What got YOU into the steel?

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 6 Aug 2006 9:54 pm

Here he is Jody!

[This message was edited by Mike Shefrin on 06 August 2006 at 10:55 PM.]

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 6 Aug 2006 10:07 pm

My dad was always interested in Hawaiian music and had a lot of old prewar 78s, so it must have been in the back of my mind from birth, but it was Don Helms and Jerry Byrd playing on Hank Williams's records that really turned me on. I was also very impressed with Jerry Byrd's playing on Marty Robbins' two Hawaiian LP and Elvis's Blue Hawaii LP.

Frederic Mabrut · Post by **Frederic Mabrut** » 6 Aug 2006 10:58 pm

When I was younger back in the 70',I was always fascinated by the mysterious sound emanating from Hank Williams recordings, but "I saw the light" when I heard for the first time the bouncing steel of Buddy Cage.
It was in 85. A couple of monthes later, I got my first steel...

Fred

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Franklin D10
Gibson CG 520

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 7 Aug 2006 12:36 am

Buddy Emmons, Rusty Young & Ry Cooder

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 7 Aug 2006 12:46 am

My Mom & Dad always listened to Country Music. We had all the Roy Acuff, and Hank Williams albums on 78's. Oh Lord I wish I still had them!

In 1959 some door to door salesmen came to our house in Santa Ana, California, and signed me up for Hawaiian Guitar lessons.

Over the years I have played many 6 strings, a double 8 Fender stringmaster, Fender 2000 pedal, ShoBud LDG and lately I also make my own lap Steels.

I thank God for that day the salesmen came to our door!

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 7 Aug 2006 2:58 am

1969---Dewitt Scott---and the wonderful lady that has been my wife since 1970.

Henning Kock · Post by **Henning Kock** » 7 Aug 2006 3:03 am

August 7, 2006.
American Forces Network in Bremen, Germany, played country music every afternoon, and I heard Tom Brumley with Buck Owens in 1964 play "Together Again". This got me interested in pedal steel guitar, and I went to Nashville 1971, Broadway, to buy a Sho-Bud. Duane Marss worked there, and he was my first teacher.
Denmark is the northern border to Germany.
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Henning

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pedal steel guitar:
www.henningkmusic.dk click "REJSE I USA 2005" and see text and 140 photos in 3 photo albums from Nashville, St. Louis and Branson in an automatic slide-show)
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www.steelguitardanmark.dk
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www.geocities.com/nashville/1520
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piano & keyboard:
www.sitecenter.dk/henning-kock
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Zum D-10 (owned by the late Hal Rugg 1982 to 1996, then rebuilt with two new changers and new .
pedal rack and pedals, and then owned by Henning Kock from 1996-),
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JCH S-10DB (owned by Lloyd Green 1988-2002, and then owned by Henning Kock from April, 2002-)

Dan Haas · Post by **Dan Haas** » 7 Aug 2006 4:21 am

When I was in my teens I took 6 string lessons at Roselyn's Music in Dover, Ohio. I was also in the Roeslyn's Music Band. Thats when I would here Rick Troyer play, what a great sound!!!!
So I decided to take lessons.
So now many years later I have started back in again.
Thanks Rick

John Parker · Post by **John Parker** » 7 Aug 2006 7:40 am

When I was a kid, maybe 6 or 7, I was listening to the radio one day and heard Bob Wills say, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Leon McAuliffe playing the 'Steel Guitar Rag.' Take it away, Leon, take it away." After that I started really listening for the steel in songs. Then one day I heard Buck Owens and Tom Brumley do "Together Again" and the hook was set. But due to my young age and family finances at the time, then having my own family and bills to pay as I got older, the fire smoldered until I was 44 yrs. old then I finally got started on the steel. Never played any other instrument either. I'm 50 now. (I noticed that 44 seems to be the magic age for some of us.)

Now I just need to find other musicians to play with so I can get better. There seems to be a shortage of musicians in my area willing to put up with a less than perfect player. I've found that practicing at home by yourself only gets you so far.

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John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400
Fender Steel King

[This message was edited by John Parker on 07 August 2006 at 09:08 AM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 7 Aug 2006 7:59 am

When I was a teenager in the 1940's, everyone in my music world played a guitar or fiddle and was so far advanced that I decided I needed to do something different to catch up.....so I ordered a single neck six-string "Hawaiian guitar" and amplifier from Sears.

I endured the insults about sounding "like a cat with his tail caught under a rocking chair" and the problem of having no one who had ever seen a steel guitar, much less knowing how to play one, until I eventually learned to play it well enough by listening to the radio that I started getting jobs with bands while I was still in high-school.

When I graduated from high-school I auditioned for and was hired to play steel in a full-time western-swing band.

