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 15 Apr 2006 5:36 am

It's deja vous all over again!

Doug, you gotta start reading your own threads.

I posted that link on Ray Myers ("The Armless Wonder") in your Jerry Garcia thread a week ago.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 15 Apr 2006 5:54 am

I have never seen this man play steel but it very interesting. However, in the late 70's when I was in high school, they showed us a film of a lady who had no arms. She could drive a car and it even showed her making homemade biscuits, patting the dough with her feet. She then turned on the water and washed her feet off. I may be crazy but eating bread someone made with their feet is probably the last thing on the list I would want to eat. It does show that these people could overcome physical disabilities in life and still have some sort of normal life.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 15 Apr 2006 10:32 am

The player is indeed Ray Myers. I saw him
play and demonstrate his other abilities
when I was about fourteen. I remember his
playing consisted mostly of just chording and sliding. I thought he had been forgotten
until Bluegrass Unlimited magazine did an
extensive piece on him a few years back. The
article can probably be retrieved at www.info@bluegrassmusic.com.

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 15 Apr 2006 2:23 pm

Doug this may qualify for a new topic list, Musical Curiosity's.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 15 Apr 2006 3:50 pm

Thanks Donny and others. You mean I have to start reading my own threads?!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 15 Apr 2006 4:29 pm

The player is indeed Ray Myers

Little known fact....Ray had a brother, no arms, but also no legs.

His name was Matt.....

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 15 Apr 2006 4:38 pm

Matt also played steel guitar....with his butt.

His playing had a lot of bottom end....