Mike Perlowin in St Pete Times - Review

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Jul 2006 2:15 am

There is a story in today's St Petersburg (Fl) Times on Mike and his fantastic albums.

Here is the link. http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/23/Floridian/Pedaling_classical_mu.shtml

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 23 Jul 2006 3:24 am

"Pedaling classical music"--finally, a review befitting the music. Thanks, Jack.

The times they are a-changin'. One day, it won't have to be all country. The next album, referred to in the article, promises to be great. I can't wait, but I will.

Peddling this music does seem to be the problem. Wait til he hits the stage.

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 23 Jul 2006 4:41 am

VERY nice article, Mike!!!!

But they didn't mention your star-studed performance in Mesa doing G-L-O-R-I-A!! One I'll never forget - Mike and the Mikettes!

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 23 Jul 2006 5:05 am

I think that Mike is a pioneer in this application of the psg. If you don't read the article, his CDs are available here on the "Forum Catalog". Thanks for all your work Mike that has helped so many others.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 23 Jul 2006 6:25 am

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 23 Jul 2006 10:23 am

they didn't mention your star-studed performance in Mesa doing G-L-O-R-I-A!! One I'll never forget - Mike and the Mikettes!

I'm glad you enjoyed it donna, because nmest year, when I do it again (it has become my theme song) I want YOU to join us on stage.

Just think, when I become a famous superstar on the classical music circuit and an arrogant jerk, you can all say you knew me when I was a nobody and an arrogant jerk.

Seriously, When I first started doing this, I was afraid that the steel guitar community would reject my stuff because it's so far removed from country music. But after the initial shock wore off, I've had a trememdous amount of support from juat about everybody, and I want you to all know that I really appreciate it.

Now, who wants to volunteer to be a Mike-ette?

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Jul 2006 1:52 pm

Great article; congratulations Mike. I'm curious as to how and why it got published in St. Petersburg of all places...

Oh, and I'm not quite sure what to say about his remark about "... the inherent cheesiness of the instrument" as part of its charm, but I can't let it go unnoticed! [This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 23 July 2006 at 02:52 PM.]

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 23 Jul 2006 2:19 pm

Over on the Classical board the kids are all saying that Mike Perlowin is the greatest steel player of all time.
I try to educate them about the real "greats", alas, to no avail.
It's like they have put Mike P. on some kind of pedestal, awing at his every gesture.

[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 23 July 2006 at 03:20 PM.]

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 23 Jul 2006 2:25 pm

Jim, the author just happened to come across this review in this classical music magazine:
http://www.perlowinmusic.com/reviews12.html

and became curious and bought both CDs from b0b. In addition to the 2 CDs that are available, I also sent him some rough mix of some things from my current recording project.

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 23 Jul 2006 2:34 pm

Over on the Classical board the kids are all saying that Mike Perlowin is the greatest steel player of all time.

Uh Oh. I think Im in big trouble.

Seriously, that probably is going to happen, but if it does, I will make it a point to talk about all the truly great players, past and present, on whose shoulders I'm sitting.

It bothers me when the deadheads say that about Jerry Garcia, or when the Beatle fans say that George Harrison was the world's greatest sitar player. If the classical music people (who can be just as ignorant) start saying that about me, I will do my best to set them streight.

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Jul 2006 3:13 pm

Seriously, that probably is going to happen

Um, Mike... I'm not sure that's what you meant to say. (Only your shrink knows for sure.)

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 23 Jul 2006 3:59 pm

Mo Jim, that's exactly what I meant to say. People in the classical music community are just as capable of the same blind ignorance as deadheads.

Without any false modesty, I am not a great steel player. I'm adaquet by professional standards, but that's all. I'm not anywhere near in the same league as people like Buddy, Lloyd or Paul.

But already, a local classical music teacher became convinced that I am one of the world's greatest players, and didn't believe me when I told him otherwise. Mind you that this is a man who knows everything there is to know about Mozart and Beethoven, but had never heard of Buddy Emmons, and didn't know the difference between a pedal and a non pedal steel guitar.

I invited him to come to the Steel jam last April and he heard David Wright and Al Vescovo and J.D. and all the other great players there, and he was flabbegasted at how good they were. Like the deadheads, he had no idea of what these people or the steel guitar can do.

This man now understands that although I choose to play classical music, and have enough chops to pull it off, that does not make me a great virtuoso, or put me in the same class as those players we all idolize. He still admires me, but now he knows the difference between Me and J.D.

I really do see this as a potential issue I will have to deal with if I become sucessful in my goal of becomeing a classical music artist. And if that happens I intend to pay homage to the REAL heros of the steel guitar every chance I get.

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 23 July 2006 at 05:02 PM.]

Post by **b0b** » 23 Jul 2006 4:24 pm

I wondered about that rash of orders from Florida.

Good article. Congrats, Mike.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 23 Jul 2006 4:43 pm

If these guys Buddy Loyd and JD Paul are so good how come they don't write about THEM in the classical pages huh ?

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 23 Jul 2006 6:11 pm

Sum peepul say that the moosik Ray Price n Ernest Tubb did wuz "classic?" Oh n all bet Mozart n Stravinsky n them guys caym frum one or another "country", to. Where elss wud they cuym frum?

Bob Taillefer · Post by **Bob Taillefer** » 24 Jul 2006 6:04 am

Bravo Mike! Very nice article!

Regards Bob

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 24 Jul 2006 1:40 pm

Congrats on the good press Mike! You're making a difference in the steel guitar world. Keep up the good work!

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 24 Jul 2006 3:01 pm

Thanks guys.

Did anybody notice that the only other steel guitarist mentioned in the article was Jerry Garcia?

What an honor for me to be mentioned in the same article as the world's greatest steel guitarist.

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 24 Jul 2006 8:09 pm

Mike-Thanks for helping to show your creative and innovative playing in an expansion of the possibilities of the Pedal Steel Guitar.

The news article published is very complimentary to you and the Steel Guitar. Keep up the good work...al

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

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Jul 2006 8:34 pm

Fine article,
and a nice "rash of orders" too.

This can do nothing but good for the steel.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 Jul 2006 6:46 am

The audience for Mike's music isn't steel players, it's classical music lovers. I think that Florida has plenty of those!

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 25 Jul 2006 7:41 am

I truly enjoyed reading this. I especially liked the distinction between being "hard to play" and "hard to learn". I've been friends with Mike since I first joined this forum many years ago and his passion for music has always come through.

Mike, I hope you make your dream come true someday soon. I hope to see you at Scotty's again soon.

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HagFan

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 25 Jul 2006 9:07 am

The audience for Mike's music isn't steel players, it's classical music lovers.

This is true in the sense that my ultimate goal is not to introduce classical music to steel players, but rather introduce the steel to classical music lovers.

But as Ron pointed out, we are all friends here. We read each others words, we sometimes send E-mail, we meet at the convention or at local events, etc.

The classical music audience is still an abstract concept. The steel guitar community is family. That not something to be taken lightly

I play different music than most of you guys, and you're not my primary audience, but this community is a big part of my life, and your friendship and support for my efforts really meas a lot to me.

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site