Barbara Mandell's crutch/lap steel

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Jan 2006 3:35 pm

In 1984, Barbara Mandrell was in a car crash that left her severely injured. Semie Moseley, Mandrell’s close friend, devised a creative get-well gift; an electric lap-steel guitar built as a functional crutch and finished in a bright blue metallic lacquer. When Moseley delivered the instrument, he fitted the instrument to her height in Mandrell’s husband’s basement workshop. On the back, Moseley dedicated it to her with an inscription, Barbara! With God / You Will Make it / Jesus Loves You / and I Love You / Semie 1984. Not only was she touched by the gift, but she also wrote that "It plays great, too!"

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 05 January 2006 at 03:36 PM.]

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 5 Jan 2006 4:04 pm

Brad that is cool beyond belief! Thank you for posting that!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 5 Jan 2006 4:17 pm

That's some good weird knowledge, Brad.

------------------
Mark

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 5 Jan 2006 4:27 pm

Hopefully the National Music Museum has room next to the crutch/lap for Ben Harper's Sk8Lap. [This message was edited by Russ Young on 05 January 2006 at 04:29 PM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 5 Jan 2006 4:59 pm

Aluminum too ...

------------------

Aiello's Cast Steel Guitars


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 6 Jan 2006 5:45 am

Oops-.. Misread the title !!

Baz (Disappointed somewhat)

------------------

Steel players do it without fretting

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 6 Jan 2006 7:37 am

Good heavens! I'd break my leg to have one of those.

Jim Hinton · Post by **Jim Hinton** » 6 Jan 2006 8:50 am

Speaking of Barbara, what ever happened to her the 'sisters'? I haven't heard anything out of them in years!

Man, I sure had a crush on her in the 70's!!

Chuck Fisher · Post by **Chuck Fisher** » 6 Jan 2006 11:43 am

Semmie Mosley was a great luthier, and a pretty cool guy, made great cutting edge stuff.

oj hicks · Post by **oj hicks** » 6 Jan 2006 5:28 pm

"Whatever happened to the sisters?"

I don't know about the younger sister, and I can't recall her name at the moment, but Louise had a thriving theater in Dollywood in east Tennessee, or so I've been told. I don't know if she is still there. Few people are as talented as these gals! Barbara can whip the strings off a pedal steel and sing like a nightengale...and the other girls were also very talented musicians.

Sure do miss 'em.

oj hicks

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 9 Jan 2006 6:13 am

Ive fallen and cant get up!!!
get me one of those crutches.

thanks for the pic Brad.