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Topic: Keith Hilton and The Cross Band |
Gary Atkinson
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2006 12:14 pm |
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Last night I went to see a Gospel Review featuring Bill L. Smith and The Cross Band in Harrison Ar.My friend Keith Hilton was playing steel with them, taking Jack Kondoras place for a while.The show was good ol' time gospel done with great arrangements,beautiful harmony done by two young ladies and twin guitar work by the steel and lead guitars. I will have to say that I am more than impressed by the steel work that Keith did on this.Bill Smith is agreat guitarist for this type of music on either a telecaster or flattop guitar.The bass player has agood rich voice that goes well with the girls.All in all a show worth seeing so,look for them in your area.Also, I got to visit with Jack Kondora for awhile and as they say you can't keep a good man down he'll be back at it in no time.Keith, I'm proud of you,the best I've heard you sound in years.You may have had a hand guiding yours from above.
Gary Atkinson
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 1 Oct 2006 8:15 pm
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| Gary, it was good to see you and Marilyn at the Show in Harrison, Arkansas. I was surprised to see a full house when they opened the stage curtains. I was happy that Jack Kandora was able to make the show. His picking fingers are recovering every day from his run in with the table saw. I want to see Jack back with the Show. Gary, I only had 3 practice sessions with the group, and many intros, endings, rides to play, and twin parts. Maybe I had someone from above helping me a little. When you have good players, all your have to worry with is your own playing. Most of the time I not only have to worry about what I am doing, but worry about others in the band doing their part. It is hard to sound good when you have to worry about a bass player or drummer. With this band I can concentrate on the music and playing steel guitar. Looking forward to seeing you at the Big Steel Show in Baxter Springs, Kansas this weekend. [This message was edited by Keith Hilton on 01 October 2006 at 09:19 PM.] |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 11:58 am
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Here is a picture of the motley crew at the Cross concert. HEY !!! Who's that bus driver ?
 [This message was edited by John Daugherty on 03 October 2006 at 05:05 AM.] [This message was edited by John Daugherty on 03 October 2006 at 07:28 AM.] |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 5:37 pm
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This is a really fun job, and as you can see the man above has provided us with really nice uniforms. I have traveled on a lot of buses out of Nashville, and this bus puts them all to shame. The really good part about my job with this band is that I really get to LET GO on the E9th neck. This is not one of those jobs where all they want is a warm body, making a quiet bar slide once in every 4th song. With this job I get to sink my teeth into the E9th neck and let her roar.
This last year I have been reading my bible a lot, and I think the good Lord above his helping me. |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 6:38 pm
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| The bus driver looks to me like the handsome John Daughtery, or is that a big bug we picked up on our way to the show John? |
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Dan Sliter
From:
Dardanelle,Arkansas
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 1:54 pm
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Someone needs to clean the windsheild on that bus.HAHA.
Nice picture.And nice guys to have as friends.
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 8 Oct 2006 8:25 pm
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| Dan, ask Gary about the standing ovation we got at the Kansas State Steel Show in Baxter Springs, Kansas. I really don't know what we did different but they liked it. Dan, do you think John looks like a bug on the wind shield? Is it John or a real bug? |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 4:27 am
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I think that thing on the windshield is the common "steelie eyed stink bug". Some people, after hearing the sounds it makes, have threatened to stomp it.
Dan, good to hear from you.. Keep making those fine seats and cases, my friend.
------------------
www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37
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Sam Lewis
From:
Conway, Arkansas, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 5:35 am
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Keith, I rejoice with you and your position as steel guitar player for the "Cross", a great originization. However, it would have been well for you to mention that you are with them because my very good friend, Jack Kondora, had a bad accident with a saw and did a lot of damage to his right hand. Let's all pray very hard that Jack will be back doing what he likes best, playing the steel guitar. Jack is one of the very best steel guitar players around, bar none.
Sam Lewis |
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Rick Nicklas
From:
Verona, Mo. (deceased)
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 6:14 am
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| Sam.... evidently you overlooked Keith's first post on this page. |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 8:10 am
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| As I said in my post above Sam, I wish Jack a speedy recovery as I am only filling in for Jack. Jack's table saw almost cut off his right hand index finger, and cut the other fingers also. When I saw Jack's fingers at the Harrison Show he looked to be 2 to 3 weeks from being back at his guitar. I hope he comes back very soon. The Cross Band is not the only group I do fill in work for. I fill in for Rick Nicklas in the band Fred Lacy and the Matadores. I also do fill in work in 4 other bands. Sam I love playing second fiddle, instead of first fiddle, because it allows me a lot of freedom. Actually the Band's real name is Bill L. Smith and The Cross Band. I played in bands with Bill years ago. Bill and I go back 30 years, to the days of Wayne Carson. [This message was edited by Keith Hilton on 09 October 2006 at 09:17 AM.] |
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Gary Atkinson
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 4:04 pm
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Hi John,Dan and Sam,
Keith sometimes you're the windshield,
sometimes you're the bug.I'm glad Keith is getting to play with The Cross Band for awhile.It made his playing at the Kansas steel show even better than it was last year,we had a ball and brought the house down.We first played with Bill Smith in Branson Mo. back in 1975.At the time we were the only live lounge band in town,there were just 4 theaters and we played to a big crowd 7 nites a week.Boy how things have changed.I sure hope Jack's hand is better by now I want to go hear him play with the show. See ya'll later Gary A. |
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