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<img height=100 width=70 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/Scan10095.jpg>
www.genejones.com

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 7 Aug 2006 8:06 am

This album.

[This message was edited by Joe Alterio on 07 August 2006 at 09:07 AM.]

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 7 Aug 2006 8:23 am

These are all very cool stories guys.[This message was edited by Mike Shefrin on 09 August 2006 at 11:35 AM.]

Joe McHam · Post by **Joe McHam** » 7 Aug 2006 8:53 am

This legend of the Pedal Steel and he was just a super guy. We sure miss him.., http://in-loving-memories.com/Hal/hal.htm

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Joe in Houston
Excel Superb S-12 8/6

GaryHoetker · Post by **GaryHoetker** » 7 Aug 2006 9:18 am

Who wouldn't want to be a Mooney, Charleton, the Big E, and the many other greats for just one day in their lives? Some have persisted to master the instrument and in my way of thinking are the equivalent of a great surgeon. I've tried very hard but the reality is I'm just not that good. I'm going to keep trying.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 7 Aug 2006 9:35 am

Finally getting tired of faking steel sounds on guitar. Why do that when you can have the real thing? Something I continue to remind lead guitar players as they play steel licks over my steel.

As far as musical influences go, Dylan's "Nashville Skyline", Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo", early Flying Burrito Bros, Poco, and 60s era Buck Owens and Merle Haggard started it for me.

Wil Limanen · Post by **Wil Limanen** » 7 Aug 2006 9:37 am

A few years ago I was listening to an album of hymns that my friend had made. He had someone play steel along with the hymns and I thought that sounded great! I guess my awareness for the pedal steel guitar had awakened at that time.

Wil

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 7 Aug 2006 10:25 am

After reading all the replies here I find it interesting to see the different kinds of initial exposures to the steel. Alot of people were turned on to the steel through recordings or radio, and then alot were turned on to it through a relative or friend or some sort of first hand experience that was a result of where they grew up, etc. Fascinating stuff.Let's have some more replies from you out there please.

[This message was edited by Mike Shefrin on 07 August 2006 at 11:25 AM.]

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 7 Aug 2006 10:50 am

Yeah, growing up in Boston in the 50s and 60s, chances of a relative playing pedal steel were just a might low.

[This message was edited by Dave Mudgett on 07 August 2006 at 11:50 AM.]

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 7 Aug 2006 10:52 am

Hank Sr. & E.T., need I say more???

I DOUBT IT!!!

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Known Coast to Coast as
"The Man with The Plan"

Carter-Starter, Fender Pedal 800, Fender Champion, Guyatone Double-neck, a cheap Artisan & a Homemade Double-neck!

Petr Vitous · Post by **Petr Vitous** » 7 Aug 2006 12:05 pm

Louis "Country And Western" Armstrong,
Rock Around The Country by Bill Haley,
Beaucoups Of Blues by Ringo Starr...
with Drake as the leader.

I love such of albums !

Petr http://www.luma-electronic.cz/lp/elpe.htm

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 7 Aug 2006 12:53 pm

The whole problem started around the time of the Hootenanny daze. I thought the banjo was pretty cool, but thought the people were geeks! I started diggin' around the record stores and found Flatt and Scruggs. "Hmmm! What's that other thing?" Course it was Buck Graves. Didn't get a dobro 'till about 72 or 3, and I got it from Ralph Henzil in West Allis Wisc. Then I heard the Byrds, and noticed some credit to a Lloyd Green guy! Back to the record stores. Found the album with "Bar Hoppin'", I believe, and was a goner! I say I believe because the next day I was out lookin' for any and all solo steel guitar albums. And because I was a hippie, (soon to leave the ranks), and for some reason my memory of those daze is not really too clear! Went back to see Ralph after a saving spree, and got a R&B D-10 Shobud.

Larry Weaver · Post by **Larry Weaver** » 7 Aug 2006 1:05 pm

Been a lot of posts lately about Poco, so count me in as well as one that has been greatly influenced by Rusty Young. The "Deliverin" album made me a steel player for life. Shortly afterwards, the discovery of Buddy Emmons, Curly Chalker--and the list goes on--.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 7 Aug 2006 2:11 pm

seven months ago, I had never even seen a steel guitar before except in photos

Michael Hardee · Post by **Michael Hardee** » 7 Aug 2006 2:23 pm

I got interested in steel listening to Don Helms play with Hank Williams. But what really got me started was seeing Tom Brumley play that beautiful blue ZB live with Buck Owens in 1966. I was a dead duck after that. The Buck Owens Live at Carnegie Hall album is still my all time favorite album.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 7 Aug 2006 2:45 pm

Hearing PSG with overdrive/distortion. When I discovered that it could be used for rock 'n' roll I knew some day I'd have to get one.